By Bakah Derick
Over 25 teenage boys and girls have taken part in the 2021 edition of the Leadership Bootcamp orgamised annually by Hope for the Needy Association (HOFNA) Cameroon - a Bamenda head quartered not-for-profit organisation. During the bootcamp in Bamenda recently organised with support from the successful social entrepreneur and philanthropist Hon. Ngala Gerald, the teenagers received training on several key issues intended to nurture a new generation of effective and confident servant leaders.
"This year's edition of our Leadership Bootcamp at HOFNA is special: bringing together 25 teenage boys and girls to address issues around servant leadership, gender-based violence especially school related, personal and menstrual hygiene, setting and achieving goals and building healthy friendships, the responsible use of social media among others. Christelle Bay Nfor HOFNA Executive Director said
In a presentation on Servant leadership, Vumomsi N, a 2016 Mandela Washington Fellow and Social entrepreneur leading the VUVU brand indicated to the campers that to be a servant leader, there is need to build values such as selflessness, listening, working together, not looking down on others, encouraging, be the first to Serve. The teenagers have agreed to be servant leaders wherever they find themselves be it home, school or community.
Organised since 2016 for girls only, HOFNA Cameroon decided this year to include boys.
"For the past years, it’s always been a Girls Leadership Bootcamp but our new model is about bringing boys and girls together as a way to promote respect for the human person, bridge gender gaps and support boys and girls in not only setting and achieving goals but on the essentials of servant leadership and building healthy friendships. These are things not normally taught in a school setting" Christelle added
Speaking in separated instances during the bootcamp the representatives of the regional delegates of Social Affairs and Arts and Culture all expressed gratitude to HOFNA for such an outstanding initiative which is essential in the upbringing of the youth in communities where vices are almost over shadowing virtue. According to them, if the means permitted, this initiative could reach out to as many youths as possible especially as our part of the country suffer from a violent conflict, let the young people understand why the society need servant leaders and not otherwise.
While Dr. Wirngo, HOFNA's BOD member engaged the children on Building Healthy friendships, HOFNA programs manager Munteh Florence drilled the bootcampers on Human Rights in general and School Related GBV alongside other expert presentations intended to build better leaders either health wise or responsible use of social media.
Talking to HOFNA, Ngala Gerald mentioned the need for such programs that do not only inspire teenage but nurtures hope and support them through the challenges brought about by some aspects of modernism as Social Media. He reiterated the need to support teenagers in building healthy friendships, leading through service and setting and achieving goals.
Thanks to the support of the successful philanthropist and entrepreneur Hon. Ngala Gerald, the program offered an opportunity for the children to build skills in areas not normally offered in school meillieus including paying a visit to the CRTV where they had the opportunity, for the first time in their lives, to share the knowledge and experience with their peers over the radio.
Coming on the eve of school resumption, HOFNA and Ngala Gerald donated school material to facilitate the return to school.