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By Beng Humphrey Fang
The Donga-Mantung Youths and Students’ Cultural Association, DOMAYSCA, has empowered youth with skills on the production of liquid soap.
This was during a workshop organised by the association in Yaounde on Saturday 22nd August 2020.
The workshop took place under the theme : “Death of COVID-19: a workshop on the production of liquid soap”.
With the assistance and expertise of Edi Kingsley, the participants of the workshop, who came from within and without Donga-Mantung Division in the Northwest region of Cameroon, were theoretically and practically drilled on the step-by-step process of liquid soap production and the materials needed.
Participants keenly observed with silence as the the various components were mixed together with liquid soap as output.
Among other activities that marked the event was a motivational talk presentation on purpose delivered by Ndzi Divine, an activist and staff with the Network for Solidarity, Empowerment and Transformation for All (NewSETA), who urged the majority young participants of the workshop to be purpose-driven and always think of not just succeeding or living for themselves but for others.
He stressed that living and existence is much more centered on impact creation in the lives of others and not just for one’s self.
At the end of the event, participants had testimonies to give on what they discovered and learned on soap production as well as their motivation to participate in the workshop.
“I’m always motivated to be part of any any occasion where I will have the opportunity to share and learn from others. So, when heard about this workshop, I could not miss it because I knew I will learn something new from someone. Firstly, what I learned here is that for one to succeed, he or she needs to go step by step and have a focus. Secondly and most importantly, I learned the practical and theoretical process of the production of liquid soap, something I never knew before. What makes me so delighted is that, I was among the few people who were involved the practical process of the liquid soap production, an opportunity not everyone had. Others only observed. I will never forget this day. I thank the association for this workshop,” Nyange Ancela, one of the participants said.
In an exclusive exchange with the President of the Donga-Mantung Youths and Students’ Cultural Association, Ndzi Etienne Ngah, he disclosed that the motivation and context of workshop came within the backdrop of the effects of the socio-political crisis in the English-speaking Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon, that have left many displaced out of the regions to places where they have nothing doing in Yaounde. He says like elsewhere, life has not been easy for internally displaced persons.
Also, he noted that the training session came within the present context of the coronavirus pandemic facing Cameroon and the world at large, in order that no one falls short of resources or means to implement the proposed hygienic measures against the spread of the virus.
“Following the socio-economic and political crises in the Northwest and Southwest Regions of Cameroon; most youths and students in these regions lost their status either as businessmen/women, teachers or students, which pushed them out of their comfort zones. The high influx of this age group into other towns and cities of Cameroon has been growing at a geometric rate since 2016 making life very costly for most of them; ranging from housing to feeding. We thought organising this workshop will be an opportunity for them to learn something they can be doing to better their lives.”
On the outcome of this workshop, he notes that it was satisfactory based on the turn out, presentation of the expert and the active participation of the members.
“As it is said, learning never ends. The workshop isn’t the end. It’s just the starting point. The next workshop is coming up in October to champion the fight by strengthening the capacity of youths and students in the production and consumption of liquid and solid soap. Cleanliness they say, is next to godliness, a clean home is a COVID-19-free zone” he adds.
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