Many young people in Cameroon do not see a future for themselves in their own country. Yet it doesn’t have to be that way. One local programme is designed to boost employment and encourage peaceful coexistence. To date, it has created over 3,000 jobs.
It’s not easy for young people in northern Cameroon. Unemployment is high in the country’s northern provinces, and up to three-quarters of the seven million who live here have no income. Social structures are very rigid and hierarchical. It is usually elders who take important decisions and occupy key official positions. Young people are frequently excluded from any role in shaping social policy. Violent and extremist groups exploit this situation in order to recruit new followers.
On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is working to improve this situation by enhancing the economic prospects of young people in the country through work and training opportunities. The programme targets those who want to set up their own business.
To date, 4,500 people have attended training courses, and 4,300 have received support to help them set up a business. Since 2016, the programme has helped to create 3,400 new jobs, giving all those young people another important reason to stay in their home country.
Original source: GIZ
Published on 09 May 2019
