
This is the second article in our series on the participation of people directly affected by extreme poverty. It discusses an advocacy document written by the members of the Association of Young Entrepreneurs of Bonassama (AJE), a member of our Forum based in Douala (Cameroon). The Forum’s coordination team learned about this document in May 2024 and organized a video conference to discuss it further in June 2024.
The Context
This advocacy document was written to promote the involvement of young people from impoverished neighborhoods in local governance, as part of a 2023 Cameroonian decentralization law.
The members of AJE had the great idea of inviting Marcellin, a member of an association called AJS (Youth Solidarity Association), who is also a young leader in a disadvantaged neighborhood of Douala.
The Forum’s coordination team was very excited about this advocacy document, and we wanted to share it on our website in three languages to allow as many people as possible, especially the Forum’s correspondents, to be inspired by it.
Citizen Participation in Cameroon
We particularly appreciated its content for three specific reasons.
First, it resonated with the theme of social and institutional maltreatment, which, as you know, is the umbrella theme of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty for the 2024-2025 period.
Next, it provided a distinctly African perspective on the importance of participation. Reading this document, learning how AJE managed through its advocacy to influence laws that emphasize the participation of all citizens in Cameroonian legislation, we joyfully realized that every African country has much to teach us about participation.
Finally, this document advocates for frank participation, a real partnership between local authorities, associations, and the population. You will see in the quotes we gathered during the interview that the document does not shy away from the difficulties involved.
As an introduction to its reading (the advocacy document is available at the end of this article), we offer you some powerful words heard during the interview in June 2024 with members of AJE and Marcellin from AJS.
The Difficult Connection Between Youth in Impoverished Neighborhoods and Local Authorities
Young people from impoverished neighborhoods often feel disconnected from politics, believing that these issues don’t concern them. However, local authorities seek their support during elections, promising changes that never materialize. Many are unaware that they have the right to participate in local development.
This reality prompted AJE to write this advocacy document, which has been supported by local counselors and neighborhood chiefs. However, this support remains indirect, and AJE is determined to inform young people of their rights and pressure for them to be considered in local governance.
Marcellin also highlighted the difficulty of engaging with young people. Associations play a key role in facilitating the expression of their concerns. He emphasized that to be heard, young people must unite and designate spokespeople.
Local authorities, despite creating citizen exchange activities, do not always meet expectations. AJE advocates for permanent dialogue spaces, beyond election periods. Informal discussions, often held outside of municipal offices, allow young people to express themselves freely, away from political influence.
Impoverished neighborhoods, due to their high population density, represent an important electoral base. However, once elected, candidates often forget their promises. AJE’s advocacy aims to strengthen the participation of young people in local governance to ensure they are genuinely represented.
AJE’s Initiatives to Strengthen Youth Civic Participation
Young people want to be heard, and for their initiatives to be valued. For example, some associations implement neighborhood improvement projects, but these efforts are often ignored by the local government.
AJE is working to create digital exchange platforms between elected officials and young people, facilitating communication and action. While some elected officials are open to this collaboration, others still need to recognize their role in serving the population beyond their political commitments.
The advocacy document also draws upon the Grand Dialogue, a process launched after the crisis caused by the secessionist ambitions of English-speaking groups, which resulted in recommendations for better decentralization of power. Yet, many elected officials do not fully understand the texts related to decentralization, which hinders the civic involvement of young people.
Young people from impoverished neighborhoods are ready to engage, but they need to be listened to and for their potential to be recognized. AJE helps them express themselves, receive training, and take control of their future. It is crucial that more actors in social justice emerge to amplify the voices of young people and change the mindset of local officials.
The Importance of Listening and Partnership in Decentralization in Cameroon
Local governance must evolve to truly integrate young people into the decision-making process, and for this to happen, initiatives like those of AJE are essential. By bringing young people and elected officials together at the same table, we can hope for a more just and inclusive future.
It was Marcellin, the young leader from an impoverished neighborhood, who concluded our discussion in June 2024 with the following words:
“ One can never get enough knowledge to carry out actions on the ground. Leading a life as a citizen is not easy. Because it’s not always easy when we do awareness in households and the father or mother may not listen to us during our sensitization efforts. As the saying goes: ‘An empty stomach has no ears.’ It’s really not easy to engage the population, to try to talk to them, to make them understand that impoverished neighborhoods are not the problem. From here come beautiful ideas and truly committed people. Yet they are often deceived by local elected officials.
“ And even when, sometimes, they accept the leaders, they no longer accept that we discuss together. Because we carry out actions together, but sometimes they remain reluctant. When we speak on their behalf, when we try to make them understand certain things, we don’t see the results, with the few resources we have, with the few actions we take, they are not always satisfied.
“ It really takes a love for others. You truly have to be big-hearted to get people to understand that the situation can improve, that the situation can change. We must support each other. We must move forward together. Because together, we can develop the neighborhood. We can accomplish great things. That’s what we try to communicate daily. . ”