JIJ 2026: At Yaoundé's Hang Out, Cameroonian Youth Pose Challenges and Offer Solutions

On the 27th International Youth Day, celebrated on August 12, 2026, young Cameroonians convened at the "Hang Out" event in Yaoundé to articulate their challenges and formulate actionable solutions. Organized under the coordination of the Ministry of Youth and Civic Education (MINJEC), the gathering provided a platform for youth and institutions to engage in dialogue about current societal shifts. The event, held in the press room of the Yaoundé Omnisports Stadium, focused on understanding the aspirations of Cameroonian youth amidst diverse realities. Presided over by Mr. Luc Valère NKO'O ZEH, Assistant Inspector No. 1 at MINJEC, the forum aimed to establish a collective reflection on pressing issues. Forcha Glen Beloa, Treasurer General of the National Youth Council of Cameroon (CNJC), emphasized the urgency of creating spaces for free expression and concrete proposals from young people. The "Hang Out" is designed as a consultative forum to better incorporate youth ambitions into public policy, aligning with the government's goal to make youth a central focus of the current seven-year term dedicated to them. Specific challenges faced by young women were highlighted by Suzanne BIL'OO MEYE, known as "Mami Google," who leads the Cameroonian Network for the Empowerment of Women and Girls. She detailed issues such as physical violence, socio-cultural barriers, digital harassment, the spread of intimate content, the digital divide, limited access to opportunities, and irregular migration. Despite the concerning picture painted, the participants stressed that young people are not merely recipients of aid but active agents of change, sharing experiences and ideas to navigate contemporary challenges.

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Who better to talk about young people than young people themselves?