Dearest friends,
I hope this message finds each single one of you well today. I am feeling abundantly blessed and highly favored! I would hereby like to share with you the Harambe-Cameroon Inauguration Compendium - a comprehensive report of what happened at the Launch, what was discussed, and the steps ahead.
I hope this message finds each single one of you well today. I am feeling abundantly blessed and highly favored! I would hereby like to share with you the Harambe-Cameroon Inauguration Compendium - a comprehensive report of what happened at the Launch, what was discussed, and the steps ahead.
On a personal note, as most of you may know, Harambe-Cameroon has been my baby for the past 2 years. It has been my Dream on a Piece of Paper. Starting last year, 2008, I conceptualize this entrepreneurship program that would effectively engage young Cameroonians in the solutions-making process of our country. During my junior year, I came back to Cameroon August of 2008 to assess the terrain - discuss with students, professors, chiefs of industries, government agents, journalists - to see if the project I was proposing was feasible and needed in Cameroon. They all told me Cameroon needs such endeavor. Thus, it became a personal challenge for me to see Harambe-Cameroon become a reality.After obtaining my bachelors degree from the Johns Hopkins University in May of 2009, I had many opportunities of employment in the US. Yet, I was resolute on my decision to head back home to Cameroon to make this Dream on a Piece of Paper a reality. Many did not understand my decisive act - My friends thought I was crazy, my parents triple-checked with me to make sure it was a well-thought-out decision, and some advisers once more showed me the lucrative job opportunities I could secure in the US . But I was relentlessly determined to make Harambe-Cameroon a
reality.
reality.
I settled back in Cameroon 4 months ago. And thus far, I've rallied key Cameroonian actors - from Ministers, to CEOs, to students, journalists,diplomats, professors - all around the Harambe Cameroon endeavor. Most importantly, I have surrounded myself with a dynamic team of students from various universities of Yaounde, without whom Harambe-Cameroon's launch would have been impossible.
It's in this context that we organized the Harambe-Cameroon Launch. It was a buoyant success; and words truly can't express how rewarding it felt to see people from different sectors of Cameroon's society, mobilize to support our endeavor. It gave us the much-needed energy and confidence to keep pursuing, despite all the odds, our goal - to inspire a generation of young leaders and entrepreneurs who will engage in a concerted, strategic and sustained development of our nation.
That's why I'm gladly sharing this First step accomplishment with you all. So you can witness what we have done thus far, and be with us as we move forward. But most importantly, so that you may hold us accountable to the commitment we have made.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank each one of you reading this, for your continuous support, for your words of encouragements, and for believing in me and in this Dream on a Piece of paper.
Harambe Cameroon still has a long way to go, but "though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for
you are with me." (Ps.23:4)
through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for
you are with me." (Ps.23:4)
I consider myself as being part of a generation of Africans called, in George Ayittey's terms, the Cheetah generation - A generation of Africans who have refused to subscribe to the notion that Africa is a hopeless land, but rather are working to inspire and engage their African brothers and sisters to reach for higher heights. A generation of Africans who have refused to fall victims of their socio-political and economic circumstances, but rather have embraced the responsibility of their generation, and have placed their personal integrity over financial security. A generation of Africans who have refused to cheaply talk the talk, but have rather chosen to embark on the costly path of walk. I consider myself as being part of that generation of Africans - the Cheetah generation... and, I firmly believe that, in the end, "the African our generation desires can be won, it exists, it is real, it is possible, it is ours."
Yours Always,
Olivia Mukam
Harambe Cameroon Launch – Overview
On Thursday, the 12th of November 2009, Harambe-Cameroon, a private and apolitical organization lead by the bright minds of Cameroon in the Diaspora and in the country, officially launched its endeavor at Royal-Co Bastos, Yaounde. Harambe-Cameroon successfully brought together Cameroon’s key actors from various walks of life and from distinct socio-political and economic sectors of the nationü Students from leading Universities in Yaounde
o University of Yaounde I and II, ISSEA (Statistics), ENS (Teachers’ Training), IFORD (Demographics), ENSP (Polytechnic), SupDeCo (Business School), CIFADEG (International Business), IRIC (International Relations School)
ü Professors and Deans representing Cameroon’s Academia
o University of Yaounde I and II, SupDeCo, President of CIFADEG
ü Businesses/Corporations
o Director General of Compagnie Africaine de Conception et de Construction en Batiment et Travaux Publique (CACOCO BTP), Representative of Telecomm company - Cameroon Development (CamDev), Director of SAGEN Group, GUINESS Cameroon Public Relations Officer.
ü General Managers
o Caisse de stabilisation des prix des hydrocarbures (CSPH), Hotel Mont Febe
ü Government Agencies
o National Employment Fund (FNE), Ministry of Higher Education (MinESup), Ministry of Professional Training (MinForp)
ü Civil Society Organizations (CSO)
o Peer Education Program (PEP) Cameroon, Children’s Reassurance Ministry (CREAM), Cameroon Youths and Students Forum For Peace (CAMYOSFOP), Solutions Aux Migrations Clandestines (SMIC)
ü Media Representation
o Radio France International (RFI), FM94
ü International Representation
o UNICEF Communications Specialist, Harvard Law Alumnus, UN Youth Spokesperson Africa 2015
All were present to welcome Harambe-Cameroon in Cameroon’s civil society, as well as to discuss how together we can effectively engage the next generation of Cameroonian professionals through entrepreneurship.
Guest Speakers
Mr Nfinyo Mabu – Juriste /Entrepreneur
As a Jurist by training, who has worked for 6 years at the Muna Muna Law Firm (the biggest law Firm in Cameroon); and as the former Vice President of TAUG – conceptualizers of Le Bus and Le Car (city transporation), Nfinyo Mabu spoke with authority about the need for Cameroon’s youth to be engaged in Cameroon’s development. He urged all present to support Harambe Cameroon’s effort to inspire and engage a generation of problem-solvers.Mr Belinga of the National Employment Fund (FNE)
As the leading Government Employment Agency, FNE sponsors the creation of small and medium enterprises. Mr Belinga stated that FNE fully supports Harambe-Cameroon in its mission to encourage Cameroon’s youth to be entrepreneurs. According to him, it’s a viable public-private partnership that would help both institutions reach their objectives – to increase the number of self-employed Cameroonians. Presentation of Harambe-Cameroon
Harambe-Cameroon is a private, apolitical and legally-Cameroonian branch of a much larger alliance called the Harambe Endeavor · Harambe Endeavor is an alliance of African students studying at leading colleges and universities in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
o Its mission is to capture, inform and engage Africa’s global intellectual capital towards a sustained, strategic and concerted development of the African continent.
Established in September 2007 as a non-profit enterprise, Harambe Endeavor has quickly grown in its outreach with 18 African Countries currently being represented. Arguably the most powerful network of the next generation of African professionals, anywhere in the world.
Specifically, Harambe Cameroon is spearheading the first Social Entrepreneurship Program in the nation called the Harambe Incubator – Cameroon Entrepreneurship Program (HICEP), which seeks to change the paradigm as it relates to competition and entrepreneurship amongst Cameroonian students.
1: Elevator Pitch Contest;
2: Executive Summary Competition
2: Executive Summary Competition
3: Business Incubator;
4: Implementation
4: Implementation
Students will compete in an elevator pitch competition. Successful competitors will then graduate to the next stage – the executive summary competition and from there, successful competitors will be invited to an intensive 8-weeks business camp (Business Incubator) where students will be empowered with the tools to translate their ideas into ventures as they are exposed to industry experts and mentors and engage in workshops and roundtable discussions. At the end of this Incubation process, 5 teams of 3 members each will submit Business Plans. The Top- 2 teams with the best Business plan will receive both a reward and seed funding for the implementation of their social innovation project.
Discussions
· Pr Tchawa of University of Yaounde I, Professor of Geography, was posivitely surprised by the Harambe Cameroon initiative. He reassured the Harambe-Cameroon team that Cameroon is ready for such endeavor lead by youth, and there is a great need for the youth to be both more critical in their research and result-oriented. · The President of the Student Government of the University of Yaounde I, stated Harambe Cameroon is greatly welcomed by Cameroonian students, and they all look forward to compete in the annual entrepreneurship program.
· A Professor/Engineer at the Polytechnic School of Yaounde, advised Harambe Cameroon to create synergies with existing entrepreneurship programs, such as TechniPol – The new institution at the Polytechnic School that does Business Incubators and Enterprise creation.
· Following Justice Mabu’s comment, Mr Emmanuel Mukam proposed the idea of a Harambe Cameroon-Pepiniere. Essentially, a Harambe-Cameroon branch that would instill the values of entrepreneurship and problem-solver’s mindset amongst Cameroonian children.
Call To Action
Our Endeavor requires us to move beyond discussion, to strain beyond great initiatives and to achieve beyond hope. For we all know, Africa needs action. As meaningful action will be the yardstick of our success, and will determine whether students will have the opportunity to effectively engage in the advancement of our nation. In this light, Nfinyo Mabu made a Call to Action, for all those present to specifically state how they could concretely contribute in the realization of Harambe-Cameroon.
Commitments /Actions
§ Mrs Enoh Marguerite, Head of Department at CSPH – promised to support Harambe’s administration.
§ Mr Pierre Moifo, General Manager of Mont Febe Hotel offered a conference room at the 5-star hotel, to Harambe-Cameroon.
Marcelline Bih, Inspirational Speaker and author of Your Path to Success offered her services to inspire Harambe-Cameroon’s youths, and promised 50 copies of her book to the top-50 contestants of Harambe’s Competition.
Dr Okala, Representative of University of Yaounde I, stated the University is favorably open to any areas of collaboration with Harambe-Cameroon.
Mr. Belinga, of the National Employment Fund, gave Harambe-Cameroon a booklet with 100 Business Ideas in Cameroon, to share with Harambe’s future contestants.
Ngalim Eugene - Director of Publication-The Voice of Peace Magazine – will feature Harambe-Cameroon in the January Edition of the Panafrican magazine.
Mr. Emmanuel Mukam, Director General of CACOCO-BTP pledged to reward the First Business Plan Prize, the sum of ONE million FCFA ($2,000).
The Cocktail
Graced by our beautiful hostesses, the cocktail was colorful and refreshing.
Discussing with the President and Vice President of Student Government of SupdeCo
Interacting with Dr Okala, Representative of University of Yaounde I
Networking with Cameroon’s young movers-and-shakers.
What’s Next?
NEXT STEP: Elevator Pitch Contest (EPC) – January 15th, 2010
· Who can compete? All university students in Yaounde (for the Pilot program), with a BAC+2 level of studies are elligible to compete in the EPC. Fifty (50) students will be selected.
· What is it? Within the span of 60 seconds, the contestant defines a local problem and articulates a convincing solution to that problem,.
· Why is it significant? The EPC will help students express themselves in an eloquent and articulate manner. Each student that competes will be pushed to identify a local problem and propose a convincig solution to it. Thus, marking the first step in Harambe’s objective; to stimulate a generation of problem solvers who see problems as opportunities
PLAN OF ACTION ( From mid-November to mid- January)
· Mobilize University Students
o Harambe-Cameroon will organize weekly info-sessions at each leading university campus in Yaounde.
· Mass Media Campaign
o By mid-December, Harambe Cameroon will organize a Press Conference, to mediatize the upcoming Elevator Pitch Contest (EPC).
· Raise Funds for the EPC + Entrepreneurship Program
o Harambe Cameroon is still raising funds for the realization of the Elevator Pitch Contest.
o By end of November Sponsorship proposals will be sent to potential partners, such as: MTN, Afriland First Bank, GEOVIC , GICAM, UBA, TEXACO and more.
· Select Judges for the EPC
o The jury of the EPC will consist of 4 judges from the following sectors:
· Academia, Businesses, Government, Development Agency
·
HARAMBE CAMEROON – RESEARCH AND CONSULTING TEAM
HARAMBE CAMEROON – RESEARCH AND CONSULTING TEAM
This team will be the entrepreneurial for-profit branch of Harambe-Cameroon. The team will work in adjoint collaboration with The African Investment Corporation (AIC)– USA. They will conduct researches, feasibility studies, market analysis, and consulting for individuals, investors and enterprises both in Cameroon and abroad. Harambe-Cameroon has established a partnership with the AIC-USA, and has recruited young Cameroonians with competent backgrounds , such as:
oAn expert in Project analysis, Feasibility studies and Business Plan writing;
oA 2nd year student in Economics at University of Yaoundé II
oA Masters candidate in Statistics - specialized in Surveys and Market Analysis
oA 2008 Masters graduate in Finance and Business Management.
§ Early December 2009, this team will undergo a one-week training in Consulting, provided by the African Investment Corporation – USA.
Ask What You Can Do?
In order to tap into the creativity of the next generation of African professionals, the youth need to take control of their destiny with the help of their predecessors.
We acknowledge that we are not the panacea to all of Cameroon’s problems and we therefore seek to procure development through a concerted effort. In the spirit of Harambe, as we come together as one –students, young professionals , business owners, media, government agents, civil servants and international agents - we will engage a new generation of problem-solvers, transform the problems of our country into opportunities in need of action; and contribute effectively in the strategic and sustained advancement of our nation.
The Harambe-Cameroon Alliance
(www.hendeavor.org)
Ask What You Can Do?
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