Patriotism and national dev’t:

NCSAPD launches its activities for 2017

Authorities of the National Civic Service Agency for Participation in Development NCSAPD, have announced that some 1620 conscripts and pioneer volunteers would be trained this year. They made the announcement at a press conference in Yaounde last week

By Pamela NtubeMbong-Ewane

The Director General of the National Civic Service Agency, MrTaossi, talking to journalists, as the ADG, Mr Esua John listens from behind

Some 1620 youths comprising 1000 conscripts and 620 pioneer volunteers will be trained by the National Civic Service Agency for Participation in Development, NCSAPD, in 2017. The announcement was made by the Director General of the Agency, Mr. Taossi, at a press conference at the headquarters of the Agency in Yaounde, on Friday. The press conference marked the start of activities of the NCSAPD for 2017.

                Speaking to journalists at the press conference, the DG of NCSAPD said this year’s training will be unique and timely because it is coming in the wake among others of the socio-economic upheavals in the North West and South West regions, the nefarious activities of Boko Haram in the Far North and rebel incursions in East Cameroon.

                “Our training seeks to imbibe in the youths the spirit of patriotism, citizen consciousness, resilience, moral rearmament and self-reliant development. Our aim is to prepare these youths to become peer educators in the schools and communities from where they were selected,” said Taossi, adding that the professional and capacity building training that will be given to the pioneer volunteers will also help them to become self-reliant developers in their respective societies.

                It should be noted that during the 45 days of the training, the 1000 conscripts will be edified on such courses as civic education, sports and physical education, culture and solidarity, patriotism, peace and national integration, first aid and civic protection, ICT and environmental conservation.

                Meanwhile, the volunteers will gain professional and capacity building training notably in domains like agriculture, livestock and animal husbandry. Here the Agency will identify pieces of land (10 hectares each) in the different localities where these volunteers would be trained. At the end of the training, both the land and the projects carried out on them will be owned by the volunteers, who will in turn continue carrying on with the activities learned for their upkeep.

                According to authorities of the NCSAPD, selection of beneficiaries of this year’s training will be done on Friday, 28 July 2017, while the training proper will begin in all ten regions of the country on Tuesday 1 August 2017. The selection is supervised by regional governors and other stakeholders.

                Meanwhile, the DG of NCSAPD has announced that the solemn 2017 activity launch will take place in the days ahead and in a town in either the NW or SW. The host town would be selected by the Minister of Youth Affairs.