Action Plan 1 

[Comments of Principal Coordinator in Blue]

Some suggestions to improve rural populations well-being and their quality of life.

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The future of young Cameroonians can only be promised to a bright outcome so far as the development of its inhabitants are the main concerns of their leaders.

Even if most of the population needs are unanswered by the government it shouldn’t stop those with the will and/or the means to follow this development process which is to build a free Cameroonian nation in the middle of Africa.

To ensure the well-being of its inhabitants an ambitious economic policy proves to be necessary with a social model of redistribution of the richness and the training of young people to enable them embrace their destiny with better chances.

We must unquestionably draw up an impartial assessment of our assets and weaknesses to be able to understand what need to be done and hope for a better future.

In order to explain what we mean practically, we shall consider a village with a population of 250 people. The general principles can be applied to any other village of course.

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Population characteristics of our village

Population life expectancy is located between 45-50years old with for all main activities “agriculture” and “bovines breeding”.

Ancillary activities consisting in traditional crafting industry, pottery, traditional alcohol business, palm oil, shea oil, plantain (a type of banana), traditional fishing, and also the sale of remains of hunt as well as fruits.

The houses are made of beaten ground and the populations sleep on beds of bamboos manufactured by their own hands without mattress, the living conditions are at the very least precarious.

Lighting is made possible using oil lamps or wood fire according to each one financial means.

Water consumption come primarily from rivers or natural water sources; for those villages lucky enough to have one they’ll be far away from the places of dwelling.

The existing roads are in a poor condition due to lack of maintenance, making communication between many villages difficult.

Septic pits dug with pickaxes near the houses constitutes family’s toilets and latrines.

More than ¾ of the population of our village eat less than 1½ meal/day.

More than 95% of that population is illiterate and not informed at all whether locally, nationally or internationally.

The people are treating themselves using traditional means (herbs, roots etc..).

The men regularly work on the fields, they cut the trees down, they prepare the furrows for the seeds and the women are helping on clearing, sowing etc..

Objectives

The prime objective is “work”, to encourage hard work, to promote honest earnings through hard work, human values, tolerance, equal opportunity, excellence, spirit of competition(good competition), suggest ideas to improve their quality of life by stimulating their creative potential, their natural abilities while allowing them to reach a minimum of financial autonomy.

Means

Educational level

We need to bring up the level of education to a minimum of a certificate of primary and elementary studies, so that the populations will have at least some elementary notions. We need to provide them with academic supplies (books, pencils, etc..); school infrastructures must be created or developed, equipped classrooms to encourage young people to go to school and allow the useful occupation of their time while providing them with solid bases in life.

If possible, build houses for teachers so that they will want to go towards the villagers and leave the sometimes over-populated cities.

Concerning the adults, we have to create groups of trainings and initiation to the sustainable development in their respective specialities.

Technology

We’ll sensitise the population to the meaning of sustainable development, cultivate by fallow, use natural manures, use more adapted materials, less exhausting, introduce techniques of modern production to theirs lifestyle, protect the environment.

Society

We must find a way to make sure that populations will eat 2 meals/day, for the youth accepting to go to school a canteen shall be set up providing well balanced meals with fruits and local cereals. The canteen shall be manage by a mixed team (m/w) from all social affinities.

We’ll also have to promote the perpetration of traditional craft industry, pottery, sculptures, paintings, folkloric dances, songs, as title of cultural inheritance.

We can manage domestic waste by a selective sorting, a systematic recycling and the destruction of used natural products and their transformation into manure.

Concerning the septic pits we’ll have to see where its appropriate to dig them and how to evacuate them when necessary.

Construction of water fountains close to the huts/houses to decrease the walking distance, the water contamination and also prevail personal and social hygiene.

We will have to fight against deforestation by replanting trees used for domesticate heating, construction of frames for houses as well as fences for the fields and much more.

We think that administrative activities in the village shall include women in all aspect of decision making and/or taking.

One or two community plantations shall be created welcoming all villagers men and women, the job shall organise in team or group of workers with an equitable distribution of all incomes; the fact that harvest can be sold on the market will ensure a fixed income for everyone. Workers we’ll be allowed a maximum of 2 to 3 hours on the fields so that they can be devoted to other activities (fishing, hunting who can also be sold).

How can the above advice enable the population to improve their own way life?

They can easily improve their habitations for a start thanks to the income that will be generate by the sale of theirs harvest.

They can purchase their own material of transport (trucks and other) they can purchase their own work materials (pickaxes, machetes etc..) their own home equipment (tables, chairs, beds, dishes, cupboards, radios, and all others units…), theirs personal items (clothes, shoes, etc..) little things to feel good and proud at home, glad to live in their village.

Conclusion

Collective awareness, training and education must be our top priorities. We need to think about the stakes of local, national and international solidarity and the challenges which are ours as for the development of our country.

Reinforcement of competences and capacities of young Cameroonians eager to engage in development projects and also their valorisations as well as achievements in designing and formulating policies and development programs.

We must maintain our objectives of initiation, management and/or support of any activity privileging solidarity and well-being of individuals as well as communities.

To conceive and/or set up all socio-economic and cultural action aiming to unleash and promote the latent creative potential and talent of the African population.

We’ll also have to create means of follow up and evaluation of micro-projects.

We must consider a new approach of development integrating both rural and urban societies. “Live together, think together for the common good” is now possible and necessary.

This is both possible and necessary. Possible, because if we work all together we will allow these populations to become “visible” with regard to social and political issues. We must see that these populations become increasingly important actors of our new society. Necessary, because it will allow the creation of conditions of common life, increasingly more convivial and favourable.

A social breakthrough toward peace constitute a requirement impossible to circumvent.

Bakoko

Ngan bi bè va voňo à Kamerun i lènè "molyan à lè nommé, mag milè à loh". naň ag minè nè kaanè obiè be mut nyeg anga suň mene à bitaga bitjen bi likanyè likombo, mininga nyè be li lanke li djam todja. In djonè, mikong mibiè ngandag b’elite (member mi gouvernement) mo nè mi nga bon se développer voňo ye. A nyu nan nè ibanda ilè itjen à bon nè bot bipamban à liyè la mbe à niň.

Traduction française

Le dicton de l’heure au Cameroun est que "mon frère est nommé, je suis en haut". ce qui signifie que si vous n’avez personne dans la haute sphère de la république, vous êtes voué à la misère total. Par conséquent, les coins les plus développés actuellement sont ceux qui ont le plus grand nombres d’élites (membres du gouvernement). Un combat sans merci doit être mené afin de sortir les populations de la pauvreté et de la malnutrition.

Traduction anglaise

The actual saying in Cameroon is that « my brother is appointed, I’m on top » basically means that if you have nobody in the high sphere of the republic, you’re dedicated to a total misery. consequently the most developed places (regions, villages, cities) at this present time are those who have the most large number of elites (meaning rich members of government).

A merciless fight must be led to bring the populations out of poverty and malnutrition.

[A very good effort. One can feel the legitimate growing frustration of the population in the villages of the ivory Coast. The issue is very complex, as for so many other African Countries. I do hope we shall be able to simplify complexities in your country. I have made a few corrections; these are minimal so as not to change your own style (well, I hope so).]

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- French Translation: [Read more...]

- Projet - Schéma: [Read more...]

- Interface Research in Agriculture - Recherche Interfaciale dans le domaine de l'agriculture: "Projet d'amélioration du bien-être et de la qualité de vie dans la population du Cameroun": [Read more...]