Anne-Marie Ateh, UB student on Internship
Just about in its 5th year of
existence, the Cameroon Football Development Program has proven that it is a
force to reckon with as far as youth training in the different domains of live
are concerned. Based in Kumba, the CFDP
has as mission to improve the lives of youth of Africa through an innovative
approach to sports for development.
On Friday the 7th of
August 2015, hundred of youths from across the North West and South west
regions gathered at the Nkwen Baptist Church Field at Menda Mille III to play
the finale of the their super cup which commenced some months back.
Speaking at the finale, Mr.
Dione Collins, the director of operations for CFDP Said the event was just a
beginning of more events to come. He reiterated the fact that their mission was
not to train football players as such but to train young people on youth
leadership and patriotism. According to him, football which is a rallying
factor could easily be used to inculcate in the youths the culture of respect,
fair play and leadership skill. He further thanked volunteers and other
stakeholders in the program for their sense of sacrifice and dedication in
assuring that the project was a success.
His allocutions were closely
followed by that of the Chief Executive Officer of the Program, Justin Forzano
who clearly outlined the core values of CFDP. Some of the values include the
training of youths of both sexes to able to impact the lives of other youths,
be able to educate yourself about social impact goals, be a role model, be able
to exhibit the spirit of fair play in all undertakings and to be able to serve
as community leaders in their various communities.
It is worth noting that the CFDP deals with
youths from 12 to 18 years of both sexes to ensure gender balance. The girl
child in particular must be trained and given skills so she could also serve
and get involved in productive program that can better her community. The
stereotype role given the women in most African communities must not be allowed
to kill the talents in young girls.
Some of the teams that took
place in the finals came as far as from Ndu in Donga Mantung Division, Mamfe
Kumba and Ndom in the South West Region. Apart from transporting, lodging and
feeding these youths in Bamenda, a workshop was also organized to impact on
them greater skill on leadership and live changing core values.
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