An International Peer Reviewed Journal by and for Young Scholars
An International Peer Reviewed Journal by and for Young Scholars
In the midst of conflict, as entire communities seek refuge in the coastal forests, 110 courageous Cameroonian young people - many of whom have been displaced, orphaned or trafficked - are now taking part in the Global Justice Journal's Cameroon Peace Project. In an environment of safety and equality, Francophone and Anglophone teens are breaking free from the fears and prejudices that have bound them since birth to find viable solutions for lasting peace. Together, these leaders of tomorrow will learn to guide their country through the challenges of today. Oversight is provided on a local level by our partners at Survivors' Network, a registered NGO led by the US State Department's 2018 Trafficking in Persons Hero, Awah Francisca Mbuli.
Participants began the fall semester by composing essays that addressed their experiences, hopes, fears and the topics that are of interest to them. Soon, they will be assigned to small groups of five students on each side of the conflict, and each group will complete a major research and writing project on a relevant topic. Anglophones and Francophones will then read each others' work, gaining a deeper understanding of the opposing perspectives. At the beginning of the spring semester, students will cross the cultural divide. Small groups will now consist of Anglophones and Francophones who will collaborate on assignments and find mutually acceptable solutions to the problems posed. The semester will culminate in a formal Peace Summit.
In May, participants will gather at a central location where they will play, eat, sleep and engage in meaningful discussions for three days. Here, they will apply the skills of scholarship, debate, leadership and conflict resolution that they have acquired throughout the academic year toward the development of a resolution on the peaceful coexistence of Francophones and Anglophones. Each student will sign the resolution, committing to adhere to the principles contained therein for the duration of their lives. The resolution, including the solutions devised by participants to bring the civil war to an end, will then be shared with key decision makers as well as international human rights organizations. It will also be posted on this web site for all the world to see.
While the Cameroon Peace Project is a one-year program, all students who actively participate in the program for the full academic year will be invited to participate in the Scholar Development Initiative next year. Moreover, students who demonstrate the ability to read, write and perform academic activities at the secondary school level will have the opportunity to change the course of their lives and the lives of their families forever by enrolling in an online high school diploma program via our partnership with Penn Foster International High School, a regionally and nationally accredited program recognized by the US Department of Education. Students who participate in Penn Foster's program will continue to receive mentorship throughout the duration of their academic studies and will be guided through the college application process, should they wish to pursue higher education after receiving their high school diploma.
Each participant in the Cameroon Peace Project will receive an
8-inch Amazon Fire tablet and a solar powered charger.
We will also need a new printer, several reams of
paper, and battery-operated indoor lights.
(Outages sometimes last weeks in Cameroon.)
If your heart is moved by this project, please
consider making a donation to help
offset our costs. Thank you!
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