By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
Over Forty students from the Holy Infant School Complex have been urged to embrace their creative confidence as they graduated from a intensive six-month arts training program.
The graduation ceremony for the program’s first cohort took place on June 27 and was chaired by Juliette Foxx, Creator and Creative Consultant.
In partnership with the Kurt Geiger Kindness Foundation, Creative Corner offered free Saturday classes for youth aged 13 to 18. The initiative allowed participants to explore weaving, leatherwork, printmaking, jewelry-making, footwear design and bag design.
Local artisans taught the classes, passing down techniques rooted in Cameroon’s rich craft traditions while helping students explore contemporary design and fashion. The ceremony brought together students, families, instructors and members of Yaoundé’s creative community for an afternoon of fashion, crafts, student performances and awards.
“Build your confidence. Work hard,” Foxx told the graduates. “And I hope that none of you ever feel you have to leave because opportunity just doesn’t exist here for you.”
Foxx encouraged the students to hold on to the joy and confidence they discovered every time they completed a bag or a shoe.
“Hold on to the friendships that you’ve built here, and the laughter and the curiosity,” Foxx said. “Because there will be moments when life tries to convince you that your dreams are unrealistic, maybe you’re not talented enough, you’re not smart enough, or connected enough, or you’re not ready. I need you to do me a favor, and don’t believe it.”
She added that holding on to joy, kindness and hope are radical acts.
“So, every single one of you, my little creative rascals, I need you to stay radical,” Foxx said. “I can’t wait to wear your collections one day. I look forward to seeing you become future designers, entrepreneurs, makers, tastemakers and creative leaders who will shape the future of fashion.”
Reflecting on her own childhood, Foxx shared that she was always full of ideas and loved drawing and weaving on any piece of paper she could find, including her schoolbooks.
“I loved fashion before I knew what fashion really was,” she said. “And I loved creating before I ever understood that creativity could become a career.”
Neil Clifford, Chief Executive of Kurt Geiger, congratulated the students via a video message, emphasizing that creativity would remain one of their greatest strengths regardless of their chosen career paths.
Pascal who was in Cameroon on behalf of Kurt Geiger said, “Creativity is about solving problems; seeing opportunities where others see obstacles, having the confidence to imagine something different, and having the courage to bring it to life.”
For graduate Favour Chah, the past six months were challenging but transformative.
“it was very tough because we didn’t know we could do anything,” Chah said. We used raffia, we used marking touch, we used beads, we used several shiny things, yes, to arrange the bag, shoes. It was extremely amazing, and we are proud of it. We can say boldly that we will be able to deliver 100% on the opportunities given to us,” Chah said.
Confidence Chah, a parent of one of the graduates, expressed immense pride in the students’ progress.
“I feel extremely happy,” Chah said. “When they started in January, I looked at it as if it was just a joke. Some parents did not believe.”
Awunti Nah, from Holy Infant Academic Complex, noted that the training taught students to be respectful, open to alternative ideas and accepting of differences.
“Artists are the custodians of empathy,” Nah said. “We hold a mirror up to society, giving a voice to the voiceless, capturing the unspoken troubles of our communities and imagining worlds that do not yet exist.”
Nah urged the graduates to remain fearless and to protect art as a pursuit of freedom rather than just profit.
“Do not fear the difficult. Do not fear the unknown. Keep asking the hard questions,” Nah said. “Keep making mistakes and keep creating. The world needs your passion and your courage now more than ever.”
The next Creative Corner cohort is scheduled to begin in October, with plans to introduce more digital design instruction to the curriculum.
