National volunteer programme envisaged

Volunteering in Cameroon will soon get a boost with the completion of work on a national programme. Speaking in Yaounde on Saturday December 5, 2015, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the International Volunteer Day, the Minister of Youth Affairs and Civic Education, Mounouna Foutsou, said discussions were underway with volunteering stakeholders to finalise work on the document. The Minister disclosed that a national volunteering strategy had already been developed.

Mounouna Foutsou added that volunteerism is helpful in developing youth skills in development in order for them to become more useful to their communities. With theme, “The world is moving. Are you? Volunteer!” the Minister enjoined youth to get involved in finding solutions to the world’s challenges such as climate change, Ebola and moral decadence, by volunteering their services. He said this was in line with Vision 2035, adding that celebrating the International Volunteer Day is about celebrating the contribution of young people to the socio-economic development of communities, promotion of solidarity and humanitarian activities and the preservation of world peace.

Earlier, Galima Chus, the representative of UN Volunteers in Cameroon, read the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon’s statement on the occasion. Ban Ki-moon said volunteerism transcends boundaries, religions and cultural divides, lauding the role of volunteers in tackling the recent Ebola epidemic in West Africa. He pointed to the place of volunteers in alleviating poverty, saying the 6,300 UN volunteers assisting millions of people all over the world today ensure sustainable development and maintenance of peace.