Young people do not become changemakers simply because we tell them they can be.
They need opportunities to learn, to try new things, to work with others, to develop skills and, most importantly, to participate in solving problems around them.
This is at the heart of Youth & Contemporary Development (YCD)'s approach to youth empowerment.
As an organisation working to empower young people and build sustainable communities, we believe youth empowerment should extend beyond words. It should create opportunities for young people to gain knowledge, experience new ideas, contribute to their communities and gradually grow into people who can lead change.
Over time, our work has taken different forms — from school engagements and environmental activities to sustainable agriculture, community initiatives and youth-led innovation.
Creating opportunities to learn
One of the ways YCD engages young people is through educational and awareness activities.
In schools, we have worked with students to explore issues such as environmental sustainability, waste management, climate action and sustainable agriculture.
These engagements give young people an opportunity to learn about issues that affect their communities while connecting those issues to everyday life.
At Government Bilingual High School (GBHS) Obala, for example, more than 60 students participated in an environmental engagement where they explored sustainability through games, discussions and practical activities.
The goal was not simply to give students information.
It was to help them see themselves as people who can make a difference.
Learning through participation
For us, empowerment also means participation.
YCD volunteers have taken part in activities ranging from ecological gardening and tree-related activities to community environmental initiatives.
During an ecological garden activity at Mboa Hub in Yaoundé, YCD volunteers joined other young changemakers to transform a space into a greener community environment.
They helped prepare the site, add soil, plant flowering plants and short-cycle vegetables, and creatively reuse old tyres as part of the garden.
Beyond the activity itself, the volunteers gained exposure to ecological gardening, teamwork, climate action and community-led environmental solutions.
These experiences matter because skills are often developed by doing.
A young person who participates in preparing a garden, planting a tree, working with a team or contributing to a community project is not simply attending an activity. They are gaining experience that can influence how they see themselves and their ability to contribute.
Young people developing solutions
Youth empowerment can also mean creating opportunities for young people to use their existing skills to solve problems.
The YCD Farmer Guide is one example.
The idea behind the project was to respond to challenges faced by farmers by developing a technology-based solution that could make agricultural information and support more accessible.
Young Cameroonians with skills in technology and development have been involved in building the solution, taking the idea through competitions and pitching opportunities, receiving feedback and improving it along the way.
Their journey has allowed them to apply their skills to a real community problem while gaining experience in innovation, teamwork, pitching and solution development.
For YCD, this is an important part of empowerment: young people are not only beneficiaries of development; they can also be part of building the solutions.
From participation to leadership
Our work with young people is also about creating spaces where they can take responsibility.
Through volunteer activities and community engagements, young people have opportunities to work together, coordinate activities, communicate ideas and contribute their skills.
Some volunteers have taken responsibility for communication. Others have contributed technical skills, environmental knowledge or community mobilisation.
These experiences may begin with something small, but they can become building blocks for confidence, leadership and civic participation.
Why this matters to YCD
Youth empowerment is one of YCD's core areas because we believe sustainable communities need young people who are equipped to participate in them.
That means creating opportunities for young people to:
- learn new knowledge and skills;
- understand the challenges affecting their communities;
- participate in practical activities;
- develop confidence and leadership;
- use their talents to contribute to solutions; and
- become active members of their communities.
Our work is still growing, and we are continuing to explore ways to create more structured opportunities for young people to learn, participate and lead.
From classrooms to community spaces, from environmental activities to technology projects, each experience contributes to a larger goal.
We want young people to see that they are not simply waiting for the future. They can participate in shaping it today.
At YCD, we will continue creating spaces where young people can gain knowledge, discover their abilities and turn those abilities into meaningful action.
Empowering Youth. Building Sustainable Communities.