Bright Light Projects (BLP), in partnership with Youth Corner Cameroon, the Bamenda City Council, Xhuma Africa, and other organizations, successfully organized a community clean-up campaign in Bamenda on December 20, 2024. The initiative, themed “Community Service Day for Peace Mezam, Promoting Youth Participation in the Peace Process,” focused on fostering environmental sustainability and strengthening youth involvement in peace-building efforts in the conflict-affected region of Mezam in Cameroon’s Northwest.
The campaign brought together nearly 100 youths and targeted the stretch between Mobile and Mile Two in Bamenda, covering approximately 125 kilometers. Participants removed garbage, cleared grass from gutters, and cleaned a stream linking two sections of the town. This effort improved the area’s cleanliness and promoted community pride, unity, and active youth participation in peace-building.
BLP’s initiative aligns with its environmental sustainability program, which focuses on promoting sustainable waste management and economic opportunities through plastic recycling in Bamenda, Cameroon, and Makeni, Sierra Leone. The campaign also raised awareness about preventing the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict while advocating for the Vancouver Principles and youth involvement in community development.
Speaking on the event’s significance, Shing Praise Wandia, BLP Program Manager, emphasized the importance of community collaboration in achieving a healthy environment and sustainable development, particularly during armed conflicts that heighten environmental vulnerability.
One participant, Ngha Blessing, described the campaign as a wake-up call for individual and collective responsibility toward the environment and peacebuilding.
This clean-up activity exemplifies the impact of community-driven initiatives in conflict-affected areas, addressing environmental and social challenges. It stands as a beacon of hope for fostering unity, promoting peace, and inspiring lasting commitment to community service in Cameroon.
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