LOYOC launches HOPE Project to foster peaceful electoral processes.

HOPE Project Officer (far right) & other officials during launching

Youth-led non-governmental organisation, Local Youth Corner, LOYOC, has launched a project to foster peaceful electoral processes in the country ahead of the upcoming polls. 



The initiative, dubbed: ‘Harnessing Opportunities for Peaceful Electoral Processes in Cameroon, HOPE Project’, was launched Friday January 17, 2025, at the organisation’s head office at the Nkoufoulou neighbourhood in Yaounde.

The representative of the Ministry of Territorial Administration, MINAT; Elections Cameroon, ELECAM; the founder of civil society organisation, Actions for Development and Empowerment, ADE; representative of UN Human Rights and other organisations, witnessed the launching ceremony. 

The project, which will equip youth leaders with knowledge and skills to promote peaceful participation in the electoral process, is supported by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Civic Education and funded by the National Endowment for Democracy, NED. 

It is launched in a context where citizen engagement and participation in electoral processes remains challenging and even compounded by violence and crime before during and after previous elections, despite multiple efforts by the State and other stakeholders. 

Briefing reporters during the launching, HOPE Project Officer, Ballo Ngomna, said the project “seeks to address the underlying causes of violence while promoting civic, moral and entrepreneurial rearmament of young people, influencing electoral participation, and strengthening democratic institutions”.

Ngomna said the project “recognizes that peaceful elections are crucial for national stability and development”. 

He said the project which targets a diverse audience from media, youth actors, Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, and government bodies, will be implemented in the North West, South West, Far North and Yaounde. 

Harping on the project objectives, Ngomna said it will provide comprehensive training on the electoral process, including voter rights and responsibilities, instill the significance of peaceful engagement in elections and how it contributes to democratic governance.

He said it will also equip participants with practical strategies for promoting peace during elections, addressing potential conflicts, and encouraging constructive dialogue among diverse groups.

On its implementation, Ngomna said the project will adopt a multi-faceted approach involving stakeholder engagement and regular consultations, community-based interventions to empower community leaders to act as mediators during tense electoral periods and media campaigns to disseminate messages promoting peace and civic engagement widely across different demographics.

Ngomna said activities to be carried out throughout the project life span alongside partners will include; the development and distribution of 100,000 educational materials, development of audio-visual content to raise public awareness.

He also mentioned the organisation of contest for creatives to submit content, voters education workshop for youth leaders and training of a cohort of young election mediation and dialogue champions. 

Ngomna said through the HOPE Project, LOYOC expects to increase awareness among citizens about their electoral rights, enhance voter registration rates among youth and marginalized populations, reduce incidents of electoral violence through proactive community engagement and strengthen trust between citizens and democratic institutions leading up to the elections.

Officials immortalise launching of HOPE Project

Enter CSO, ELECAM & MINAT representatives 

In her remarks on the role CSOs can play in advancing peaceful electoral process in the country, the Founder and Executive Director of Actions for Development and Empowerment, ADE, Ndi Nancy, said based on statistics from ELECAM, much still has to be done to encourage female voters in particular and youth in general to get enrolled.

She said CSOs are there to guide voters on their rights and the information they need and not to influence their decisions. "Let's make elections a tool for change and not a trigger for violence," Ndi appealed.

The representative of ELECAM zoomed on key roles the institution plays to ensure elections as foundation of democracy and inclusivity through the setting up of national platforms and mixed commissions to reflect on how to make the electoral process to boost transparency, enhance trust, stakeholder engagement, media campaigns among others.

The official of MINAT harped on the need for all and sundry to respect laid down laws in the course of the electoral process. 

 

About LOYOC 

Local Youth Corner Cameroon is a youth-led non-governmental organisation with over 20 years of experience working on peacebuilding and community development. With our offices in Yaounde, Buea, Bamenda, and Maroua, LOYOC has executed over 600 projects and worked with over 100 national and international development partners. 

The impact of its work has earned the organisation several national and international recognitions including; The 2023 Canada Human Rights Award in Cameroon; the Youth Connekt Cameroon Champion by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Civic Education; the 2018 Luxembourg Peace Prize, and recognition by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Our work has also been recognized and featured on CNN African Voices Changemakers in 2021.

 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3344 of Monday January 20, 2025

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