LCR WELCOMES COL INITIATIVE

By Cameroon Link
Email: camlink99@gmail.com
The President of Lebialem Community Radio (LCR), Atabong George Atemnkeng expressed thanks and gratitude to the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) in Vancouver, Canada, Cameroon Link Health Development Organisation in Douala and the facilitators of the Story Design Workshop “on Mother and Child Health Care”, who come all the way from Malawi, East Africa to Menji, Cameroon.
Atabong George acknowledged that joys and challenges shared the space in the hearts of the staff of Lebialem Community Radio , as the station was chosen to launch the pilot phase of the media Commonwealth of Learning project in Cameroon.
He added that, it was the first time in the history of Lebialem that such a project on health development through the media is being offered to the population and listeners of the various communities in Cameroon.
This training offered by the Commonwealth of Nations is coming in to help Lebialem Community Radio to fulfil one of the primordial objectives, which is to disseminate correct information to more than 3,000.000 inhabitants of Cameroon from Menji, especially as the signals of the station reach neighbouring countries to Cameroon like Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea, the LCR President emphasized.
He added, that with the support the station received from the Japanese embassy for the construction of a relay pylon of Lebialem Community Radio, the effect of COL Media Health Action programmes is going to extend to the populations of Upper Manyu Division in the South West region, Menoua Division in the West region and parts of the North West region of Cameroon.
Prior to the creation of Lebialem Community Radio in 2007, the division was virtually off from the rest of the country because of no access to CRTV signals or any other radio broadcast signals. Today, the population relies on LCR for news, information, education and entertainment on all issues.
Atabong George observed that the health story design workshop for Lebialem Community Radio will go a long way to empower the staff on healthy communities’ communication and related issues.
Through this in put, LCR will be able to:
 Give the microphone to the population, who normally have no access to the mass media an opportunity to express their views on community health development issues;
 Provide a development forum for healthy communities;
 Encourage self-help participatory community development;
 Promote active involvement of underprivileged groups such as the handicapped, women and young persons especially;
 Provide a forum for local cultural expression in relation to mother and child care;
 Improve on the population’s access to health information in local languages;
 Offer opportunities for individuals and groups to speak to each other, thus developing awareness of a common membership of community.
 The pilot Commonwealth of Learning initiative in Cameroon will reinforce some important Cameroon Radio Television network programmes already relayed in the official languages by the station.

The LCR President told the facilitators and participants, that the above mentioned objectives can be met with the kind of training offered by the Malawi Story Workshop team with the assistance of Cameroon Link, the negotiator organisation and Commonwealth of Learning.
On the part of the staff of Lebialem Community Radio, they promised to diligently use the training to educate and help reduce maternal and child health care problems in Lebialem and its environ, while reporting back to COL Cameroon regularly, accurately and on time about the effects of the training and the new programmes brought into the radio programmes schedule by COL.
During the closing and certificate handing over ceremony, Atabong George said, Lebialem Community Radio benefitted a lot through the Story Design Workshop and that the skills acquired will go a long way to solve the acute problems of broadcast materials and staffing. The volunteer staff , he added are capable of identifying vital community issues as well as designing and putting up quality programmes that will ameliorate the welfare of the communities.
Especially as “Mother and Child Health Care” was the core of the workshop, together they voted unanimously for a title of the programme to heard heard henceforth over Lebialem Community Radio : “Asongah Leghung Emeh boh Mwuah”.
At this initial stage of cooperation, he assured the trainers, the negotiator organisation and the Commonwealth of Learning of their total commitment to respect the terms of the agreement. Asongah leghung Emeh boh Muah will bring more life to the station and communities, he promised, because they have just gone through a very intensive and educative workshop. They have learned new skills. They have got new friends and learned how to take care of the health of the mothers, infants and children. The title of the programme, Atabong reiterated, calls for a greater sense of responsibility and awareness. He invited the staff of LCR to remain united and devoted to duty to win the confidence and trust of the donors and make Lebialem proud. For more, please click on the following link - http://camlinknews.blogspot.com/2010/11/asongah-leghung-emeh-boh-mwuah.html

COL Goes To Lebialem, Cameroon

Commonwealth of Learning (COL) Goes To Lebialem, Cameroon
By James Achanyi-Fontem,
Cameroon Link
Email: camlink99@gmail.com
The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) has signed a Contribution Agreement to support Cameroon Link, facilitate the development, design and operationalisation of a Community Learning Programme about Maternal and Child Health in the Lebialem area. The results and evaluation of Lebialem Community Learning model will be shared widely in Cameroon. COL is an intergovernmental organization created by Commonwealth Heads of Government to encourage the development and sharing of open learning and distance education. The brain behind this initiative in Canada is Ian Pringle, Media Education Specialist. The support agreement was endorsed by COL Vice President, Professor Asha S. Kanwar, on the 30th August 2010.
According to the statement of activities of Cameroon Link, COL's Healthy Communities initiative will demonstrate and document the use of media and other information and communication technologies for open and distance learning, in particular the use of community-based media by development groups for non-formal educational programming about livelihoods, health and other areas of community development; working closely with COL and designated partners and consultants in all aspects of the project.
Cameroon Link will guide a range of local public, private and civil society stakeholders in the development of a new participatory learning programme about community health, one that reflects the key elements of COL's community learning model, namely a combination of educational radio content with face-to-face interactions and learner support, with a clear linkage to community mobilisation and action.
Cameroon Link is laying the groundwork for the community learning programme by identifying output and outcome indicators, collecting baseline data, establishing a consortium of partner groups working in media and maternal and child health, and identifying at least 1,000 direct learners reached through complementary face-to-face means and 20,000 active listeners in Lebialem.
Cameroon Link is working closely with COL-designated trainer-facilitators and local partners to organize a five-day programme design workshop.
Two (2) Cameroonian facilitators are working with COL-designated external trainers to capacitate fifteen (15) participants, with an equitable number of men and women, including local community stakeholders, local health authorities and experts, radio producers, as well as representatives of educational and other partners’ agencies. Certificates of participation will be issued at the end of the training.
Cameroon Link will ensure the execution of the community learning programme, including at least 30-60 minutes of original weekly radio content, associated to face-to-face learning support for twelve months starting November 2010.
Two other learning technologies, like using video shows for community support groups, mobile telephones to increase learner interactivity and to provide additional information to learners, computers to assess learning achievements, etc will be integrated for execution of the programme.
The actors will develop a case study of the Lebialem programme, including:
An outline of the COL-Cameroon Link community learning programme model, reflecting both the global approach and its specific application in Lebialem;
The process to be followed in Lebialem will include;
Twenty-five plus (25+) high-resolution, high-quality photographs reflecting the programme's participatory and educational nature;
The outputs, outcomes and lessons learnt, including a comparative analysis of the baseline and end-of-project data from phase one of the programme;
General considerations for policymakers in a) health education, especially maternal and child health, and b) community media; and
A roadmap for scaling-up the Community Learning programme model in Cameroon.
Cameroon Link will share the case study and roadmap, widely through electronic media, and in specific fora, like community media or health conferences, and with specific groups concerned with maternal and child health and so on, with a view to additional local and national programme development.
Before the end of the project, Cameroon Link will organise a I-day national seminar, ideally piggybacking on an appropriate event and with other national or international partners, focused on the community learning programme model and the results from Lebialem.
COL will be acknowledged in appropriate correspondence with media and other partners or the local authorities in any promotional materials or documentation as a partner in the development of the programme and as having contributed funds.
Groups and individuals trained or otherwise engaged in the programme development process, will be disaggregated by age, gender, location and livelihood, as well as Learners enrolled or directly engaged by the process.
Gender considerations will include:
Involvement of and access by women and men, boys and girls; and
Gender orientation of content produced;
Partnerships established and maintained;
Feedback from policy and programme decision makers;
Prospective sustainability; and amount, quality, subject and origin of content created, with observations concerning local relevance, degree of community and learner participation, collaboration among groups and specific gender considerations; and
Impact on health and development indicators as identified at the outset of the project.
COL contact, Ian Pringle, who is international programme coordinator and Media Education Specialist, is contributing resources towards the statement of activities; providing inputs and feedback throughout the project with the services of consultants to lead in the programme design and training workshop.
Gender equality is integral to all of COL' s work and requires that both women's and men's views, interests and needs shape its work in learning for development. Cameroon Link agrees that gender considerations shall inform the activities to be undertaken under this agreement, in particular:
Consultation with both women and men and the inclusion of gender considerations, for example, the role of gender in maternal and child health, in planning activities;
Equitable participation of women and men in programme development and training activities;
The inclusion in all workshops of at least one session focused on gender issues, like looking at the role of women and men in how programmes are developed and the gender implications for learning and action processes; and
The inclusion in all learning programmes of specific gender considerations, the role of men in maternal and child health, the roles of both women and men in preventing and treating malaria, diabetes, sickle cell, etc.

Project Strategy
The approach to programme development and content creation includes:
Non-formal education approach to media, like identifying learing ojectives and learning process
Collaborative process involving media – ICT, health development authorities and experts and community networks,
Participatory design and operation of learning programmes,
Story-based approach to learning content alongside information from experts,
Blended and multi-channel approach to learning that combines media content with face-to face interaction and other types of learner support using print, mobile, etc.

Issues to do with Maternal Health include:
HIV/AIDS
Sickle Cell
Nutrition
Smoking
Drinking
Family Planning
Malaria
Prenatal Care
Gender relations
Illiteracy
Poverty
Infrastructure
Information
Safe Delivery
Working conditions
Abortion

Positive Behaviour Focused On Nutrition
1.Eating balanced meal
2.Having enough good food
3.Washing hands
4.Extra food for pregnant women
5.Clean drinking water
6.Nurses giving information on health foods

Negative Behaviour & Consequences
1.Domestic violence (Suicide, miscarriage)
2.Men not involved/excluded (Withdrawal)
3.Forced sex (Trauma, unwanted pregnancy, STIs)
4.Women denied access to money, mobility
5.Women lack decision making power ( Women feeling inferior, do not take responsibility, dependence; community is missing half the inputs and loss out)
6.Men refuse to wear condoms
7.Lack of capacity development
8.Women being submissive
9.Preference for boys (Girls discriminated against)
10.Early pregnancy (maternal death, emotional consequences: young girls not ready to parents)

Workshop Schedule
1.Opening by the Senior Divisional Officer for Lebialem
2.Introduction, background and objectives
3.The basic principles of learning programmes (Group activity)
4.About the Commonwealth of Learning Community Learning with media Programme
5.Identifying the priority health issues (Group work)
6.Designing the programmes (in groups)
a)Identify the targets and problem solvers
b)Developing the message and programme matrices for each health issue
c)Deciding on learning media formats and sources
d)Deciding on the programme teams
e)Designing learner support mechanisms and clarifying role of partners
f)Identifying the interviewees and resources people
g)Making operational plans, including budgets and sustainability
h)Training needs assessment and planning
i)Monitoring and evaluation
7.Identifying some Open and Distance Learning (ODL) courses for healthcare workers that will support the learning programmes.
The COL road map will be executed with the technical support of Lebialem Community Radio, (LCR), Lebialem Association for Twinning of Schools (LATS), Fine Forest Foundation (FFF) Cameroon,and Cameroon Link.

Lebialem Population Cries for Tarred Roads….

By James Achanyi-Fontem
Email: camlink99@gmail.com
During the visit of Governor Koumpa Issa of the south west region to Lebiallem on April 27, the population through their leaders appealed for good motorable roads in the region of 1000 hills and valleys as the only guarantee for rapid development. It was the second time; the governor was visiting the division.
Governor Koumpa Issa was accompanied by some 30 strong-man delegation, most of who are heads of regional delegations and services based in Buea. On his way to Menji, the governor made a stop over in Dschang and was received by the Senior Divisional Officer for Menoua, West Region, Galim Ngong, who had served in Ndian as Prefect. Dschang is the entry route into Lebialem, because of the bad road linking Menji to Bakebe, in Manyu Division, south west region.
It was in Alou, in the north of Lebialem that the SDO for Lebialem , Amougou François and his close collaborators received the governor with several traditional dance groups as school children said welcome to the august official visitor.
Another stop was at the residence of Prof. Leke Tambo at Lewoh before the governor was driven to Ema Azi where HRM Fon of Fontem hosted another reception. At the Fon Fontem’s palace, Governor Koumpa Issa was told that since 1982, very little had been done on road infrastructure by the government and this has slowed down development goals in the sub division. With this, HRM Fon of Fontem appealed that the governor should transmit the population’s request to the right quarters, so good roads can also be constructed in Lebialem division.
The governor responded by informing the audience that his transfer to the South West is to develop the region, and not to listen to gossips, blackmail and back stabbing. He observed that those visiting him should come with development suggestions and how to collaborate for proposal to be achieved.
While at Menji, the governor visited Mary Health of Africa Hospital and he was shown the different wards by the Matron Winifred Nwafor, accompanied by some staff of the health facility specialized in the cure of sleeping sickness caused by tse tse flies.
At the Municipal Public celebrations ground on the following day, it was an occasion to listen to the address of the Manyor of Menji, Retired Colonel Chief Daniel Fobellah , full of a catalogue of development requests and problems. Mayor Fobellah said the solution to Lebialem bad roads will begin with the tarring of Bakebe- Menji – Dschang axe. Another important axe is the unity road linking Essoh Attah with Menji and Wabane. Cameroon Radio television channel signals are not received in Lebialem and the population listens to radio signals from Nigeria border cities and Nigeria television signals. Only the local Lebialem Community Radio Station in Menji is making an effort to inform, educate and entertain the population, but the programme content is not enough.
Land occupation remains a problem in Lebialem due to the illegal penetration of individuals into government public land without permission. Some land and survey officers sell government land with the knowledge of the Mayors and the Senior Divisional Officer .
Talking about classification of Chiefs, Mayor Fobella said since 1977, many changes have taken place in Lebialem, which was formerly known as Nweh Mundani. The restructuring and renaming of this territory by the government resulted to carving out Fondoms and chiefdoms under the three sub divisions of Lebialem. Though the current vast territory with thick populations and several traditional rulers, only seven out of the 18 traditional heads and chiefs have been classified since 15th July 1977 under Decree No. 77/245.
Responding to the address of the Mayor of Menji, Governor Koumpa Issa, observed that Lebialem Division is the gateway into the south west region, though this has not been given the merited consideration and that is why he opted to place the division second on the agenda of the regional tour following his installation as head of the jurisdiction.
After according several audiences in Buea, the governor realized that there is a lot of work to be done and that is why he decided to undertake the meet the people tour. The divisional officers for Wabane and Fontem have been housed by the administration and the DO for Alou will have his residence constructed within the 2011 national budget.
The government has projected the construction of more classrooms for schools and colleges, the extension of water and electricity supply, and the improvement of social infrastructure in the three sub divisions. The South West Development Authority, SOWEDA, is currently working on the Ashong-Bateng-Wabane road. Apart from road maintenance, Lebialem has benefit from a national budget allocation of CFA 2000 Million, Governor Koumpa Issa announced. The government budgeted for the maintenance of the Dschang-Menji and Menji-Bakebe road axes, but the company that won the contract was incapable of meeting with the tasks and the government was invited to halt the execution of the contract in a peaceful manner. The governor promised to follow up for the two road projects to be revived with another contractor.
Before leaving Lebialem, he called on the population to remain law abiding and continue to live peacefully with respect of hierarchy, respect of tradition and the Bangwa people should refrain from unnecessary conflicts. Decisions by the local authorities to halt conflicts must be respected.
On politics, the governor informed the population that the presidential elections of 2011 are around and ELECAM was set up to replace ONEL with the appointment of persons to head the new structure, so there could be free, fair and transparent elections. He invited all to start preparation for the elections now. He concluded by saying, more exchanges will be possible during his next socio-economic tour of the south west region. Top officials from Lebialem who accompanied the Governor included Honourable Bernard Foju, the Technical Advisor to the Prime Minister, prince Jacob Lekunze and Chief Fojap Romanus only to name a few.
On his way back to Buea, Governor Koumpa Issa made a stop over at the Lenale Ndem UNESCO Museum that houses the largest number of art craft works that depict and venerate the tradition of Lebialem people. The Lenale Ndem UNESCO Club offered Governor Koumpa Issa and his entourage a tourism reception dinner.While SDO for Lebialem, Amougou François, was compensated with the 50th Anniversary of independence of Cameroon medal by the Governor at Menji, the Coordinator of Lenale Ndem UNESCO Museum Club in Melong was also decorated by SDO Justin Mvondo of Moungo.The importance of the visit to Lenale Ndem lies on the fact the South West Governor Koumpa Issa went there twice in less than two weeks.

LEBIALEM COMMUNITY RADIO OUTREACH EXPANDED

By James Achanyi-Fontem
FRI Cameroon
The Mayor of Menji, Lebialem Council, Chief Colonel Fobellah Daniel, lauded the excellent relations between Japan and Cameroon during the official reception of works on the pylon, antenna and studio equipment of Lebialem Community Radio on the 25th March 2010.
Chief Colonel Fobellah Daniel was thanking His Excellency, The Japanese Ambassador to Cameroon, Keiji Yamamoto during his first visit to Menji, Lebialem. The Japanese Embassy accorded financial support to the Lebialem Association for Rural Communication for the realisation of works at the community radio for greater outreach of the populations.
In 1995, the Government of Japan through its Embassy supported Mary Health of Africa Hospital in Menji with the sum of CFA 20.000.000 for the purchase of some medical equipment that continues to be of service to thousands of patients in Lebialem. The last assistance showed the importance the government of Japan through its Embassy accords to the enclave Lebialem population in the south west region of Cameroon.
Lebialem Community Radio permits the local authorities to reach out to the population at any time and in the official and local languages. Lebialem has basically a rural population spread across the 1.000 hills and valleys, Mayor Fobellah echoed, while describing the people as very hardworking and hospitable. Through the radio, long distances are overcome and broadcasters can report on the well being of populations in all villages of Lebialem, he added.
The radio signs through the works now extend to all the nooks and corners of Lebialem Division, thereby assisting the audience to discuss on the use of improved agriculture in puts, environmental conservation, and market prices of commodities, health and economic empowerment. Through the radio, the achievements, difficulties and wishes of Lebialem people can be made known to the entire world and fast solutions would be found through rapid interventions.
On behalf of the population, the Mayor said, Lebialem found in Japan a friend in need who is a friend indeed. Through the readiness to fund organised groups to help them carryout projects in favour of the low income class and underprivileged, while contributing to development and improvement of their living standards, they feel that development is on the right track. The councillors guaranteed the sustainability of the radio through maintaining the equipment and assistance to the volunteer staff within the limits of the council budgets. The Mayor announced the donation of a piece of land for the construction of a befitting Radio House to secure the durable equipment offered by the Japanese. This will make future generations to benefit from the assistance you have given today.
The Menji Council Mayor used the opportunity to inform the Japanese Ambassador that his council lacks equipment to build and maintain the roads in the region, especially as the farm to market roads are constructed and maintained only by hands with rudimentary equipments.
The president of Lebialem Association for Rural Communication, LARC, Atabong George Atemnkeng told the audience present that the inaugurated project including the relay pylon antenna constructed at Letia village and the renovated Studio of Lebialem Community radio in Menji is estimated at CFA 28.500.000frs. The Japanese Government on the 8th January 2009 gave a non-refundable financial assistance for the project amounting to the sum of CFA 20.278.000 as an initiate contribution.
The board members of LARC, the Councils of Alou, Menji and Wabane, LCR itself and the community contributed CFA 8.000.000 to complete the project budget.
Modifications made in the course of the execution of the pylon antenna and equipping of the Lebialem Community Radio Studio included a change of the site of the antenna to a higher altitude for signals to extend to Wabane sub division; the change in the pylon material from galvanized pipe to angle bar; electricity extension to the site covering a distance of about a kilometre from the studio; a compressor and the acquisition of a new transmitter.
Close to 90% of Lebialem division’s population receives signals of Lebialem Community Radio. The radio signals are received in parts of Manyu Division, Kupe Manegueba in Nguti sub division, parts of North West Region, West Region, Meme division, Fako division and even the Littoral region of Cameroon.
Since LCR is now equipped, its next quest from donor agencies is funding for capacity building training of the local volunteer broadcasters. The station now strives to increase the information package on agriculture issues, gender, education on health and programmes for fighting poverty as top priority.

LENALE NDEM UNESCO CLUB DEBATE

By Prof. Asonganyi Tazoacha,
Email: asontaz@yahoo.com
"I have been in the West at the Université des Montages following my attendance at my friend Denis Atemnkeng's mother's memorial celebration, Fonjinju' s mother's cry-die, a Cultural galore. I have read what I consider bizarre postings on the net. As a son of a prince of Lebang, in Lebialem Division of Cameroon, I grew up learning like many young Nweh children that Lefem is a sacred place where important governance issues are discussed, including traditional leadership issues. I learned that the operational word "secrecy" is more about issues discussed there, not the place as such. Except I am making a mistake, I think I was told that anybody whose father is no more can enter Lefem, thus stressing further that the secrecy of the place lies in its proceedings. I have never entered Lefem myself, and I do not think that I need to in future, except perhaps I am invited tomorrow for some secret discussions.
This said, those clamouring for the "secrecy" of Lefem that should not be exposed should explain very clearly why they think Lefem cannot be exposed. Those saying that our forefathers "will be angry" should explain very clearly why they will be. I am pleased to read from a contributor that our ancestors used our Culture/Traditions for their own purposes - mainly to live happily in harmony with nature, while harnessing natural forces to improve on their welfare; I agree with the contributor that in the world of today, we cannot pretend to want to use our culture/tradition in exactly the same way they used it because much has changed and is changing...
The relevance of Lefem to us should be how the secret discussions and conclusions reached there from time to time improve our lives and welfare, and create harmony in our villages; it should not lie in the fact that "it is a no-go area" or "not an area for YouTubes" or "only an area for notables". I think our venerable Fuasehngong has not lost an iota of his chieftaincy because of the lofty project he is involved in. And I think his grandfather Asonganyi will only shake his head in acknowledgement, knowing the man he was!
That said:
1) Although Iboland is mainly a "republican" society, the films that are coming out of there are educating us on Ibo culture and tradition, while allowing the Ibos to valorise their culture and make it contribute to their welfare. Same with the Yorubas that to me are a more traditional society...
2) The succession of Waffo Deffo that came out of Bandjoun showcased the Bandjoun tradition... and brought fame to Essola and many other film actors. I am sure that with what is coming out of Nigeria, even the Bandjoun people that criticised the film are thinking twice...
3) In the French revolution of 1789, republicanism took over from traditional rule. Ancestors did not haunt the French because the Louis's and the rest were kicked out, did they?
4) And Ethiopia, and? and?... Hopefully reactions on the above debate should help to educate me and others better... Two things have given me the impression that Lebialem people may indeed be waking up from their slumber:
1) the singlehanded creation of Lebialem territory in Melong by Fuanjinju; do not be surprised tomorrow to get Lebialem names there in future, like we have New England, New York, Cambridge, London, ...in the USA, Australia, Canada, etc.
2) The great Hotel Complex built in Buea by a Lebialem son as I write this, convinces me that the Lebialem Man may at last be stirring in His sleep. They may as well wake up soon."
Prof. Tazoacha Asonganyi is Lecturer at University of Yaoundé, Cameroon

Nkah Njenquinne Hydro Electricity Project

Due to the increase in fuel prices, difficulties of AES Sonel to connect many rural areas in Cameroon and climate change issues, many communities are striving towards micro hydro electricity. Some of which are financed by foreign donors while others by the communities themselves especially elites. Nkah Njenquinne Hydro Electricity Project launched recently is a good example of a self help community initiative in Lebialem division, in the south west region of Cameroon.
The project was launched on the 30th May 2009 at Mbe Njilem’s Palace. That same day, a similar initiative took off in Muyuka, Fako division..This ceremony was attended by renewable energy technicians from ADEID Bafoussam and several guests from Nkah and Lebang neighbourhood. It was also a cultural festival opportunity as people sang and danced traditional rhythms and speeches of encouragement to the people were echoed. Visitors were taken to the project site at “Ntung Forbeteh”, some three kilometres away from Mbe Njilem’s palace. For more information contact, Njinkeng Coney of ADEID Baoussam, Cameroon by email: njiconey@yahoo. fr