By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
The president of the Cameroon Red Cross, Cécile Akame Mfoumou, has called on young people to exhibit the “exemplary commitment” they showed during the “Vacances Secours, Vacances-Loisirs” program. She said they are the future of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent movement.
Cécile Akame Mfoumou made the statement while closing the 7th edition of the “Vacances Secours, Vacances-Loisirs” program. She was accompanied by a number of dignitaries, including the representative of the Minister of Youth Affairs and Civic Education among others.
“To you, dear children, I would like to congratulate you warmly for your active participation and your exemplary commitment throughout this year’s edition,” Cécile Akame Mfoumou said.
She added, “You are the relief and the future of our movement. You have shown that one can be young and already bear the values of peace, humanity, respect and service. You are this relief that we are proud of and in which we place great hopes.”
Cécile Akame Mfoumou stated that for several weeks, the children took part in activities that not only strengthened their knowledge of the Red Cross and Red Crescent but also promoted national culture, education, citizenship, morality, discipline and human solidarity.
“Beyond games and leisure, this program has been a real school of life,” she said. “It has allowed our young participants to initiate the mastery of first aid gestures.”
She added, “Through all these activities, we have transmitted the values and fundamental principles of our movement: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, universality.”
Cécile Akame Mfoumou said these principles are not just words but “profound commitments” that give meaning to the movement’s actions and “that we have in our hearts to transmit to each generation.”
While thanking partners, the government and others, she called on parents to continue to “accompany, listen and encourage their children” so they can “train young people to the values of humanity, so that we can build a fairer, stronger, more resilient and more solidary society.”
Jean Urbain Zoa, secretary general of the Cameroon Red Cross, stressed the importance of “Vacances Secours, Vacances-Loisirs” program to the national society. He said it is a way to reinforce “the ideals of the movement, the promotion of humanitarian values, living together, the promotion of first aid measures and also the valorization of cultural heritage.”
“These activities have allowed us to familiarize the youth with the ideals of our movement,” Jean Urbain Zoa. “I would also like to say that this is an activity that extends throughout the territory through the various departmental and surrounding committees of our movement.”
Valeray Noumi Ngansop of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Regional Delegation for Central Africa, said, “The future is being built today. The future is being built now, and it is today that we train the volunteers of tomorrow.”
He added, “And knowing that the volunteers are the base, the only foundation of the Red Cross and that it is a priority for the national society, it was natural that the International Red Cross Committee accompanies the national society in this project whose importance is no longer to be demonstrated, because it is today that we constitute the future base of the national society.”
The young participants expressed their appreciation for being a part of the event, stating that it helped them learn about “living in society.” They said they had talks on civic values, peace consolidation and the promotion of tolerance and solidarity, among other topics.
During the closing ceremony, the Cameroon Red Cross distributed school kits to the youth, encouraging them to study hard. The children also gave performances that included musical numbers, Chinese-language demonstrations, modern and traditional dances, and first-aid actions.
The Cameroon Red Cross said this year’s edition, like previous ones, helped young people and adolescents learn about the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, contribute to human dignity, and find new volunteers. It also helped to “break certain linguistic cultural barriers between children and to develop in young people the sense of solidarity of sharing and the patriotic spirit.”
