The event is in line with activities marking the 66th birthday of the United Nations come October 24th.
Students of Government Technical School, Nkolbisson and CETIC Charles Atangana, all in Yaounde had an educative encounter with four senior United Nations officials yesterday October 19, to share information about the United Nations as an organisation for the people. Meeting at the premises of Government Technical School, Nkolbisson, the interim representative of the UN Systems in Cameroon, Mariam Haile Aida, who is also the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Cameroon, said the event which is called UN4U (United Nations for You) is in line with a series of others to mark the United Nations Day which will be commemorated on October 24. The theme of the UN Day this year is; “Ways the UN Makes a Difference in Our Everyday Life”.
Mariam Haile Aida said UN4U is an initiative launched in 2008 by the UN Secretary General as a way to bring UN senior officials and staff in contact with students from schools and universities to share information about the UN. The target number of students to be reached this year as specified by the UN is approximately 90,000. During yesterday’s event, some 500 students had the opportunity to share information with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the representatives of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), International Telecommunications Union ITU) and that of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
Each representative explained to the students what they exactly do to make the world a better place for them. While Mariam Haile Aida talked on the humanitarian relief they give to refugees, Benoit Sossou discussed the assistance given to the education sector in the country. Alain Sibenaler of UNFPA informed youths on what his organisation is doing to handle issues concerning them, particularly those relating to the reproductive health of women and children as well as the increasing world population which will soon attain seven billion people by the end of this month. Jean Jacques Massima Landji of ITU said although Africans lacked creativity in the ICTs sector, technology is rapidly evolving in the region as a child of about 10 years can operate a mobile telephone without going through the phone handbook.
The students asked questions on the UN, giving the impression that the UN is biased when it comes to certain continents like Africa. While talking on the democratic nature of the UN, the speakers said the UN is for the students just as the students are for the UN. As such each of them should think of what they can do for the UN or what they want the UN to do for them.
