Location: Mamfe, Cameroon

Centre Host: United Action for Children (UAC)

Status: Currently in schematic design phase

Jul 13, 2011: Football for Hope Centres number 13 and 14 announced

The Besongabang Football for Hope Centre is located in Mamfe, a town of around 15,000 located 60 km from the Nigerian border. It is an English-speaking area with only 1% of the population speaking French, and Mamfe is a remote city far off the main roads. Health and educational facilities are limited in the area, with a high number of children leaving school early. Youth unemployment is also a major issue. The educational system prepares the students for exams, but not for employment. Parents are often illiterate and cannot support their children with their education. The surrounding villages of Nchang, Ntenako, Eyangchang and Okoyong, with a combined population of approximately 12,000, will also benefit from the facilities which the centre will provide.

Cameroon is affected by social problems including inter-tribal conflict and HIV/AIDS, and children can be particularly vulnerable. United Action for Children has been using football to get young people off the streets and into classrooms since 2002. Targeting children aged 12-18 in slums and rural areas, UAC promotes conflict resolution and public awareness of health issues. The organisation has grown to include a number of programmes into its football-based curriculum, offering basic education and vocational training in woodwork, painting, electro-technics and computer studies.

The primary aim of the centre will be to encourage children to re-enter the school system and resume their education. This will be pursued through a range of educational activities, such as reading sessions in English and French, drawing, storytelling, singing, role-play, painting, music, crafts and movies. Computer and internet courses will also be available.

Vocational training workshops will also take place, focusing on topics such as nutrition, agriculture, horticulture and painting. In a further measure towards improving youth employability, career counselling resources such as career albums and job shadowing booklets will be offered at the centre.

Health education will also play a significant part in the centre’s programme, with counsellors and peer educators holding regular lessons on HIV/AIDS awareness, reproductive health, STIs and nutritional needs. Football training sessions will begin with health education. Other sporting activities such as refereeing, table tennis, draughts and chess will be offered alongside football as part of the curriculum.

Besongabang Traditional Council
Ministry of Basic Education

Thomas Orock Eyong
UAC Founder and Director
unitedactionforc@yahoo.com
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