North West, South West: Episcopal Conference launches project to tackle youth radicalisation.

The project was made public during a workshop in Yaounde on Monday October 21. Participants comprised representatives from Catholic dioceses in the English-speaking regions and other civil society actors.

According to the Coordinator of the Project, Shulinka Binla Sylvanus, scheme is under the theme: “Women as Pillars of Peace: A holistic Approach to Countering Violent Extremism in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon”.

Binla said the goal is to ensure the return to peace in the crisis-hit English-speaking regions. He said the project is funded by the United States Embassy to the tune of US dollars 100,000 (approximately 60,647,000 FCFA)

He explained that the money will be used to rally and get women involved in curbing the radicalization of young people in the two regions.

Quoting renowned psychoanalyst, Sigmund Freud, Binla said, “when one dreams alone, it is just a dream; but when many people dream together; it is the beginning of something coming into reality”.

Era of undermining women over 

To the Secretary General of NECC, Monsignor Paul Nyaga, the era of undermining the role of women in running community or State affairs has past.

He said women must be given the chance to run state affairs because they are the ones who bring all human beings to the world. Monsignor Nyaga said it is a role God accorded women.

He reminded participants of Liberia wherein he said, after many years of brutal rule by Samuel Doe, a woman, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf took over as Head of State and restored peace and serenity.

The man of God alluded that even in the face of lingering hostilities in the North West and South West Regions, if women are empowered and assisted to play their motherly role, those in the bushes, still carrying arms will retrace their steps.

He thanked the United States embassy for funding the project. He said the support is part of a broader framework of cooperation between the National Episcopal Conference and the Embassy of the United States of America in Cameroon.

On the situation in the North West and South West Regions, Monsignor Nyaga said endemic crimes like theft, rights violation, agitations and exposure of youths to drugs, light weapons among others are creating an atmosphere of insecurity.

Despite the difficult terrain, he said, majority of women have remained in communities, bearing the brunt of the crisis. 

This, he said, has been alongside vulnerable children and makes it imperative to put women at the heart of peace building drives.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3268 of Wednesday October 23, 2024