To raise better awareness on its activities: Plan Int’l Cameroon establishes collaboration platform with journalists, institutional communicators.

The platform was created Friday, January 13, at the end of a meeting dubbed Media Corner which held at their head office in Yaounde.

The meeting brought together journalists and Heads of Communication and Public Relation Units of partner government ministries including the Ministries of Youth Affairs and Civic Education, MINJEC, Women’s Empowerment and the Family, MINPROFF and Social Affairs, MINAS.

Opening the meeting, the Acting Country Director of Plan International Cameroon, Dr Paul Fagnon, underlined the role of the media in giving visibility to the impact created by the programmes of the body and assisting the organisation achieve its goals and mission in the country.

He said gathering was also a platform to remind journalists of the body’s mission in Cameroon, present and bring journalists to light with their programmes and get them to familiarise with some terms specific to the organisation among others.

Dr Fagnon said working together with the media remains key to achieving the goals of Plan International Cameroon as it enables the media to better comprehend what is been done in different domains and the partners that the body is working with.

The Acting Country Director said the meeting was strategic as it will permit journalists to advise the officials on areas of their activities that need to be ameliorated and permit both parties to chart a way forward to giving wide coverage and better visibility to activities of the body principally aimed at advancing the rights of children and equality for girls.

On his part, the Head of Communication and Influencing Department at Plan International Cameroon, Dr Eddy-Patrick Donkeng, said the organisation sees the established media platform of utmost importance.

“At Plan International Cameroon, it is part of our strategy to work with the media. Media are enablers of change and working with them within our communities in Cameroon is something that we really prioritise,” Dr Donkeng said.

He said the organsaition looks forward to bridging the gap between its media partners, institutional partners, financial partners and also programmes.

“What we are doing on the field must be seen,” he reiterated, while regretting the fact that most of their impactful activities in the field have in the past gotten very little visibility on the media.  

“Today we decided to have this sort of gathering to agree on the roadmap to know how we can work better and influence, impact and also show the impact that we are having in our society,” Dr Donkeng said while expressing gratitude to the media partners for accompanying the orgaisation over the years.

Programmes unveiled to journalists

The meeting was also used to present an overview of the various programmes and strategy of Plan International Cameroon especially in the domains of education, sexual and reproductive health rights, gender and inclusion, child protection, water, hygiene and sanitation, livelihood of vulnerable persons with support projects among others.

Safeguarding, a policy at the centre of Plan International’s strategy was also presented to participants as well as the role of media in keeping children, youths and programme participants safe.

The meeting also featured a reflection on the new safeguarding policy and institutional partnership between Plan International Cameroon and different ministries and rounded up with a question and answer session.

Enter institutional communication officers

The Heads of the Communication and Public Relations Units of MINJEC, MINAS, MINPROFF all hailed the initiative which they expressed the wish to see bear fruits in the long-term especially in different areas of partnership between their ministries and Plan international Cameroon.

They used the opportunity to highlight what is being done by their different ministries in supporting youth, protecting the vulnerable and rights of girls.

The media present expressed the wish to be more involved in field visits with Plan International Cameroon and/or its partners, appeal for the body’s newsletters, information notes, images, events amongst others, to be provided on a regular basis and in both official languages.

They were also unanimous that the safeguarding policy of the organisation is already part of their good practice in terms of verification and publication of information and will be followed to the letter.

About Plan Int’l Cameroon

Created in 1937, Plan International has been operating in Cameroon since 1996 with core mission to advance children’s rights and equality for girls. It has operational offices in eight of the country’s ten regions but carries out programmes nationwide.

It has as current ambition to ensure at least 200 million girls are able to learn, lead, decide and thrive. The organisation operates under four key values of openness and accountability, working together, ensure sustainable development and inclusiveness and empowerment. 

It has been at the centre of communities and has touched 12, 000 communities nationwide. Plan International Cameroon is supported by a diversified network of partners including 15 ministries, 30 international funders and partners and also funded by sponsors across the globe and grants from private partners.