Story, Louvier Kindo Tombe
The initiative dubbed: “Harnessing Opportunities for Peaceful Electoral Processes in Cameroon, HOPE project”, was launched on Friday January 17, 2025 in Yaounde. It was through a press conference that took place at the head office of the civil society organization, Local Youth Corner – LOYOC.
“The project seeks to address the underlying causes of violence while promoting civic and moral rearmament of young people, and influence electoral participation through the strengthening of democratic institutions,” says Ballo Ngomna, project officer.
“It recognizes that peaceful elections are crucial for national stability and development.”
During the launch of the project, a representative from the Ministry of Territorial Administration, the government’s arm in the electoral process in Cameroon, who attended the event praised the initiative. The presence of a Minat official was like an endorsement to underscore the government’s commitment to ensuring peaceful and inclusive elections.
Also present at the launch was a representative from the elections organizing body, Elecam, who emphasized on the role of Elecam in ensuring that elections are free fair and transparent in the country.
By supporting the Hope Project, the Cameroon government and Elecam demonstrate their dedication to fostering a peaceful and stable electoral environment.
On their part, civil society organizations have embraced the initiative from LOYOC.
“Let’s make elections a tool for change and not a trigger for violence,” says Ndi Nancy, Executive Director of Actions for Development and Empowerment ADE.
This collaboration between the government, civil society, and youth leaders is a promising step towards promoting democratic values and ensuring the integrity of the electoral process in Cameroon.
The HOPE Project
The HOPE project is designed to target a diverse range of stakeholders in the electoral system, such as government bodies, CSOs, youth leaders, media just to name but these.
The project shall be implemented in the North West, South West, Far North and Center regions.
As part of the project, Local Youth Corner will work with youth leaders, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to promote peaceful electoral processes.
The initiative is timely, given the importance of youth participation in shaping the country’s democratic future.
Concretely, the HOPE project will provide comprehensive training on the electoral process, including voter rights and responsibilities, and equip participants with practical strategies for promoting peace before, during, and after elections.
The approach shall be multi-faceted and community based.
According to the Project Officer, about 100,000 sensitization materials on the electoral process in Cameroon will be developed and distributed. To this effect, contests for creative contents would be launched subsequently.
Worth noting is the fact that LOYOC is a youth-led Non-Governmental Organization with over 20 years of experience working on peace-building and community development.
They have executed over 600 projects which have earned them a series of national and international recognitions.
