By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
After a month of competition and community, internally displaced persons (IDPs) are leaving the 2025 Na We We Sports Jamboree with renewed hope and a stronger sense of belonging. The event, which concluded on August 31 in Bertoua, fostered social cohesion and collaboration among participants.
The fourth edition of the jamboree, held under the theme “Uniting Through Sports,” brought together IDPs, refugees, and members of host communities. It wasn’t just about athletic competition; participants also took part in bonfires, discussions on drug abuse and gender-based violence (GBV), and celebrated their togetherness by roasting corn.
Teams with powerful names like “Non à la haine” (No to Hate), “Stop VBG” (Stop GBV), Unity 4 Peace, and “Amour” (Love) competed in sports like football and handball, reflecting the event’s core messages.
The closing ceremony at Stade Mokolo in Bertoua featured several community-focused activities, including a cleanup exercise to promote environmental stewardship, an election workshop to encourage youth engagement in democratic processes, and a tree-planting initiative to foster community involvement and sustainability.
Organizers say these activities align with the jamboree’s broader goals of creating safe spaces for dialogue, raising awareness of critical social issues, and inspiring youth leadership.
Bertoua Mayor, Jean Marie Dimbélé Sodéa praised the initiative, stating that the jamboree reinforced the existing “living together” spirit of his town. “I am very happy to host this year’s edition of the Na We We sports jamboree,” he said. “Bertoua is a town where everyone feels at home, and this jamboree came to reinforce the living together that has been existing.”
The event is an initiative of Local Youth Corner (LOYOC), which has used sports since 2022 as a tool for conflict prevention, social cohesion, and health promotion. This year’s month-long event, which began on August 2, featured guest appearances from former Cameroonian football star Tchoutang Bernard and artists Joly Garcon, Ibrahim Moustapha, Aristide Mpacko, and Petit Malo.
Since its launch, the Na We We Sports Jamboree has reached over 3,800 IDPs and mobilized 1,500 athletes across three previous editions in Douala, Yaoundé, and Bafoussam. The events have engaged more than 300,000 people in person and over 2 million through media coverage, showcasing the program’s significant impact.
