NA WE WE Sport Jamboree : Using Sports to Build Social Cohesion – 2nd Edition- Yaounde Cameroon
Local Youth Corner Cameroon is pleased to announce the 2nd Edition of the NA WE WE Sports Jamboree which is an annual youth-led summer program which seeks to use sports as a tool to build social cohesion, promote peace and healthy living between and among IDPs from the North West (NW) and South West (SW) regions and host community members in Cameroon. The theme of this 2nd Edition is; “ Using Sports to Build Social Cohesion” and it is under the Distinguish Patronage of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Civic Education. This 2nd edition will run as part of the summer holidays program from July 1st to August 30th, 2023 in the city of Yaoundé.
“This Jamboree changed my life. Even though I am an IDP I have made new friends in my community. I have learnt how to work with other people. I am so happy and hoping other IDPs could benefit from this experience “
Said an Athlete during the 1st edition: an IDP from the SW Region
Photo from the First Edition: Handing over of Trophy to the Winner of Football Male. From left to right is the Canadian High Commissioner, Mr. Leo, and the Representative of the Minister of Youth Affairs and Civic Education
What We Plan to Achieve for the 2nd Edition
We plan to organize 5 sporting tournaments in 4 disciplines; football (male and female), handball (female), Basketball (Male) and dancing (male and female respectively) targeting 500 athletes. Teams will constitute both displaced persons and host communities. We are also hoping to reach out to
- Reach out to over 5000 IDPs,
- Over 100,000 people are sensitized against GBV, child protection & other community issues and are provided referrals
- Provide free medical consultation and referrals to over 50,000 IDPs and community members
- Mobilize and reach out to over 3 Million People in person, and via social and mass media engagements
- Donation of food, school materials and basic amenities to over 50,000 IDPs and host community members
- Provide an opportunity for partners and sponsors to showcase & sensitize the community about their products, services & career opportunities
- Mobilize over 200 Influencers, celebrities, representatives of government and diplomats to show solidarity
Download Concept Note for the 2nd Edition English: NA WE WE SPORTS JAMBOREE 2nd Edition-short (4)
French: FRENCH -FINAL2-SECOND EDITION NA WE WE SPORTS JAMBOREE
Photo from the First Edition: Remarks by the British High Commissioner to Cameroon
“Na-We-We is a way to say we are all together. We need to build relationships together and build communion Despite the rains, I was honored to play”
By H.E. Christian Dannys-McClure: British High Commissioner to Cameroon
The Problem
Over 400,000 Young people, women, children and men have been displaced by the conflict in the North West and South-West regions into the neighboring regions. Though they have been received with open hands by residents of these host communities, their forced displacements have made them more vulnerable to stigmatization, hate, crime, violence and unethical practices. The realities of these challenges have deteriorated the trust and peaceful co-existence between displaced persons and the host communities.
Photo from the First Edition: IDPs and host community members celebrate their victory together
Our Solution
To respond to these challenges, Local Youth Corner Cameroon and her partners have adopted sports and leisure activities between and among IDPs and host community members as a key tool to provide safe spaces for dialogue, peer-to-peer learning and critical thinking, youth leadership, social cohesion, influence attitude and life skills (teamwork, tolerance, respect) that can make these young people resilient to ideological exploitation that lures to crime, violence and delinquency. Physical and mental exercise is a healing process that affects attitude, self-esteem, skills and behaviors. This healing process helps to prevent high-risk social behaviors, meets the existing demands and helps to achieve the physical, mental and social well-being of the entire community. Each team in the Jamboree is constituted of both IDP and host community members. The teams are also named with transformative words such as peace, love, justice, tolerance and others. During each game, the athletes nominate a teammate to engage in a 5 minutes sensitization of their spectator about the importance of the name of their team.
Photo from First Edition: Our Executive Director; Achaleke Christian walking alongside partners at the opening ceremony
The First Edition and its Impact
The first Edition was organized in Bonaberi-Douala. This maiden edition was a huge success with 5 Tournaments, 4 Disciplines, 36 teams, and 450 Athletes. We reached out to 1000 IDPs, engaged over 100,000 people, were engaged physically and over 2,000,000 people through media engagements. Over 2000 IDPs & community members received donations and free health consultations, 60 Influencers, celebrities representatives of government and diplomats mobilized to show solidarity with 10 partners and sponsors showcasing & sensitizing the community about their services. The closing Gala Match was graced by the participation of influencers, celebrities, representatives of government, CEOs and Diplomatic missions. Notably amongst them were the personal representative of the Minister of Youth Affairs and Civic Education, the personal representative of the Governor of Littoral Region, Mr Leo, Senior Pastor the Comedian, the UK and Canadian High Commissioner, Bony Dashako, Dr Nkeng Stephen and a host of others. The first edition was funded by the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) with the support of other sponsors and partners
“This Jamboree is life-changing. It was a pleasure to be a sponsor of this great initiative. I could personally see how the athletes and spectators were co-existing without any fear or pressure. Sports is indeed very special and it is building bridges and bringing people together “
By Bony Dashako: CEO of Dash Holdings
Photo from First Edition: Solidarity Match with Influencers, Celebrities, Diplomats, Entrepreneurs
Checkout some Media Reports on the Jamboree
News Feature on CNN African Voice Changemaker
Photo from First Edition: Media Reports
“We were honored to be a partner and to work with the youths in building more inclusive and sustainable communities. This Jamboree served as an opportunity for our company to reach out to the vulnerable and provide support. We could see the joy on the faces of he young people who benefited from the donations and other gifts”
By Mrs. Linda Tatabod Elimbi: CSR Expert KEDIBUILD Group
To Partner, Sponsor and Volunteer
Please contact Miss Ekoko Caroline, Tel: 652743288, E-mail: ekoko.c@loyocameroon.org & Cc info@loyocameroon.org
You can also contact us on WhatsApp: +237650906256.