The Greens networks with other Civil Society Organizations at a Workshop in the West Region of Cameroon organized by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung
Workshop on Climate Policy and Energy Securtiy Programme for Sub Saharan Africa (CLESAP)
We had a presentation by Stephane from Water for Life who served as our coordinator for the workshop and then a word of welcome from the representative of the Mayor of Dschang and a word from the representative of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Dr. Fopa who briefed us on the origin and work of the Stiftung as well as the goal of the workshop which was to build a national network of civil society organizations championing the fight against climate change and environmental protection.
Then we had a 15 minutes coffee break and networking session during which we connected with other environmental stakeholders from the West Region.
This was followed by a presentation of the Project and Water for Life by Anne Yemdji who drilled us about Water For Life and the work they do as well as the project, We Dynamics, We can Shape Our Future, whose principal goal is to connect young people and civil society organizations working to conserve the environment as a whole.
Some of Water For Life’s core activities focused on the education and engagement of young people in environmentalism and most especially the promotion of access to water for all.
@thegreens can collaborate with Water For Life in Community Tree Nursery Design, Construction and Management, Environmental Education, Advocacy as well as Water Catchment Protection.
Then we had Jato Emmanuel of Wowo Development and Cultural Association (WODECA) who talked to us about the work in their community.
@thegreens can assist WODECA to effectively train their water management committee, establish their community tree nursery to meet their tree needs and protect their water catchment as well train the community in forest friendly businesses.
Then came @mr-greens who presented @thegreens. Permit me use this opportunity to say nothing about us in this post, but promise to publish what we presented in a blog post tomorrow.
Then World Vision for Education Development (WVED) Cameroon by Neba Celestine whose principal role is to promote education for sustainable development among children via the award of medals, clubs etc.
@thegreens can collaborate with WVED to promote environmental education for children of WVED.
Then Mrs. Atanga Josephine who presented about Bamendakwe Rural Women Development Association which strives to educate and engage the rural women of Bamendakwe in sustainable environmental practices such as Apiculture, waste management etc. The rural association has actively advocated for Women’s land rights, GBV and the participation of women in decision and policy issues that concern the environment.
Tamasang Zita of Vision Cameroon in her eloquence talked about their organization and work of transforming youths into vision bearers who will actively participate in community development and the promotion of youth entrepreneurship and patriotism.
Tebi Louis from the Students and Youth Empowerment Forum (SYEF) who doubles as a Youth Parliamentarian for the Bafut-Tubah Community briefed us about the work of their organization. Some of their key projects focused in the domains of mental wellbeing, health and the promotion of youth activism.
The representative of Bambui Water Authority (BAWA), Abimweh Emile talked about the work they are doing in their community with respect to water catchment conservation and the provision of clean and portable drinking water to all inhabitants of the Bambui Community in Tubah Sub Division of the North West Region of Cameroon.
Reynard Paprika presented Strategic Humanitarian Service (SHUMAS) Cameroon, one of the leading giants in community development in Cameroon that has as vision, “a just one world and sustainable development”
In a few words, SHUMAS inspires us to keep doing what we do and their impact is immeasurable.
Some of SHUMAS key achievements include the provision of portable water to over 160 Communities, trained over 84 Communities in Sustainable Water Management, established a Renewable Energy Technical Center, built over 150 Toilets in schools, installed solar systems in over 14 Health Centers, etc
In total, over 13 civil society organizations of the North West Region attended the coffee session and pledged to;
- Network
- Organize capacity building workshops
- Research, advocate and make proposals that can promote the ratification of bill for water catchment protection.
- Connect with Konrad Stiftung to fund research on the quantity and quality of water that flows from our catchments
- Design and implement projects in synergy with one another, etc.
- Organize organizational exchange programs
@thegreens participation in this workshop, marks the beginning of new and strategic partnerships that will promote her goal of coloring the world green.
#Call2Action
The Greens is a grassroots environmental organization that strives to educate, inspire and engage young people to take action to combat climate change and be at the forefront of biodiversity conservation and waste management.
Founded in 2010, @thegreens have been able to use arts, sports, media and ICT to educate and engage more than 10,000 young people in Green Poetry, Green Music, Green Arts, Green Radio, and Conservation Champions League.
Her tree planting programs have seen the organization create 04 Community Tree Nurseries, planted more than 300,000 trees and together with @kedjom-keku we have acquired 1000 hectares of afromontane forest in Kedjom-Keku Village of the Bamenda Highlands of the North West Region of Cameroon for the creation and conservation of Kedjom-Keku Community Forest
@thegreens is currently engaged in Waste Management (Waste Business Hub); Plastic Waste Upcycling, Tire Upcycling and Textile Waste Recycling via @ecodesigns.
Her #EndPlasticPollution Campaign has seen the organization sensitize more than 100,000 people about plastic pollution, upcycled more than 10,000 plastic bottles to create UPB Vertical Gardens, UPB Tree Nursery Pots, etc.
Her Textile Recycling Project (@ecodesigns) is currently training 13 young girls for free in textile recycling and fashion designing and has recycled more than 5000 pounds of textile waste.
Her Tire Upcycling Project is educating and engaging young people in schools and communities to #StopBurningTires and upcycle them to create Mushroom Tire Seats, Tire Flower Pots, etc
Support us to continue to educate, inspire and engage young people to take action to combat climate change and be at the forefront of biodiversity conservation and waste management.