In a decisive bid to counter the compounding socio-economic vulnerabilities brought on by the protracted Anglophone crisis, Child Care Development Initiative (CCDI) a non-profit organization has officially launched the 4th edition of the Northwest Regional Summit on Peacebuilding, Sustainable Recovery, and Development. Running from June 13 through August 22, 2026, this multi-month community initiative aims to directly empower over 1,500 vulnerable teenagers in Bamenda and surrounding divisions.
The summit comes at a critical time when local youth face extreme protection risks, including forced school dropouts, economic exploitation, and radicalization. By deploying the globally recognized Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus framework, CCDI aims to steer vulnerable youth away from structural violence and toward sustainable self-reliance.
Speaking on the initiative, Dr. Alfred WUKU Kudi, Executive Director of CCDI, emphasized the role of youth in regional recovery:
"We cannot build a secure tomorrow if we leave our teenagers vulnerable today. Sustainable peace is the bi-product of inclusive education, functional skills, and economic dignity."
Throughout the summit, teenagers are being equipped with practical skills across diverse sectors including digital ICT bootcamps, solar and electrical installations, and climate-smart agricultural processing. Alongside technical trades, participants are trained in grassroots conflict mapping to ensure they return to their respective subdivisions as active agents of community dialogue and social cohesion.
Backed by local administrative and traditional authorities, the summit will culminate in the signing of a Regional Youth Peace Manifesto and the implementation of 34 distinct community peace action plans designed to de-escalate localized disputes. Through this comprehensive structural framework, CCDI is laying down the grassroots foundations needed to transit the Northwest Region from emergency reliance to long-term economic independence.
0 Comments