1,000 SW youths trained on self-reliant dev’t

By Sarah Nkongho Ojong in Buea
With the aim to instill the patriotism needed to enable the youths serve, sell their nation and take an active role in nation building, a short-list of 1000 youths (400 conscripts and 600 volunteers) have been selected following scrutiny, respect for terms of reference from the  hierachy and objectivity, by members of the South west regional selection committee for  the 2014 training session by the National Civic Service Agency for Participation in Development, NCSAPD.
    The selection committee which was headed by the south Governor, represented by the Secretary general to the Governor’s office Fon Ndikum Clement  also comprised of Mayors for Buea and  Tiko councils, Regional Delegates of  secondary education, youth affairs and civic education, employment and vocational training, military personel, resource persons from Yaounde amongst others, all led by the Deputy General Manager of NCSAPD, Esua Enow, who met at the conference room of the administrtaive reforms, Buea July 2, 2014.

    In a technical presentation by DG Esua Enow, out of 4000 conscripts, the south west region was allocated a quota of 400 conscripts whose selection was facilitated with the help of regional and divisional delegates from the ministry of secondary, principals of various schools alongside some informal institutions like heads of training centers, regional and divsional delegates under the ministry of youth affairs and civic education, women empowerment and the family, employment and vocational training and the national youth council.
 Youths under the conscript group are expected to fall between the ages 17 – 21 and will undergo a 2-month training in sports, physical and cultural education, solidarity and national integration, cilvic protection, first aid and environmental protection.
On the other hand, the voluntary period of 6months aimed at developing skills in carrying out income generating activities, vocational training and realizing community services is specifically reserved for young Cameroonians males and females, who are able and willing to contribute to the overall development of their nation via provision of expertise or manpower in community services in public or private sector.
Conditions for selection of candidates included good health, adequate space for agriculture or animal rearing, must have never benefited from other government support forums, not lay claim to any payment and be organized or be part of an organized group.  Based on these prerequisite, 20 volunteers per sub division were preselected by sub divisional delegates of youth affairs and civic education hand in glove with  the cameroon national youth council and local authorities.
During deliberations, it was realized that the selection of the conscripts and volunteers was not evenly distributed according to the various divisions in the south west region, an issue addressed by the head of the regional selection committee, Fon Ndikum Clement.