“Yes, we can reduce the unemployment rate among youths in Cameroon. Analysis of data on vacancies and unemployment, as well as data on geographic and industry skill mismatch finds no evidence that unemployment is mainly due to a mismatch of jobs and workers. Instead, an increase in demand for goods and services would almost certainly bring down the unemployment rate. The solution for unemployment is, of course, to create new jobs. The problem is not the lack of practical ways and resources to address joblessness but rather the need for a change in mentalities on a large scale and control over our resources. —“

Chameg Cameroon fervently believes that to achieve real change, our post 2015 framework should focus on building the capacities of youths and women and empowering them to fight against poverty and joblessness.

CHANGING MENTALITIES AND EMPOWERING GROUPS –CHAMEG- as our name indicates is adopting a new development frame work to reform the mentalities of our decision makers through our example of prioritizing youth and women`s empowerment to attain better livelihood and job creation.

It is for this reason that CHAMEG articulated a proposal and obtained a sponsorship of $16,000 from the African Women Development Fund (AWDF) to emancipate 200 women and youths on “Integrated Farming of Non-Conventional Agricultural Products “vis-à-vis ERU, SNAILS AND MUSHROOM.

A pre project study revealed a very high demand for these products in Cameroon and neighboring Nigeria. This outcome coupled with the good road network linking Bamenda and Abakiliki, and Kumba to Mamfe presented CHAMEG with a veritable niche to capitalize on and thus transform the lives of especially women who are disproportionately represented among the poorest and most marginalized in our nation. Our widely popularized AWDF project located in Eyanchang and Etemetek villages has culminated in the nursing of 10.000 Eru pots including 3 snail farms by the beneficiaries.

Correspondingly, over 50 families in and out of the participating communities have already procured and opened up Eru gardens, and 350 youths and women trained and coached on the growing of Eru and snails. In our desire to attain greater sustainability, CHAMEG has stepped up the project chain by initiating the processing of Eru and snails for better nutrition and the creation of more jobs.

SO WHAT NEXT? The next aching issue is to reach out to collaborators and partners who can make our commitment encouraging by supporting CHAMEG`s Food Processing Enterprise through publicity, media and by identifying clients and markets for our products and above all, assisting Chameg to access machines and equipment to ensure better and quality services.