SEEPD Partnership with Bamenda III Council Continues to Record Strides in Inclusive Development
Councils in the Northwest Region continue to put in place strategies to promote inclusion in their developmental actions.
Even though some of the Councils are still to fully understand the concept of inclusion, some have already taken steps to promote inclusion in their municipalities. This is thanks to the partnership between the CBC Health Services, the SEEPD program, and some Councils through the United Councils and Cities of Cameroon (UCCC) to promote inclusion in the Northwest Region.
Amongst the Councils in the Northwest Region that have recorded strides in inclusion is the Bamenda III Council which recently organized an inclusive holiday job with over 200 youths amongst which were 15 youths with disabilities recruited. During the holiday job, the SEEPD program was invited to build the capacity of the youths on inclusion. A team from the SEEPD program drilled the youths on disability laws, disability rights, inclusive development, and child safeguarding.
The inclusive holiday job culminated with an inclusive Royal Tournament Sports organized by the Council to promote peace and development by mainstreaming disability in the activities of the Council. The tournament took place recently in Nibung Primary School field Nkwen Bamenda and was attended by the Council officials, UNDP, and the SEEPD program. The UNDP is working with the Council to promote peace in the Council activities.
Presiding over the tournament, the Divisional Officer of Bamenda III Subdivision in the presence of Fon Azehfor III of Nkwen, lauded the efforts of the Council in promoting inclusion. He pledged financial support to Internally Displaced Children for the 2023/2024 academic year.
The Bamenda III Council Mayor, Fongu Cletus noted that the event served as a unifying and mobilizing factor towards peace and development. He added that the high level of enthusiasm and zeal that characterized the inclusive tournament was a motivation for the Council to acquire a piece of land for the construction of a multipurpose center to train persons with disabilities. The Mayor urged the inhabitants of the Bamenda III municipality to continue supporting the activities of the Council in a bid to build sustainable peace and development.
Representing the SEEPD program, Community Based Inclusive Development (CBID) Officer, Mr. Bunyuy Emmanuel commended the efforts of the Bamenda III Council in promoting inclusion in their activities.
The tournament was characterized by sporting disciplines such as football, and handball amongst others which ended with the award of prizes to the winners. One of the participants of the tournament who is a person with visual impairment, Ndim Clément Yuh, the captain of the winning team for the persons with visual impairment received a sum of 75,000fcfa. He appreciated the Bamenda III Council for organizing such a tournament that considers persons with disabilities. He implored other stakeholders in the Northwest Region to intentionally mainstream inclusion in their activities.
Cash prizes were also given to the best goalkeeper, best player, and best fan club. There were also awards for fair play, Golden Boot, and highest goal scorer. The winning team, Alahlie FC defeated Legacy FC, 1-0 to take the prize of 700,000FCFA.