In implementing a project funded by the European Union (EU) through United Purpose based in the United Kingdom, the Mbororo Social and Cultural Development Association of Cameroon (MBOSCUDA) in collaboration with the North West Farmer's Organisation (NOWEFOR) has carried out a Training and Sensitisation Workshop for Journalists on Cultural Diversity and Cultural Rights Issues. Divided into two phases, the first set of media practitioners, twenty in number, drawn from the audiovisual landscape were trained from the 22nd to the 24th of May 2019 while the second set, twenty five in number, drawn from the print and online media also received same training from the 28th to the 30th of May 2019. Both workshops took place at Central Park Hotel, Bamenda.
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| Workshop Phase 1 for Radio & TV Journalists |
Having as objective to strengthen the capacity of media houses in order to raise more awareness and understanding of cultural diversity and cultural rights as stipulated by the international (UNESCO Convention) and national instruments ( Cameroon Government Initiatives/Policies), the forty five media men and women drawn from the entire North West Region of Cameroon were schooled on multiple subjects like:
- Link Between Cultural Diversity and Cultural Rights, Intercultural Conflicts,
- Cultural Dialogue and its Role in the Promotion of Cultural Rights and Prevention of Intercultural Conflicts amongst others.
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| Workshop Phase 2 for Print & Online Journalists |
While officially opening day one of the first phase of the workshop, the Secretary General to the Bamenda City Council, Jude Nsom Waindim said "In this new turbulent international globalized landscape, the central message must be heralded; peace is more than just the absence of war, it is living together with our differences of sex, race, language, religion or culture while furthering universal respect of justice and human rights on which such coexistence depends. He went ahead to quote Article II of UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity which States that "In our increasingly diverse societies, it is essential to ensure harmonious interaction among people and groups with plural, varied and dynamic cultural identities as well as their willingness to live together."
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| Participants Being Schooled on Cultural Diversity |
Sali Django is the Program Coordinator of MBOSCUDA for the North West Region. Talking to the press at the end of day one of the first phase of the workshop, he said based on past experiences when the association was working on farmer-grazer conflicts in the region using the Alternative Conflict Management Approach, though very positive and lasting results were yielded, it was realised cultural dimensions weren't addressed. The Mbororo ethic group and the farmers don't seem to understand each other because of their cultural affiliations. "Our idea thus was how to bridge the gap by helping them understand each other so as to respect and tolerate one another's culture and work in harmony and peace for interest safeguarding" Sali added.
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| Sali Django, MBOSCUDA Program Coordinator, N.W |
The state of Cameroon being a partner to MBOSCUDA, both workshops were witnessed by Ilyn Ferla, Service Head for General Affairs at the North West Regional Delegation of Arts and Culture. On the role of the state in promoting cultural diversity, she said it creates an enabling environment for people of different cultural backgrounds to live in harmony. "There'll be no conflicts if people understand each other's culture" she ended.
As a follow up measure to ensure the knowledge passed across and gained doesn't end in vain, a network of cultural journalists in the North West Region was formed with its maiden general assembly built for the 21st of June 2019 during which its official name and bylaws will be adopted. This will take place in the conference hall of City FM, Che Street Bamenda
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