At EnVYFC19 project closing: British High Commissioner urges beneficiaries to make good use of empowerment tools.

He made the call during a ceremony on Thursday, May 15, held at the residence of the British High Commissioner in Yaoundé. The event marked the official close of the project and the distribution of attestations recognition to six training centres.

The four-year initiative, implemented by The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Cameroon, aimed at empowering marginalised and at-risk youth, including Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, street children, orphans, refugees, and young prison inmates, with vocational and entrepreneurial skills to navigate the post-pandemic era.

Also present at the event were the Board Chair of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Cameroon, Dr Diane Acha-Morfaw; the Country Director of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award, Munge Epie Nicole; Secretary General at the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Civic Education, Benga Zachee Robert Theophile, as well as representatives of the various IDP training centres in Yaounde.   

Addressing participants at the event, the British High Commissioner described the Duke of Edinburgh Award as “a wonderful initiative which essentially helps young people to realise their full potential and teaches them all sorts of things that they can't learn in the classroom”.

He emphasised the British High Commission’s commitment to continue collaborating with the Duke of Edinburgh Award’s leadership in Cameroon.

“The awardees today have been to a group of really inspirational people who have worked with marginalised youth… to give them vocational training skills in creating hand soap, liquid soap, sewing skills, hygiene. It was really powerful to hear from some of them today how much this project has helped them,” he added.

On her part, the Board Chair of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Cameroon, Dr. Diane Acha-Morfaw, highlighted the enduring importance of the project.

She noted that the programme, launched in 2021, was designed as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic and was driven by a need to empower marginalised youth, including street children and Internally Displaced Persons.

She disclosed that the project trained 271 vulnerable youth in the production of hand sanitisers, liquid soap, bars of soap, and household bleach. 

She described the Duke of Edinburgh Award as “a globally recognised programme that promotes personal development, leadership, and civic responsibility among young people between the ages of 14 and 34”, grounded on four pillars: skills development, voluntary service, physical recreation, and adventurous journeys.

The Country Director of the Duke of Edinburgh Award, Munge Epie Nicole, revealed that over 5,000 students have been sensitised in schools through awareness campaigns, while 152 youth were trained in soap and sanitiser production. Of these, 54 transformed their skills into sustainable businesses.

"The sewing machines, accessories, and soap-making chemicals that we are distributing today are not just materials, they are stepping stones toward lasting empowerment," she said. 

“They will no longer just be participants in a program, they will be entrepreneurs, creators, and contributors to their communities,” Munge asserted. 

Government applauds bilateral relations 

On behalf of the government, the Secretary General at the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Civic Education, Benga Robert, praised the collaborative effort and the stride made by the project. 

“The programme is a substantial contribution, an important one, because giving back hope to those who have the body, the mind, the souls torn apart is powerful and priceless,” he stated.

He pledged government’s full support for future phases of the project.

“The next phase is the strengthening of capacities, better entrepreneurial production, and substantial improvement of living conditions,” he noted.

Award in a nutshell 

According to the organisers, the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award is a global youth achievement programme that operates in over 130 countries, including Cameroon. 

It aims to empower young people aged 14 to 24 by encouraging them to develop skills, engage in physical activities, and participate in community service and adventurous journeys. 

The programme is designed to foster personal growth, resilience, and leadership among youth. Over 5,000 youth from Cameroon have been awarded since 1988.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3451 of Wednesday May 21, 2025