Prior to leaving the country, the Secretary General of the DOEF visited the National Youth Council and Youth Empowerment Centres in Yaounde on July 17, 2015.
It was an enthusiastic crowd of young people that welcomed the visiting Secretary General of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, John May Cecil, on Friday July 17, 2015, at the National Directorate of State Awards in Yaounde. It was an opportunity for the visiting Secretary General to discuss with the youths on some pertinent issues concerning the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. Even Muslim youths sacrificed the celebration of the feat of Ramadan to welcome the Secretary General.
During the discussions, John May Cecil called on the youths to believe in themselves, their ideas and the power of other people to make their dreams happen. The Africa Regional Director of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, Edwin Kemani, who accompanied the Secretary General, said Cameroon is a pillar for Africa as it is bilingual and has young people from different linguistic zones. The Director of State Awards, Emmanuel Sanyi, said the visit of the Secretary General was a boost to efforts made by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Civic Education. The story was the same at the National Youth Council and the Multipurpose Youth Centre in Mimboman, Yaounde.
The day ended with a expanded working session at the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Civic Education. The meeting took place in the presence of the Minister, Dr. Bidoung Mkpatt, officials of the ministry and regional delegates and youths, and other cabinet ministers. The Secretary General of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Foundation said the foundation has many opportunities to help many young people develop skills, improve their behaviour and attitudes that will lead to self-employment.
He stressed that the award is a description of things youths can do outside classroom, exploring more than one’s academic knowledge. John May Cecil said any one can joke with anything in life, but cannot joke with experience. Therefore, the award can help develop leadership skills, character and community service through physical activities. The award programme, which has been running since 1956, is currently present in 104 countries across the world.
