Under the leadership of Wouapit Karen, the youth wing of Fako IC Section in Bimbia is poised to deter youths from drug consumption and juvenile delinquency by involving them in lucrative activities.
For close to a year in office now, the executive of the Fako IC Section – Bimbia has been active in diverse ways to keep the flame of the Party alive in that area. Promises made to militants during the reorganization of the Party’s basic organs are being materialized through various action plans in course of implementation. The YCPDM section president for her part is aware of the challenges of manning the youth wing, reason why she is relenting no effort in setting the youth of her section on the right path.
Since coming into office, Karen Wouapit has been keen on projects that concern education as well as income generating activities. According to her, the youths living in some camps like Mabeta and Bimbia have not attained the level of education that would guarantee a bright future for them. For a person like her who is very learned, her desire is to see school dropouts and others lagging behind pick up and level up in order to have the same fighting chances like their peers elsewhere in the country. “Our goal is to foster their education by enrolling them not only in day schools but also evening classes so they can obtain certificates to help them further in life. Without education, it is difficult to engage the youths in any worthwhile groundwork.”
For a community that depends on fishing and farming for its livelihood, she has been engaging youths in Mabeta and Bimbia subsections. For youths who are only business inclined and seeking avenues to make money, Karen Wouapit says they have held meetings to discuss and know their aspirations and dreams in this light. “I like to engage the youths to know what they want and not impose mine as it may not tie with their dream and thus counterproductive”. The feedback Karen Wouapit says were quite satisfactory as both men and women expressed their wish to engage in pig, poultry and fish farming. The idea she says is to begin small and expand as the means dictate. For now, focus she says would be placed on Bonjo, where the degree of juvenile delinquency due to the consumption of drugs is heightened. The situation is worrisome and the youths are determined to eradicate drugs from the locality and Limbe III municipality at large. Vigilante groups have been set up to call out those involved in drugs and report to authorities. The YCPDM section president has also undertaken tours to sensitize youths in schools on the hazards of consuming drugs as she hopes to someday establish a rehabilitation centre with the help of partners. Presently, a piece of land has been secured on which they plan to build a youth centre for diverse activities. Karen Wouapit acknowledges that “when you’re a woman in a position of authority, the challenges abound but I am ready to take up the baton that has been handed to me and make my legacy”.
Claudette CHIN
