Over 30 youths from the northern regions of Cameroon arrived in Yaounde on Wednesday, July 10. It was at 8:45 a.m. that the train carrying some 38 youths for the holiday camp in Ebolowa in the South Region arrived at the Yaounde railway station in the Elig Essono neighbourhood yesterday July 10, 2013. The students came from the North, Far North and Adamawa regions. On hand to receive them were officials of the Ministry of Tourism and Leisure.

Iris Chanyibo Ngomena, 14, Form One student in the Government High School Maroua is visiting Yaounde for her first time. She said the journey from Yaounde to Ebolowa will enable her discover Ebolowa and know more about the southern part of the country. Iris said she will like to encourage her friends who did not participate to join them next year. The story is similar to that of Elfried Saha Lontchi Mamopi, 11, a Form Two student at College de Mazenod, Ngaoundere in the Adamawa Region. She said the holiday camp is the best opportunity for her to know her country.

The holiday camp is within the framework of activities of the Ministry of Tourism and Leisure to improve the management of holiday activities in Cameroon. Two pilot holiday camps have been organised this year in Ngaoundere in the Adamawa Region and Ebolowa in the South Region under the theme, “Useful and favourable holidays in Cameroon”. The objective is to give youth healthy and educative leisure activities through attractive and creative holidays.

The holiday camp which runs from July 10 to July 22, 2013 will give the youths an opportunity discover and love their country. From Yaounde, the youths travelled to Ebolowa yesterday after being received by the Minister of Tourism and Leisure, Bello Bouba Maïgari. Activities in the camp will include educative talks, leisure sports, cultural activities, excursions, and societal games.