Archive for the 'Culture' Category
The first ever Moghamo-American Cultural Festival, taking place on November 22 in Batibo, will be a day long event highlighting and celebrating the traditional culture of the Moghamo people, American culture, and the work of Peace Corps in Cameroon. There will be traditional dances, dishes, and music; cratfs and artisans; free HIV testing; resources and information from local community development, health, and agriculture organizations; demonstrations and sensitizations by PCVs from around the NW province relating to their various fields of work; displays of Moghamo and American culture; practical information about the American presence in Cameroon; and performances of American music and dance by PCVs.
The festival is designed to draw a large crowd and expose them to as much information as possible while also celebrating the culture and tradition of the area. Traditional rulers, local elites, government officials, and representatives of Peace Corps and possibly the U.S. Embassy will be attending as well as citizens from all 22 villages of Batibo subdivision. Essentially, we are trying to publicize this event as much as possible. If there is any way that you can help us get the word out to people here who might be interested in attending, it would be greatly appreciated. And if you have any questions or would like more information please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Thanks!
Seth Shapiro
PCV, Batibo, NW
75 34 85 95
sshapiropccam@yahoo.com
J’ai l’honneur de venir aupres de votre haute bienveillance solliciter de l’aide pour la bibliotheque publique de Loum.
Je suis Camerounais, ne a Loum (Arrondissemant de Loum) Departement du Moungo, Province du Littoral.
Je suis un ancien employe de la CamCCULL ( Cameroon Cooperative Credit Union League Limited ). J’ai eu a exerce mes functions comme Inspecteur des Caisses Populaires de Fevrier 1986 a Septembre 1992 dans les provinces de l’Ouest , du Littoral, du Centre et du Sud ceci avec l’aide de certains volontaires du Corps de la Paix donc la liste serait tres longue pour citer les noms.
Avec mon esprit de cooperateur, j’ai toujour voulu faire quelque chose pour aider les gens et en m’inspirant de ma jeunesse, j’ai donc decider de creer une bibliotheque publique gratuite dans la ville de Loum.
Le Sous-Prefect ( Monsieur Tang Theodore) et le representant du maire de la ville ont eu a inaugure cette bibliotheque le 04 Octobre 2008.
Cette bibliotheque contient 700 livres en Anglais, 60 livres en Francais, 1 piano, une guitare, 46 CD de musique, 20 DVD, 1 radio
40 VHS cassettes, 1 VCR et 1 poste de television.
Loum etant une ville de la zone francophone, 60 livres en francais est vraiment insignifiant, c’est pourquoi je fais recours aupres de mes Amis du Cameroun pour leur aide materiel ou financiaire. Tous ce qui est necessaire pour l’education sera vraiment apprecie par la population de Loum.
Mon addresse est la suivante: 3603 11th NW Washington, DC 20010
Pour un contact direct avec la bibliotheque voici l’addresse:
BIBLIOTHEQUE PUBLIQUE MOSART NKWEMI BP 16 LOUM CAMEROUN.
Vous trouverez attachees a cette correspondence les photos d’inauguration, Je n’ai pas pu envoyer les photos video a cause du nombre limites des Megabites, neanmoins je peux vous les envoyer par voie postale si vous me communiquez votre addresse.
Merci de votre bonne cooperation:
Mosart Nkwemi
The Post (Buea)
14 September 2008
By Kini Nsom
All the 10 colonels invited to attend a conference on corruption in the Cameroonian army boycotted the opening ceremony at Azur Hotel, Yaounde on August 8.
Organised by the United States Embassy in Cameroon, the conference was aimed at reducing the incidence of corruption in the Cameroonian army. Instead, only two civilians working with the Ministry of Defence were sent to attend the conference.
The week-long seminar in collaboration with the US Defence Institute of International Legal Studies, following reports that the Cameroonian army reeks of high-level corruption.
Attention has been focused only on other sectors of the Cameroonian society. While low-ranking soldiers cried out against embezzlement by their bosses, the press looked away from them.
One journalist, Duke Atangana, who published an article condemning corruption in the military was arrested and detained for a week.Speaking at the opening of the conference, the US Ambassador to Cameroon, Janet Elizabeth Garvey, said it was necessary for corruption to be checked in the army, given that every franc of the taxpayers’ money should fully be accounted for.
She said it was incumbent on the authorities to check corruption in the army because a corrupt army would be weak and ineffective.To her, corruption diverts into private pockets funds that are allocated for the training of soldiers and the purchase of military equipment.
Garvey remarked that the conference could be part of a process by which Cameroonians, through their own efforts, would succeed in pulling this country out of the bottom ranking of the world’s most corrupt countries and into an era of better governance and greater prosperity.
The secrecy and sensitivity that necessarily shroud defence budgets, she stated, provide an opportunity for corruption and mismanagement.The diplomat said at a time that the Bakassi Peninsula has been handed back to Cameroon, the Cameroonian army shoulders enormous responsibilities and faces daunting challenges to protect the citizens.
She said Cameroon’s armed forces will not be able to accomplish their missions unless the budget of the military is properly allocated, to allow for training and maintenance, and disbursed to reach the soldiers in the field rather than fill some corrupt officials’ pockets.
Garvey quoted some soldiers as telling her that it is normal for senior officials to skim from the military budget to build themselves fancy homes or throw elaborate parties.
Said she; “they have said that it is normal for troops in the field who are risking their lives to protect the nation’s security to go without their proper food and health benefits because the money never reached them.”
The Ambassador dismissed the claim that corruption is part of Cameroon’s culture. To her, corruption is an affliction, an act of weakness, of selfishness that occurs everywhere in the world.
The difference, she remarked is that in Cameroon, corruption is life-threatening.She called on Cameroonians to put their nation ahead of themselves and think about their children and future generations.
She also urged them to risk their lives to do what they know is right; refuse to engage in corruption and blow the whistle on those who steal from the people of Cameroon.
Garvey singled out some soldiers with Cameroon armed forces for being patriotic enough to put their country ahead of their selfish interests. “Cameroon’s soldiers have volunteered to risk their lives to protect their country on the battlefield, to face guns and sneak attacks.
Now, they must show the same bravery and courage in standing up against corruption. You must take a stand, an act of courage and bravery to stem corruption in the armed services, and in so doing, to save Cameroon,” she said.
Opening the conference, the Minister Delegate in the Ministry of Justice and Keeper of the Seals, Prof. Maurice Kamto, lauded the US Embassy for taking the initiative.He described corruption as the greatest crime against the people of Cameroon.
He highlighted some anti-corruption measures government has taken, saying it has the commitment and the political will to fight corruption, adding that the recent arrest and detention of some corrupt officials is a glaring testimony that government is determined to go the whole hog against the cankerworm.
Kamto said in this vein, more corrupt heads in high places will roll.For his part, John P. Mchoughin, the Regional Programme Director of the Defence Institute of the International Legal Studies in Africa, said they were determined to help Cameroon in the fight against corruption.
He said corruption exacerbates every other problem that society has because it undermines the law and misallocates resources that are meant for development.The President of the Anti-corruption Commission, Paul Tessa, MPs and some government officials attended the conference.
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Join the Friends of Cameroon at the Annual Cameroonian Cultural Festival, ???????????? set to take place at the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, Maryland on Saturday, June 21, 2008 from 5 PM to 11 PM.
The annual event showcases more than 30 Cameroonian cultural groups performing traditional dances, and Cameroonian foods and handicrafts will be on sale. The event is a fun-filled, cultural event for the whole family. Enjoy live entertainment, discover hidden treasures, connect with old friends and develop new associations while you explore Cameroon!
The Show Place Arena is located at 14900 Pennsylvania Avenue, Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20772. Ample free parking is available.
Archived information on the festival can be found at http://www.accff.org/
A new site, CultureCrossing.net, is requesting your help. Please check out the Culture Crossing Questionnaire. They would like to have this completed by any and all who have experience in Cameroon. Just download it, answer the questions as best you can and email to the address listed.
Below is information about CultureCrossing.net:
CultureCrossing.net is a community built guide to cross cultural etiquette and understanding for living, working and studying in the global community.
CultureCrossing.net is an evolving database of cross-cultural information about every country in the world. This user-built guide allows people from all walks of life to share essential tips with each other about how to navigate our increasingly borderless world with savvy and sensitivity. Easy to navigate, free to use, and organized into topics such as communication styles, eye contact, gestures, taboos, dress, negotiations, meeting etiquette, school rules, gift giving, and more; CultureCrossing.net provides an opportunity for travelers, businesses and students to:
* Find information about 200+ countries and add your own knowledge to our guides
* Ask specific questions and chat with other users and experts
* Connect directly with community members from around the world
* Access global resources to further your cross-cultural exploration
In addition to the community-built country guides the site will also feature:
STAR CROSSINGS: weekly interviews in which highly regarded “stars” from various fields (business, creative arts, politics, education, etc.) share their cross-cultural experiences.
FORUM: discussion forum monitored and moderated by CultureCrossing.net staff experts
CULTURE CRASH BLOG: highlighting common cross-cultural issues and faux pas.
CULTURE IQ QUIZ: weekly quizzes that let you test your Cultural IQ and track your scores.
CX CONNECT: free social networking tool allowing members to connect through a secure form.
WHY CultureCrossing.net
Culture influences our behavior in countless ways—subconsciously guiding our actions, reactions and interactions. In order to successfully engage with the global community, it’s essential to understand how culture affects the way we socialize, communicate, and do business. Managing a multicultural team? Transitioning to a life abroad? Developing international partnerships? Just curious about world cultures? No matter who you are, CultureCrossing.net will facilitate all of your international experiences and deepen your cross-cultural understanding, which in turn will cultivate peace in our interconnected world.
WHO WE ARE
CultureCrossing.net was founded by a few individuals with a passion for exploring the world and a commitment to fostering cross-cultural awareness and understanding. The organization also relies on the support of a team of professionals, students, and community members from around the globe to build, manage and grow our ever-expanding database.
Michael Landers
Director – Culture Crossing
Email: michael@culturecrossing.net
www.culturecrossing.net
Since the organization was established in 1987, the Friends of Cameroon has funded more than two dozen village-based development projects in Cameroon, valued at more than $30,000. Projects have been located throughout the provinces of Cameroon, and have included a foot bridge in Kumba in the South West, a safe for Maga Health Clinic in the Extreme North, a beekeeping project in Njinikom in the North West, and a school for the deaf in Yaounde. Projects typically are in the health, education, and community development sectors.
The most recent projects funded were four community-based development projects worth 1.589.670 CFA ($3,117) FCFA, were located in Makak in the Center, Mvangan in the South, Batouri in the East, and in Yagoua, Extreme North Provinces, and focused on HIV/AIDS education and outreach. The projects were selected for the various methods proposed to reach out to local communities and educate the populations about the dangers of HIV/AIDS and how to protect against the deadly disease. The proposals were submitted by local organizations working in concert with Peace Corps Volunteers assigned to the areas.
FOC projects have included:
FOC support of $621 to the Club des Jeunes Aveugles Rehabilites du Cameroon helped the group, made upof blind and vision-impaired persons, expand their poultry business in Yaounde with the purchase of a freezer for their store.
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In 2004, FOC funded the purchase of a cassava grinder for the Neyokoty Ariey Cooperative in the Acha Etemetek village. The grinder, purchased for $820, helped the village group to expand its business while making the grinding of cassava more easily availableto the local community.
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One of FOC’s earliest projects was the construction of a footbridge crossing the Kumba River, easing the travel of villagers to the main market in Kumba. FOC contributed $1000 towards the construction of the bridge.
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In the Eastern Province, FOC support of $1,000 helped to purchase a mixed gas and electric refrigerator for the health clinic in Sokamalam, shown with the health center chief Nguel Isiclure. The fridge is used to store vaccines and allow the clinic to reach more people. The project was guided by PCV Jennifer Goldman.
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FOC supported the “Modern Beekeeping Project” of the Boyui Young Farmer’s Club in the North West, which allowed them to purchase needed equipment to improve their hives (such as the one under the arrow) and expand their honey production and group income.
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FOC project requirements
In order to be eligible for FOC funding, the applicant must live in Cameroon, be Cameroonian and/or working in Cameroon with either a private, non-profit organization, a cooperative or registered non-profit, or a village-based organization for by villagers for a communal purpose. The majority of the members of the applicant organization or the majority of the beneficiaries must be Cameroon citizens. It is required that the applicant is planning to provide, in cash or in kind, a minimum of one-fourth of the total cost of materials and/or labor of the project(s) supported by FOC funds.
The Friends of Cameroon was established in the United States in 1987, and the group’s members include persons who worked and lived in Cameroon as Peace Corps Volunteers, staff of the U.S. Embassy, USAID, and missionaries. The primary function of the organization is to keep members informed about Cameroon, continue to link those who served there, and to support small, community development projects in the country.
