U.S EXCHANGE PROGRAMS ALUMNI NETWORK HOLDS IN YAOUNDE

 For 3days, they shared with youth leaders, CSOs, and USG Alumni best practices, expose existing United States Government contributions and also in a bit to foster US ties with Cameroon for further positive impact.

Alumni and authorities pose for family pictu

The second edition of the Cameroon Alumni National Symposium held on the Campus of the National School of Administration and Magistracy, ENAM-Yaounde. The symposium was organized by the US Exchange Alumni Network Cameroon. This umbrella association was created in April 2022 for all existing USG exchange programs alumni, with objective to synergize alumni efforts.  

The symposium brought together fellows who had participated in any of the U.S Exchange Programs and Cameroonian youth working with CSOs and Youth Leaders. This year’s USG Alumni Network Cameroon held under the theme: DRIVING YOUTH ACTIONS FOR CAMEROON’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. For 3days, they shared with youth leaders, CSOs, and USG Alumni best practices, expose existing United States Government contributions and also in a bit to foster US ties with Cameroon for further positive impact.

The event in Yaounde-Cameroon was under the distinguished patronage of the United States Embassy in Cameroon and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Civic Education.

While opening activities at ENAM on April 28, 2023, the US ambassador to Cameroon, H.E Christopher J. Lamora called on the alumni which is made up of Fulbright, PAYLP, Mandela Washington Fellows, YES, SUSI, TechGirls, or Humphrey program alumni to work in synergy in order to drive youth actions for economic development in Cameroon. 

“Together, you are a force” ambassador Lamora said. “This symposium is testament to the results you can achieve when you work together for collective outcome” he continued.

To the Board Chair of the USG Alumni Network Cameroon, Josue NOUKAM, he lauded the efforts and collaboration existing between the Government of Cameroon and the United States Department of State. He says the bilateral relations between these countries have contributed greatly over the years to finding practical solutions to gaps in access to health, good governance and the rule of law, human rights and democracy, peace and violent extremism, women’s rights, and youth  entrepreneurship to name a few.

Some of the alumni told us how participating in these exchanged programs have helped the communities back in Cameroon.

Meet Ngenang Cheyip Kulu. She is SG, USE-SPAAN and YALI RLC.

”I attended the program in 2018 in Accra Ghana and was part of the civic leadership track. It was our duty to come back and carry out community service, create focal points, take down community problems and channel them for policy making… I had a vision to work with children because I did law… in Ghana, the ideas were coordinated and we came up with children’s rights center in Buea.” 

 

Another participant who shared his success story with us and how he drives change in Cameroon is a senior Lecturer in the University of Ngaoundere, a chemical engineer and Fulbright Senior from the IUP in the United States, Dr. JIMOU Jacques Romain.

”I received a grant from the US Embassy that permitted me to spend 1year as Fulbright scholar at IUP. My research focused on producing material that can be used against water pollution. I synthesized the material that can now challenge world water technology that makes use of chlorine which is detrimental to human health. I manufactured a filter in order to provide safe drinking water. When I came back, I trained many students and my colleagues, and also engaged in community development”