Concept Note:

NA-WE-WE Sports Jamboree 2025 – “Uniting Through Sports”

• Host City: Bertoua, East Region, Cameroon
• Theme: “Uniting Through Sports: Building Social Cohesion Among Refugees, IDPs, and Host Communities”
  Under the Distinguished Patronage of The Minister of Youth Affairs and Civic Education
• Host: The City Mayor of Bertoua

1. Introduction

The NA-WE-WE Sports Jamboree is an annual youth-led initiative that leverages sports and recreational activities to foster social cohesion, moral and civic rearmament, entrepreneurship, and healthy living among displaced persons, refugees, and host communities. Inspired by global sport for peace and development approaches, the Jamboree creates a platform for dialogue, relationship-building, and community empowerment while promoting peacebuilding and core humanitarian values.

The 2025 edition will be hosted in Bertoua, East Region, a strategic location due to its high concentration of refugees from the Central African Republic (CAR) and internally displaced persons (IDPs) fleeing conflict in Cameroon’s Far North, Northwest, and Southwest regions. This convergence has heightened social tensions, humanitarian needs, and risks of marginalisation—making the East Region a critical zone for inclusive youth engagement and social cohesion. A key highlight of this edition will be promoting youth participation in electoral processes, advocating for peaceful engagement before, during, and after elections.

2. Background & Justification

Cameroon faces complex socio-political challenges, including armed conflict, displacement, and a growing refugee crisis. The East Region hosts thousands of CAR refugees, while IDPs from the Anglophone crisis and Boko Haram insurgency continue to strain resources and social harmony. Despite the hospitality of host communities, displaced populations remain vulnerable to stigmatization, violence, and exploitation. In response, Local Youth Corner Cameroon (LOYOC) and partners launched the NA-WE-WE Sports Jamboree in 2022, using sports as a tool for:

• Conflict prevention & social cohesion
• Youth leadership & civic engagement
• Health promotion & psychosocial support
• Entrepreneurship & skills development
• Environmental Protection and Community Service.

Past Achievements:

• In the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd Editions, which were organised in Douala, Yaoundé, and Bafoussam, respectively, we reached out to 3863 IDPs, mobilised 1500 athletes. More than 300,000 people were engaged physically,y with over 2,000,000 people through media engagements.
• Provided food, school materials and other basic amenities to over 5000 children and youth ( supported by Canadian High Commission, UNDP, OHCHR, Riz Bijou and others)
• Screened over 20,000 people for health issues (supported by UNFPA-Cameroon)
• Registered over 200 youth, including displaced persons and host community members, on the electoral list
• Awarded 2nd Best Holiday Initiative in the West region of Cameroon by the Ministry of Youth Affairs in 2024.
• Planted over 1000 trees

3. Objectives

Main Objective:

To use sports as a vehicle for social cohesion, moral/civic rearmament, entrepreneurship, and healthy living among displaced and host communities.

Specific Objectives:

1. Create safe spaces for dialogue and peer learning among refugees, IDPs, and host communities.
2. Provide free medical screenings and referrals for vulnerable populations.
3. Raise awareness on GBV, sexual/reproductive health, hate speech, child protection, and electoral participation.
4. Distribute food, education materials, and basic amenities to displaced and host communities.
5. Foster solidarity through inclusive sports, engaging influencers, leaders, and communities.
6. Promote youth participation in electoral processes, enhancing their knowledge of electoral practices, and encouraging peaceful engagement before, during, and after the 2025 elections in Cameroon.
7. Promote youth action in environmental protection and community service. As part of the program, young people will be mobilized to volunteer in human investment activities such as tree planting, cleanup of garbage dumps and public places.
8. Key Activities

• 1-month sports tournaments (football, handball, basketball, dance).
• Free health consultations & referrals (HIV, malaria, SRH services, etc).
• Community sensitisation (GBV, peacebuilding, electoral participation).
• Donation drives (food, school kits, hygiene supplies).
• Entrepreneurship & education fairs (showcasing opportunities for youth).
• Solidarity matches (featuring government officials, UN reps, celebrities).
• Social media campaigns (reaching 300,000+ nationwide).
• Environmental Protection and community service activities.
• Workshops on Moral, Civic, and Entrepreneurial Rearmament: Community mediators, with the support of MINJEC facilitate sessions on conflict resolution and living together.
• Workshops on Electoral Education: Sessions on electoral processes, voting rights, and peaceful participation, facilitated by community mediators with support from ELECAM and MINJEC.

5. Target Beneficiaries

• 200+ young athletes (ages 15-35, from refugee/IDP/host communities).
• 100,000+ spectators (direct engagement in Bertoua).
• 30+ influencers & leaders (government, diplomats, traditional/religious figures).
• 500,000+ nationwide reach via digital campaigns.

6. Expected Outcomes

✔ Enhanced social cohesion between displaced and host communities.
✔ Improved health awareness (GBV, SRH, mental health).
✔ Increased youth civic engagement in peacebuilding & elections.
✔ Direct humanitarian support (food, education, medical aid).
✔ Strengthened partnerships with the government, UN, and private sector.

✔ Increased youth civic engagement in electoral processes, promoting peaceful participation and unity among displaced persons, refugees, and host community members.

7. Leading Entertainment Champions/Influencers

• Karyce Fotso: Cameroonian-born musician and GBV activist.
• Magasco: Cameroonian Musician and activist on safe schools
• And MORE

8. Conclusion

The NA-WE-WE Jamboree is a proven, scalable model to advance our partners’ mandate in crisis-affected regions. By partnering, partners can amplify their impact on electoral safety, social cohesion, youth health, gender equality, and peace in Cameroon. We welcome further discussions to refine this partnership.

7. Call for Partnership

We invite donors, sponsors, and partners to support this transformative initiative through:

• Financial contributions (logistics, sports kits, humanitarian aid).
• In-kind donations (medical supplies, food, educational materials).
• Technical expertise (health services, peacebuilding training).
• Media partnerships (amplifying reach and impact).

Join us in using sports to unite, heal, and empower vulnerable communities!

Please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Mansuru Usmanu Mohmukwe at Tel: 670002268 or via email at us.mansuru@loyocameroon.org, with a copy to info@loyocameroon.org, for further information.