Cameroon: Development and Social Change
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"Root Causes Not Symptoms": Sustainable Organizational Structures, Réseau de Lutte Contre la Faim: The Decision-Making Process in Combatting Systemic Issues
This paper attempts to understand the basis for how an organization structures itself and their vision. This research draws its focus to the civil society sector in Cameroon, particularly looking at Reseau de Lutte Contre la Faim (RELUFA) and their organizational structure in the battling against systemic issues. The main research question for this study looked at how RELUFA reflects and monitors its performance to keep the organization sustainable in the long-term. For this research the methodology included interviews, observations and secondary resources along with tertiary resources that offered the context for the analytical part of this research. The interviews were advantages as they offered information about the organization, an insight into how the organization itself functioned and how the members that make up this organization understand the systemic approach and the vision talked throughout RELUFA’s mission statement and constitution. This led to a fruitful collection of data which supported a few of my hypothesis while expanding and opening new ways of thinking of the others. The data presented is an analysis of RELUFA’s organizational structure, systemic approach and decision-making strategies. It includes a discussion on the strengths and weaknesses of the organization, bringing the research forward to answering the question of sustainable organizational structure. RELUFA’s organizational structure allows for key actors to shine through and, in turn, it is successful in its systemic approach to finding solutions for the root cause of systemic issues that perpetuate hunger, poverty, and social-, economic- and environmental injustice.
Cet article tente de comprendre la base sur laquelle une organisation se structure et sa vision. Cette recherche s’applique au secteur de la société civile au Cameroun, en particulier au Réseau de lutte contre la fraude (RELUFA) et à sa structure organisationnelle dans la lutte contre les problèmes systémiques. La principale question de recherche pour cette étude portait sur la manière dont RELUFA reflète et surveille ses performances afin de maintenir la viabilité de l’organisation sur le long terme. Pour cette recherche, la méthodologie comprenait des entretiens, des observations et des ressources secondaires ainsi que des ressources tertiaires qui ont fourni le contexte pour la partie analytique de cette recherche. Les entretiens ont été des avantages car ils ont fourni des informations sur l’organisation, un aperçu de son fonctionnement et de la manière dont les membres qui la composent comprennent l’approche systémique et la vision exprimée dans la déclaration de mission et la constitution de RELUFA. Cela a conduit à une collecte de données fructueuse qui a conforté quelques-unes de mes hypothèses tout en élargissant et en ouvrant de nouvelles façons de penser des autres. Les données présentées sont une analyse de la structure organisationnelle, de l’approche systémique et des stratégies de prise de décision de RELUFA. Il comprend une discussion sur les forces et les faiblesses de l’organisation, permettant à la recherche de répondre à la question de la structure organisationnelle durable. La structure organisationnelle de RELUFA permet aux acteurs clés de se faire remarquer et, en retour, elle réussit dans son approche systémique à la recherche de solutions à la cause fondamentale de problèmes systémiques qui perpétuent la faim, la pauvreté et les injustices sociales, économiques et environnementales.
https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/3012

Couvrant les Yeux, les Oreilles et la Bouche: How the Musée Royale de Batoufam Preserves Tradition and Culture for Multiple Audiences and Perspectives
Museums are important to study as a way of representing, preserving, and teaching culture. In this study, I wanted to explore how James Clifford’s exhibitionary complex, about the interactions of the viewer, the museum, and the represented culture, applies in the unique case of Musée Royale de Batoufam, a living site museum full of art and rich with tradition. In studying this, I examined the way different audiences use the museum and how the museum can preserve the idea of the coexistence of modernity and tradition, which is integral to Batoufam life, for all audiences. In conducting 20 interviews with actors from all three perspectives and 17 observations, I found that while currently Batoufam people preserve tradition orally and foreigners learn it through written form, the best preservation method is symbolic art in the museum which bridges the two forms of preservation and the two groups of people in the museum.
Les musées sont importants d’étudier comme une façon de représenter, préserver, et enseigner la culture. Dans cette étude, j’ai voulu d’explorer comment Le Complex d’Exhibition de James Clifford, à propos des interactions du voyeur, le musée, et la culture représentée, applique dans le cas unique du Musée Royale de Batoufam, une musée vivant de site avec beaucoup d’art et riche avec la tradition. En étudiant ça, j’ai examiné comment les audiences différentes utilisent le musée et comment le musée peut préserver l’idée de la coéxistance de la tradition et de la modernité, qui est essentiel pour la vie de Batoufam, pour toutes les audiences. En faisant 20 entretiens et 17 observations, j’ai trouvé que malgré que les Batoufams actuellement préservent leurs traditions orallement et les étrangers les apprennent à travers l’écriture, la meilleure méthode de la préservation est l’art symbolique dans le musée, qui rejoint les deux types de la préservation et les deux groupes dans le musée.
https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/3011

"It Is Our Own Thing": The Expression of and Limits to Enculturation at St. Joseph's Anglophone Parish
Down a small side street in the heart of Yaoundé, Cameroon, St. Joseph’s Anglophone Parish houses worshippers from the Northwest and Southwest regions of the country. Its members bring their cultural traditions to the church in the process of enculturation, and mass is filled with clergy-sanctioned elements of traditional culture, but beyond its walls, people still carry out the traditional practices that are deemed as “non-Christian” by the Church. This study seeks to examine the ways that traditional culture manifests itself both inside and outside St. Joseph’s Anglophone Parish, exploring the ways in which tradition is translated in the church and reframed outside of it in order blend tradition and religion, make them compatible, and preserve culture in the face of modernity.
Au bout d’une petite rue au coeur de Yaoundé, au Cameroun, la paroisse anglophone St. Joseph’s accueille des fidèles du nord-ouest et du sud-ouest du pays. Ses membres apportent leurs traditions culturelles à l'église en train de s'enculturer, et la masse est remplie d'éléments de la culture anglophone sanctionnés par le clergé, mais au-delà de ses murs, les gens continuent à pratiquer les pratiques traditionnelles qui sont considérées comme «non chrétiennes». l'église. Cette étude cherche à examiner la manière dont la culture traditionnelle se manifeste à l'intérieur et à l'extérieur de la paroisse St. Joseph, en explorant la manière dont la tradition est traduite dans l'église et recadrée en dehors de celle-ci afin de mêler tradition et religion, de les rendre compatibles et préserver la culture anglophone face à la modernité.
https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/3010

Cherchant Toujours la Paix: Le Systeme Endogene de la Resolution des Conflits à Batoufam
This dissertation will explore two subjects: an internship done with the chiefdom of Batoufam and a research project about the endogenous system of conflict resolution in Batoufam. The first part will illustrate the internship done at the museum of the chiefdom. Here will be described the institution, the work accomplished, and an analysis of the experience. In the second part will be asked the research question “what is the endogenous system of conflict resolution of Batoufam and how has it adapted in the context of the imposition of westernization?” After doing a literature review and explaining the methodology of the project, the dissertation will delve into the results. Overall, this research project will detail the endogenous process of conflict resolution of Batoufam, showing how it reflects the traditional values of the community. In addition, the dissertation will show the relationship between Batoufam and the West to be a synthesis in which the citizens of Batoufam can choose to incorporate the positive aspects brought by westernization while also engaging in efforts to preserve their local traditions and customs.

The Revolution Conundrum in Cameroon: A study of Relative Peace Under President Biya's Rule
This paper attempts to answer the question: What are the factors that have contributed to relative peace in Cameroon under the rule of President Paul Biya up until the civil uprisings in the Anglophone regions in 2016? Cameroon has witnessed consistent civil unrest in the forms of protests and strikes and yet the political structure remains strong against all opposition. Within the limitations of the research, the study finds three main explanations: state terror tactics and divide and rule strategies have quelled opposition, the survival culture of the population has resulted in creative economic alternatives that subsidize civil disorder, and the cultural legacies of two colonial powers, the British and the French, influence different citizenship understandings and relationships to defiance. However, although the political situation has remained intact, the country is not unified in the slightest, and the effects of years of corruption, fraudulent elections, and consistent marginalization of Anglophones is taking its toll. The stability of the Biya regime is currently being put to the test in the Anglophone Northwest and Southwest regions. Although the relative peace of the nation is being questioned with this rising Anglophone civil war, this study foresees that the aforementioned factors that have prevented disintegration before will likely prevent a revolution from succeeding once again.

Formalizing Through Finances: A Case Study with UNICS
This paper seeks to analyze the microfinance industry in Yaoundé, Cameroon through the lens of the microfinance institution UNICS. The main question guiding this study deals with whether or not the UNICS is encouraging a shift to the formal sector through their work with business people. Other questions relating to repayment rates and subsequently economic development also remain pertinent to the information found. In total, it is found that UNICS seeks to encourage formal sector growth through their work with businesspeople in the informal. Repayment rates however do not determine success of any aspect of a customer’s business or encouragement from institutions. Overall, while microfinance does contribute to socioeconomic growth, it is found that microfinance has deviated from its original goal of helping the poor and with the poor being left behind, it is to sustain real economic development.

"Why Can’t We All Get Along:" An analysis of Baka education, and the application of picture books in Baka
This research seeks to understand the implementation of mother tongue language education, specifically within the Baka community. Research was conducted in a Baka village called Mintoum over a three week period. By working with a non profit organization, information was gathered in hopes to improve the education of the Baka. Interviews were conducted to better understand, how these booklets affected not only the child’s education but also the parents’ reaction to books in their language. There was also an observation process conducted to see how the application of these booklets took place within a new Baka run preschool program “Chasing Two Rabbits at Once”. By also working with other Baka education organizations, it was found that these groups need to work together to achieve a common goal. Mother tongue education is not an easy process, but necessary to give these children the best chance to succeed in education. The booklets with the right application process will be beneficial to not only the child but also the community.

Who Am I? The Relationship between Cultural Identity and Globalization within the Local and Global Intersections
The imminent phenomenon of globalization has been mainly explored in academia through the lens of economics and politics. Little attention has been given to the relationship between this phenomenon and culture, and yet the yield of this relationship could be tremendous as culture determines how individuals operate in our growing globalized world. This research project takes place in Bertoua, the capital of the East Region of the Republic of Cameroon. The country is located in Central Africa, and is often referred as “Africa in Miniature” due to its vast cultural and geological diversity. The focus of the study is on the period of childhood, as this is the period in which one develops their cultural identity. The study seeks to assess children’s current knowledge, practice and learning channels of their own innate culture, other Cameroonian cultures and other world cultures. It also seeks to understand the realities and desires within the local and global cultural intersections. The data was collected through 84 surveys distributed to high school children and 8 interviews conducted with individuals who hold roles that influence the cultural lives of children. The study found that an overwhelming majority of children had knowledge of their own ethnic group culture, a majority had of other Cameroonian cultures, and only about half, had of world cultures. Respectively, the main learning channels were: the village, interaction with individuals from those cultures and the media (television and internet). Lastly, at the local intersection a strong desire for national integration, in other words, respect and harmony between the different ethnic groups is apparent. At the global intersection, the process of cultural assimilation, in which a child adopts other world cultures while sacrificing their own, is apparent. The desire, however, is a process of cultural integration, in which a child integrates in to his own culture, the positive from other world cultures.

Man and Land: Competing Ontologies, Colonial Legacies, and the Quest for Food Sovereignty
Land is an ontological reality, which is at the center of different relationships to land. These relationships are situated in and a product of historical and spatial process that have an under lying power geometry. These different understandings of land tenure can create conflict when they intersect with competing interests in the same space. In Cameroon, this is currently the case in the form of large-scale land acquisitions, which often conflict with local communities as multinational corporations and local elites acquire land concessions with facilitation by the government in the name of development. This paper aims to understand this issue in Cameroon by contextualizing the phenomenon within its colonial and global history, working from the bottom up using the case study of CATAC in Nanga Eboko, and by using a spatial analysis to prove that this conflict over land is part of a broader agrarian transformative process.

"Ewondo in the Classes, French for the Masses." Mother-Tongue Education in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Cameroon is home to over two hundred eighty native languages coming from three language families, making it one of the most linguistically diverse countries on Earth. Despite this, native languages hold very few domains in Cameroonian society. In recent years, several experimental programs have begun to implement native languages in schools citing that children learn best in their mother tongue. Among these include ELAN-Afrique, an initiative put forth by La Francophonie with the main aim of helping students better learn French by way of their mother tongue. This paper seeks to differentiate the benefits prescribed or expected by overhead actors from the actual benefits occurring at one Ewondo-medium ELAN school in Yaoundé. The study includes a series of twenty interviews with program leadership, linguists, NGOs, as well as teachers and parents of students enrolled in the program. Claims made in interviews were then validated or refuted by classroom observation. The program’s main flaw is the assumption that the students’ mother tongue is Ewondo when in reality, due to their urban upbringing, the students’ mother tongue is French. This causes the reality of the program to differ fundamentally from the expectations of La Francophonie as some benefits are negated, some manifest differently than expected, and some appear never having been predicted.

The Future of Agriculture in Cameroon in the Age of Agricultural Biotechnology
The President of the Republic declares that the development of Cameroon depends on agriculture, the economic sector which currently generates 23% of gross domestic product and employs 62% of the population. Today, national strategy to bring about agricultural progress includes the experimentation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), which Cameroon intends to commercialize in 2019. This paper examines the obstacles impeding agriculture today, while uncovering the current stage of experimentation and debate around GMOs. The study also evaluates the inclusion of stakeholders in the debate around the future of agriculture. Research was conducted through interviews of government officials, civil society organizations, academics, farmers, private enterprises and consumers. The study finds that the primary obstacles to agriculture are lack of financing, inadequate factors of production, and poor governance. Objections to GMO technology include risk to human health, loss of sovereignty in farming, and reduction in crop quality. The government refutes the concerns of the opposition and justifies GMO technology by the need for increased crop production in order to ensure food security. Finally, the study demonstrates that while certain stakeholders are consulted, the government alone decides the future of GMOs and agriculture in Cameroon.
Le Président de la République déclare que le développement du Cameroun dépend de l’agriculture, le secteur économique qui produit 23% du produit intérieur brut et emploie 62% de la population. Aujourd’hui, la stratégie nationale pour mener le progrès agricole inclut l’expérimentation des organismes génétiquement modifiés (OGM) que le Cameroun pense commercialiser en 2019. Cet article examine les obstacles qui entravent l’agriculture aujourd’hui et rapporte la phase actuelle de l’expérimentation et du débat autour des OGM. L’étude évalue aussi l’inclusion des parties intéressées dans le débat sur le futur de l’agriculture. La recherche s’est déroulée par les interviews des fonctionnaires de l’Etat, des organisations de la société civile, des universitaires, des agriculteurs, des entreprises privées et des consommateurs. L’étude trouve que les obstacles primaires pour l’agriculture sont le manque du financement, l’insuffisance des facteurs de production et la mauvaise gouvernance. Les objections aux OGM incluent le risque de maladie, la perte de la souveraineté agricole et la réduction de qualité des produits. Le gouvernement réfute les soucis de l’opposition et justifie la technologie OGM par la besoin de la production augmentée pour assurer la sécurité alimentaire. Finalement, l’étude démontre que les décisions quant à la commercialisation des OGM et le futur de l’agriculture seront prises par le gouvernement.

Mari et femme, sous Dieu: L’Évangile du genre dans le mariage chrétien camerounais
Cette étude cherche à analyser les implications sur le genre d’une institution sociale influente, le christianisme, à travers l’optique des rôles conjugaux. Les interviews individuelles face à face étaient conduites en quatre semaines, avec pour objectif d’analyser ces rôles conjugaux chrétiens du genre dans l’espoir de mieux comprendre leur relation à l’émancipation désirée du genre. Ces interviewés ont inclut un échantillon divers des chrétiens mariés, des leaders religieux, et des membres de la société civile/ le gouvernement. Leurs réponses ont indiqué une influence forte d’un christianisme uniquement camerounais sur la conception des rôles conjugaux du genre. Ces rôles mettent les hommes et les femmes dans des positions strictes et distinctes mais ils n’insistent pas nécessairement sur une division de valeur entre les genres, bien que les hommes pratiquent souvent un rôle autoritaire. Les données ont conclu que même si la bible recommande la soumission de la femme, les femmes camerounaises ne considèrent pas leur rôle comme dévalorisant parce qu’en général, elles voient l’autonomisation de leurs capacités à mieux servir leurs familles. Cette étude a trouvé qu’en cherchant l’émancipation de l’idée patriarcal du genre, on doit étendre la définition de l’émancipation pour inclure une conception plus collectiviste du terme, donc il ne peut pas exister une idée universelle imposée de l’émancipation.
Abstract
This study seeks to unpack the gendered implications of an influential societal institution, Christianity, through the lens of marital roles. Individual in-person interviews were conducted with 20 residents of Yaoundé over a 4 week period, with the aim of analyzing these Christian gender roles in hopes of better understanding their relationship to the desired emancipation of gender. These interviewees included a diverse array of married Christians, religious leaders, and civil society/ public sector constituents. Their responses indicated a strong influence of a decidedly Cameroonian Christianity on beliefs surrounding marital gender roles. These roles place men and women in strict and distinct locations but do not necessarily insist on a division of worth between the genders, though in practice the man may take on an authoritative position. The research concluded that while the bible commands a submissive role for women, Cameroonian women do not see this role as disempowering because they generally view empowerment as their ability to best serve their family. This study found that in seeking emancipation from the patriarchal idea of gender, we must expand the definition of emancipation to include a more collectivist conception of the term, thus there can be no one universally imposed idea of emancipation.

The Politics of Social Entrepreneurship in Cameroon
Social entrepreneurship, a practice that combines nonprofit missions and business principles in pursuit of social impact, is a growing phenomenon that has the potential to empower millions of people around the world through a decentralized approach to social problem solving. In this paper, I examine the state of social entrepreneurship in Cameroon, exploring how social entrepreneurship is defined in the Cameroonian context by local actors, and the ways in which Cameroonian social entrepreneurs interact with macro, meso, and micro level politics and partners to create sustainable social impact. From November 7 through December 7, 2015, I conducted in-person interviews with eight social enterprises and four government ministries, as well as six email exchanges with two social enterprises in different parts of Cameroon and four university students who participated in a US Embassy sponsored exchange program for social innovators. Ultimately, I conclude that social entrepreneurship is an underdeveloped concept that is understood differently by different actors in the country, and the practitioners work with the government, businesses, universities, funders, community partners, and mentors to varying extents in pursuit of solving some of Cameroon’s most persistent social issues, such as hunger, poverty, and unemployment.

Branches Above and Roots Below: Mothers’ Hopes for their Children in Batoufam, Cameroon
In order to delve into the desires that rural Cameroonian communities have for the future generation, this research project consisted of formally interviewing ten mothers in the village of Batoufam about what hopes they have for their children. This study highlighted on what they would like for their children, the way they raise their children to achieve their aspirations, and their opinions on the importance of preserving tradition for their children. The findings of this study are humble and rooted dreams of being able to care for one’s basic needs and the needs of a family. Batoufam mothers, along with the entire village, raise children in a way to respect cultural values of sharing and unity and the expectation of preserving tradition. The hope for branching out into the world in travel and education is strong, but just as strong is the hope that children will forever remain tied to where they came from.
Pour apprendre les désires des communautés rurales Camerounaise pour la prochaine génération, ce projet de recherche a été composé des entretiens formels des dix mères dans le village de Batoufam sur leurs espoirs pour leurs enfants. Cette étude a mis l’emphase sur ce qu’elles veulent pour leurs enfants, la façon dont elles élèvent leurs enfants réaliser leurs aspirations, et leurs avis de l’importance de préserver la tradition pour leurs enfants. Les résultats de cette étude sont les rêves humbles et enracinés qui s’agissent d’être capable de prendre soin des besoins de soi et les besoins de la famille. Les mères Batoufam, avec tout le village, élèvent les enfants à respecter les valeurs culturelles de partager et rester dans l’ensemble et l’attente de préserver la tradition. L’espoir de se ramifier dans le monde avec le voyage et l’éducation est forte, mais également forte est l’espoir que les enfants vont rester toujours liés au village où ils viennent.

Microfinance et Développement au Cameroun : L’Efficacité de la MC2 dans la Communauté Agricole de Batoufam
The agriculture sector in Cameroon remains underdeveloped, and many farmers continue to suffer a lack of means. Given the debate concerning the efficacy of microfinance as a solution,this study aimed to examine the efficacy of a microfinance institution, La Mutuelle Communautaire de Croissance (MC²) in Batoufam, a rural agricultural village in Cameroon. In recent years, MC²s have become very popular in Cameroon; however, there is not yet a thorough study on the efficacy of the MC² of Batoufam. Through interviewing farmers, the Chief of Batoufam, the employees of MC² and of the NGO Appropriate Development for Africa Foundation (the organization that supports MC²s), it is evident that this MC² does not adequately meet the specific needs of the farmers in Batoufam—for the majority of farmers, it has not yet contributed to long-term changes in their lives. Taking into consideration the desires of these farmers and the capacity of the institution to continue to function, this study recommends the following: a training program and the counsel of an agro-technician for the farmers, increased monitoring of their projects, the creation of a cooperative, and the ability to obtain larger credits and to possibly augment existing credits to avoid project failures.

Francophones in the Anglophone Educational Sub-System; Trends and Futures
Cameroon is a country divided by the vestiges of two different colonial legacies- the British in the west of the country and the French in the east. These two opposing colonial histories are manifested in the two education sub-systems found across the country. Although originally anglophones studied in the Anglo-Saxon sub-system while francophones followed the French sub-system, recent years have seen a growing influx of francophone students to Anglo-Saxon schools. This study sought to explore the trends and futures, the causes and effects of francophone students attending Anglo-Saxon sub-system schools. Using four secondary schools in the anglophone city of Bamenda, the study explores the social trends that led students to attend Anglo-Saxon schools and the anglophone-francophone social trends found in each of those school. These findings are then used to project into the future, considering the effects that the enrollment of francophone students into Anglo-Saxon schools has on the overarching goal of national unity.

Modern Practices of Traditional Dance in Cameroon: The Influences of Colonization and Globalization
The study was originally one of the changing practices of traditional dance in Cameroon, and the causes behind the shift from purposeful dances with relevance to everyday life, to dances primarily meant for entertainment and exposition. What emerged was the somewhat ironic realization that the current manifestations of traditional dance cannot be separated from a discussion of modernity and Cameroon’s socio-cultural development.
The changing practices of traditional dance in Cameroon compose a smaller piece of the larger puzzle of the ways in which Cameroonian culture is forced to adapt itself to the external influences of the times, while still attempting to hold onto its roots. Globalization has flooded Cameroon with cultural imports from neighboring nations, predominately from the West. This comes at the heels of colonization, during which period the ruling powers of Germany, then France and England demolished many of Cameroon’s cultural institutions, including dance. Colonization and globalization have left the general Cameroonian public less inclined to continue in purely traditional practices, favoring mélanges of cultures if not the wholehearted adoption of Western habits. Because of this, tradition has largely been relegated to the villages, while any outside manifestations of tradition have been mutated and pushed into the exhibitory sphere. This is something not unique to Cameroon; Alphonse Tiéru has noted this phenomenon in his work Dooplé: loi éternelle de la danse africaine, in regard to many African countries that have been impacted by globalization. Yet as Cameroon is “Africa in miniature”[1], due to its composition of over 250 ethnic groups, it is an ideal country to study the effects of the permeation and imposition of Western and foreign cultures on indigenous cultures.
[1]Achanyang Atabong Jarvis. Interview 17 November, 2014.

Renforcement des Femmes: WOPA and Sustainable Empowerment Through Vocational Training
The Women’s Promotion and Assistance Association (WOPA) is a Non-Governmental Organization located in the tourist town of Kribi, Cameroon. This study examined whether WOPA’s vocational training program, The Center for Education and Training for Women, responded to the needs in participants’ lives and the needs of the local economy to effectively economically empower young women. Using 21 one interviews with current and graduated students of the program, as well as local government officials, I concluded that WOPA’s training does fit the needs of participants’ lives; and that the trainings offered in sewing, culinary arts, and community health adequately fit the needs of Kribi’s economy. WOPA’s classes are hands on and free, which meets the needs of low-income and undereducated students. Sewing is a popular job for women in Kribi, and graduated students face competition; research on alternative types of trade that are not gender-stereotyped is necessary. Graduates lack funds to begin work, but feel emotionally empowered by their new skills.

Cultivating Rice in Import Dependent Cameroon: A Case Study of the Successes and Challenges Facing Rice Farmers in Santchou, Cameroon
Cameroon is qualified as an import dependent country, meaning it relies on imported food to feed its population. Specifically, Cameroon imports over 80% of its rice consumption, spending 145 billion French CFA on rice imports yearly. But, Cameroon has sufficient untapped arable land and a large enough agriculturally centered population to produce adequate rice quantities to meet demand without relying on imports. This paper examines the challenges facing rice farmers in Cameroon in the context of import dependence and why local farmers cannot currently produce enough rice to meet local demand, focusing on the experience of the rice farming community in Santchou. I found that the main challenges inhibiting sufficient rice production facing rice farmers are: poor infrastructure, rudimentary equipment, birds, and a lack of financing. Furthermore, this paper explores what initiatives are already practiced that support Cameroonian rice production. I explain how UGERILCOPAM, the Santchou rice farmers union, allows for the cultivation and sale of Santchou rice, in addition to discussing its relationship with civil society and government actors. Finally, makes proposals for the future, acknowledging the government must take action both to support local rice production and end corruption, which currently drains financing opportunities.

“Nous Souffrons” Examining the Problems Facing Urban Refugees in Yaoundé, Cameroon
This paper is the product of a study that examines the experiences of urban refugees in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Refugees around the world, often victims of unthinkable human rights abuses, are forced to rely fully on the hospitality and protection of the international community. This unique relationship between a refugee and his/her host state can present serious challenges to both parties. This research examined the resources available to refugees in Yaoundé, evaluated their effectiveness, and explored possibilities for improving the experience of these urban refugees. I utilized eighteen structured interviews with refugees and four follow-‐up in depth interviews with three refugees and the director of a local NGO, Respect Cameroon. My results indicated that the resources available to refugees are primarily provided by UNHCR and local NGO’s. I also concluded that these resources exhibit low levels of effectiveness, and could be improved through increased dialogue between organizations and a focus on increasing refugee’s knowledge of their legal rights.

Socio-Cultural Barriers to Family Planning Access
This paper attempts to discern barriers to family planning access and use in the Manguier quarter of Yaoundé, Cameroon based on research collected during a three week period. Questionnaires and interviews were used to measure women’s use of and opinions towards family planning consultations and methods. The spread of rumors regarding negative side effects, mistaken beliefs about family planning, husband’s disapproval, and the availability of contraceptives elsewhere were found to be the major deterrents to the use of family planning by women in this study. This research shows the need for campaigns to educate women and men alike on the true advantages and disadvantages of family planning so that they can make informed choices regarding their reproductive health.

“Breastfeeding Perceptions and Practices” A Comparative Study of Two Opposing Socio-Economic Level Quarters within Yaoundé, Cameroon
This research project aims to identify and analyze the conditions that influence breastfeeding perceptions and practices within two opposing socioeconomic level quarters of Yaoundé, Cameroon: Bastos and Madagascar. According to the World Health Organization recommendations for optimal infant and young child nutrition, mothers are advised to exclusively breastfeed for the first six months of life after birth before introducing complimentary feeding. Cameroon since 2005 has adhered to the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes. It is classified as a Category 1 as a country which discourages commercial pressures to feed alternative forms of nutrition known as breastmilk substitutes.
This four-week case study utilizes the demographic and behavioral information of fifty mothers with six in-depth follow-up interviews to begin to understand local realities in relation to exclusive breastfeeding, mixed feeding, and breastmilk substitutes.
Further discussions with healthcare professionals of the Chantal Biya Foundation, the Deputy Director for Food and Nutrition at the Ministry of Public Health, the Food and Nutrition Officers at both the United Nations Children’s Fund and World Health Organization, as well as several informal conversations in the community demonstrate the influence of national and international organizations on the breastfeeding decisions of mothers.

The Impacts of Education: A Case Study of Muslim Women in Ngaoundéré, Cameroon
This paper is the product of a study on the ultimate impacts that education can have on the lives of Muslim women in the city of Ngaoundéré, Cameroon. Women in the North of Cameroon have been confined within traditional gender roles that have been in place for generations, due to deep ties with culture and religion in the region. This research explores Muslim women’s opinions on the impacts of the modern education system in place in the city. In addition it looks into the impacts that this education can have on different aspects of a woman’s life, including her relations with her husband, her economic impact and independence of work, the advantages and disadvantages she has faced in life, as well as her plans for the future education of her children, particularly her daughters. I conducted this research by surveying fifty women of all different age ranges and varying levels of education. What I found was that regardless of a woman’s level of education, she emphasized its importance and had high hopes for the education of her children. Furthermore, the importance of work and financial independence was stressed by nearly every woman I spoke with. Finally, I found that mentalities are changing in Ngaoundéré. Young marriage for girls is slowly phasing out, and many husbands were in fact the ones encouraging their wives to work and continue their education.

Assessing the Senate: Political Opinion Among Cameroonian Youth
This paper seeks to examine the political opinions of Cameroon youth in regards to the newly-introduced Senate. Research was conducted with students at the University of Yaoundé I and the University of Yaoundé II over the course of a four-week period. This paper discusses the potential and stated purposes of the Senate within the Cameroonian context. It will also discuss the various particular reasons that the Senate was implemented in 2013. Finally, it will convey the opinions of and the hopes for the Senate as stated by university students. First, I conclude that the Senate’s main role is to be the upper chamber of the legislating body, but there are many potential purposes based on individual thoughts and opinions. I conclude also that the only verifiable reasons that the Senate was instituted in 2013 are that it was stipulated in the Constitution and that the Head of State wanted to implement it. I finally conclude that most students have positive hopes for the Senate, but their opinions are often determined by other circumstances such as gender, language and other opinions.

Vision 2035 and the Kribi Deep Seaport: An analysis of the Economic Impacts for Cameroon
The purpose of this study was to determine whether the effects of the Kribi Deep Seaport project will be positive for economic development in Cameroon, and how the Port will affect Cameroon’s regional and global role. The study was conducted over a one-month period and was primarily qualitative in nature. The principal method of inquiry was interviews, which were complemented by quantitative secondary source research. Although most informants asserted that the project was a positive step for the country, the information they provided led me to conclude that the project was undertaken prematurely and will not promote sustainable economic development in Cameroon. There were several findings that led me to this conclusion. First, the lack of adequate educational infrastructure in the country, excluding most Cameroonians from taking advantage of the employment opportunities generated. Second, the lack of transparency and the demonstrated inability of the government to effectively utilize revenues, meaning that natural resource wealth would be wasted. The final result that led to my conclusion was the negative implications of the expansion of the relationship with China that the Port entails. Ultimately, the Port is a good project in principle, but the current circumstances will nullify the potential benefits.

What Really Matters: A Triangular Study of Gender Roles and Standards of Beauty in Cameroon Through the Lens of Television Advertisements
Mass media increasingly has become a powerful force around the world. It is impactful and useful in its various forms such as film, books, newspapers, magazines, television and visual and audio music. However even in its informative, educational, communicative, and entertaining character, the media also has the propensity to mirror larger societal practices, perceptions, thoughts, and opinions pertaining to social dynamics encountered within society. Thus social constructs of gender, race, class and other identity characteristics are exemplified and amplified through media forms. Such realities found in the media have the propensity to be socially dangerous in that it can shape the opinions of an identity group based on the images projected, specifically in persuasive forms of media, like advertisement. This study therefore is a triangular analysis of the gender roles and standards of beauty in Cameroon purveyed through the media; specifically those transmitted through television commercials aired on privately owned Cameroonian television network, Canal 2; using content analysis or observation of the station during an average of 20 hours. The study additionally explores the awareness and perceptions of these images and their accompanied messages by Cameroonian women and men through surveys and formal interviews. Triangular study results revealed that television commercials aired on Canal 2 reproduce gender roles pertaining specifically to motherhood and its assumed associated tasks; cleaning and cooking, and taking care of the children. Beauty standards presented themselves less overtly however a difference was observed and cited by interview participants between cosmetic and alimentation and household items advertisements.
Les medias sont de puissants moyen de communication à travers le monde entier. Ils existent sous formes filmiques, livresques, électroniques et papiers. Ils permettent aussi de s’informer, communiquer et se distraire. C’est aussi par les medias que sont véhiculées des idées, des pensées, et des imaginaires sociétales. Conséquemment, perceptions sociales de genre, de race, de classe, et de l’identité féminines se construisent par le canal médiatique et plus particulièrement celui de la publicité. Ainsi, la présente étude qui se situe au cœur des women’s studies explore les imaginaires féminins qui sont véhiculés dans la société camerounaise à travers les publicités. Selon une approche croisée faite à partir des sources orales et écrites, ce travail est aussi le résultat de 20h de décryptage de publicités audiovisuelles diffusées à travers Canal 2. De ce fait, l’analyse des documents filmiques publicitaires a permis de ressortir les différentes conceptions du rôle de la femme qui s’élaborent dans le cadre familial et dans le domaine de l’esthétique.

Elle doit s’épanouir: The Women’s Entrepreneurial Program and Women’s Empowerment in Dschang
This paper provides a field study of the Women’s Entrepreneurial Program (WEP) in Dschang, Cameroon. It looks at the obstacles that impede women’s involvement in Cameroon’s economic development and that keep them trapped in a cycle of poverty, especially their access to financing and socio-cultural influences. Notions of ‘women’s empowerment’ are discussed and an overview of the WEP’s functions and goals is provided. This study seeks to explore how access to micro-finance in conjunction with entrepreneurial training has impacted the economic situation of WEP participants as well as any corresponding changes in their culturally dictated roles and responsibilities. The gendering of household roles and responsibilities in the Grassfields region, heavily influenced by Bamiléké culture, is discussed in relation to the concept of ‘empowerment.’ A sampling of current and former WEP participants as well as staff involved in the WEP were interviewed to gain their perceptions of how financing and training have influenced the women’s daily lives and to gain their perspectives of what it means for a woman to be ‘empowered.’

East versus West: Chinese and American Development Efforts and Perceptions in Cameroon
Every year, donor countries pour billions of dollars of foreign aid into developing recipient countries. Humanitarian and “win-win” rhetoric generally accompanies the grant, hospital, school, or sports stadium. To a realist international relations scholar, it is highly unlikely that powerful nations like the United States and China donate anything without political or economic strategic interests in mind. How do American and Chinese strategic interests affect the quality of development aid? This paper seeks to answer this question in the context of Cameroon, a Central African state rich in resources and young minds but whose growth is hampered by its colonial past and its stagnant political environment. This study also seeks to understand what Cameroonians, the intended targets of foreign assistance, think of these donors’ development projects. Based on interviews with government officials and citizens in Yaoundé, Cameroonians are frustrated with the United States’ lack of infrastructural projects and the transformative effect its political interests have on Cameroonian culture. Cameroonians appreciate the visibility of Chinese infrastructural projects but are wary of what economic or political power China might wield over Cameroon in the future. If development aid continues this way, it will be difficult for Cameroon to reach its potential.

The Perceptions, Problems, and Possibilities of Cameroonians with Mental Disabilities: A Case study of Le Centre National de Réhabilitation des Personnes Handicapées de Yaoundé
For my study, I focused on the state of persons with mental disabilities in Yaoundé, Cameroon, a discriminated and marginalized population. I completed an internship at Le Centre National de Réhabilitation des Personnes Handicapées in the special education school as a case study. There, through participant observation, simple observation and interviews as well as outside research, I gathered information regarding my research questions and hypothesis:
1. Who is responsible for the majority of persons with mental disabilities?
2. What are the affects of perceptions of persons with mental disabilities?
3. What are some possibilities for a better life and through what means?
Hypothesis:
1. Because many people with mental disabilities are abandoned, the state is in charge of their well being.
2. Because the general public stigmatizes persons with mental disabilities, they face difficulties with integration.
3. If people with mental disabilities attend the special needs school at Le Centre de Réhabilitation des Personnes Handicapées, it will facilitate integration into society and into the educational system.

Le Communautarisme au Cameroun : Analyse Comparative Entre les Associations Ethniques et les Associations Non-Ethniques et Leurs Effets à Yaoundé
Cette étude interpelle la philosophie communautaire, un fondement ancien de la société africaine, en milieu contemporain et urbain au Cameroun. Au sein de la capitale Yaoundé, toute une gamme de communautés forme leurs propres associations qu’elles soient basées sur l’ethnie, la profession ou sur un autre point commun. Cette recherche explore la raison pour laquelle les Camerounais se regroupent et les modes de fonctionnent des associations ethniques comparé aux associations non-ethniques. Malheureusement, le communautarisme d’aujourd’hui est au cœur des conflits interethniques sanglants partout dans le monde. Aucune association de cette étude ne révèle cela, mais ces structures sociales influencent véritablement les citoyens et l’avenir de ce pays. A partir des observations, des entretiens et des analyses documentaires, je conclus que le communautarisme est non seulement une force de cohésion mais aussi une force de fragmentation et que les associations ethniques et non-ethniques favorisent et retardent le développement du Cameroun à la fois. Ces associations, en fait, nous engagent dans une conversation plus large sur la politique, le peuple et la construction nationale du pays.
This study takes on communal philosophy, an age-old foundation of African society, in a modern, urban locality of Cameroon. Within the capital city of Yaoundé, a wide range of communities form associations either on an ethnic basis or around another commonality. This research explores why Cameroonians regroup by ethnicity and how these associations function in relation to non-ethnic groupings. Unfortunately, today, communalism and tribal associations are at the heart of bloody inter-ethnic conflicts worldwide. Not a single association of this study reflects this extremism, yet these social structures significantly impact the citizens and the future of this country. From observations, interviews, and document analysis, I conclude that both the ethnic and non-ethnic associations simultaneously encourage and deter the development of Cameroon. These associations, in fact, engage us in a much larger conversation concerning the polity, the populous, and the construction of the nation.

Reproductive Realities: Fulani Women & Contraception
This paper is the product of three weeks of research on contraception and the lives of married Fulani women in Ngaoundéré, Cameroon. Based on interviews with Fulani women, conducted both in French and in the Fulani language of Fulfulde with the aid of a French interpreter, I discuss the cultural and religious influences on women’s lives that impact their decisions or abilities to use contraception, as well as the ways these influences and realities have changed, are changing, and are expected to change in the future. I also look into the more practical concern of the availability and accessibility of contraceptives in the city of Ngaoundéré, which I base on interviews conducted with health care workers in the city. I conclude that both culture and structure are in a state of transition, and show that both aspects can limit women’s ability to willingly choose to use contraceptive methods to space out births or limit the size of their families.

L’Entrepreneuse et la Réunion Examining ROSCAs and Women’s Entrepreneurship in Bafoussam, Cameroon
Microfinance is the wunderkind of many development experts. Its presence is overwhelming in Cameroon but many Cameroonians choose instead to put their hard earned money in the informal financial sector. Heavily rooted in cultural traditions of the West Region, this informal financial sector is where the poorest Cameroonians gain access to credit – not necessarily the “village money lender” as is assumed by many scholars of microfinance. For women, who have the least access to credit, these institutions of informal credit are particularly important. Relying primarily on a survey administered in the markets of Bafoussam, Cameroon, this study explores the importance of these institutions for the female entrepreneurs working in the informal sector of Bafoussam in particular. Overall, it was found that these institutions offer a wide array of financial services and have a high rate of participation. While these institutions are inherently social, many women rely on them to gain the large amounts of capital needed to maintain their businesses in the informal sector.
Sans doute, la microfinance est très populaire avec beaucoup d’experts de développement. Les institutions de microfinance sont nombreuses au Cameroun aussi. Cependant, la majorité préfère à garder leur argent dans le secteur financier informel. Avec les racines culturelles de l’Ouest Région aussi, ce secteur financier informel est le lieu où les camerounais le plus pauvres trouvent l’accès du crédit ; contraire à l’argument de beaucoup d’scolaires de microfinance, ce n’est pas toujours « le créancier du village ». Ces institutions informel de crédit sont d’importance particulier pour les femmes, parce qu’elles ont le moins d’accès du crédit au Cameroun. Cette étude utilise une enquête qui était distribué aux entrepreneuses au marché à Bafoussam, Cameroun, pour explorer l’importance de ces institutions dans le contexte de l’entrepreneuse à Bafoussam. Les résultats montrent que ces institutions offrent beaucoup de services financier et que la majorité de répondants participe. Les institutions sont aussi sociales, mais néanmoins, un nombre des entrepreneuses les utilisent pour avoir l’accès au crédit pour maintenir leurs activités.

The Crisis of Unity in the 21st Century: The Unrealized Dream of Pan-Africanism in Cameroon
The following is an analysis of how the sentiments of pan-Africanism, a notion formulated in the early 20th century, have failed to proliferate in Cameroonian society. As a concept based in the social, economic, and political solidarity of the African continent, the pan-African movement has often been a point of reference for intellectuals searching for a solution to the problems Africa currently faces, some of which include lack of political agency and stagnating economic growth. The beliefs promoted by pan-Africanists is that by joining together the collective potentials of all African people, the continent can become a global force, leaving behind its past of enslavement and colonialism. The findings of this study reveal, however that though Cameroonian informants agree with the sentiments advocated by the pan-African movement, aspects of their society have not been conducive to the success of this concept. In looking at the social institutions of Cameroon’s education system, regional differences and political leadership, this study aims to discover why pan-Africanism has failed and what Cameroonians, and Africans in general, can do to weave its teachings back into their society.

An Accident Waiting to Happen: A Study of Taxi Driving Mentality in Yaoundé, Cameroon
Taxis are the most common form of transportation found in Yaoundé, Cameroon. However, they are also a prime example of unsafe driving, causing a large number of minor accidents that often go unreported and uncorrected. Nevertheless, driving is a social responsibility, and smaller accidents have their own set of repercussions. Perhaps the strongest argument to understand and correct this problem is that it is preventing Cameroon’s capital city from becoming developed in the way of providing safe commercial transportation. In order to better understand this issue, it is necessary to deconstruct the mindsets of all involved. The focus of this research paper, then, is to perform a case study of taxi driving in Yaoundé – critically analyzing all existing mentalities. Much of the research includes identifying the key players of the transportation sector, surveying, and conducting interviews with representatives from these various groups. Some examples are policymakers, law enforcers, and the taxi drivers themselves. With the assistance of secondary research, the opinions of informants, and a novel look at the current situation, this paper offers a comprehensive study of taxi driving in Yaoundé, as well as highlights areas of improvement and proposes ways to ameliorate the situation.

De Sous le Matelas: La Capacité d’Épargne des Propriétaires de Petites Entreprises Dans le Réseau de Microfinance de UNICS
L’épargne est une facette intégrante et nécessaire de la microfinance, un outil qui favorise une croissance financière durable des institutions de microfinance et leurs clients. Cette recherche examine les perceptions des Camerounais en ce qui concerne les économies et comment les pratiques des propriétaires des petites entreprises et comment la gestion du budget influence leur capacité d’épargne. Pour ce faire, la recherche a été menée auprès d’un échantillon de clients de Unity Cooperative Society (UNICS), un IMF de la deuxième catégorie basée à Yaoundé, et des propriétaires qui ne sont pas affiliés avec UNICS et qui travaillent au Marché Central. Ce mémoire examine comment la perception positive de l’épargne ne peut être réalisées dans les pratiques des économies tangibles en raison de la situation financière et économique au Cameroun, et due à l’inefficacité des techniques de gestion de budget. En continuant à chercher à offrir des services financiers aux pauvres—particulièrement des options d’épargne—les IMF doivent également trouver un équilibre entre le but lucratif et des efforts conscients pour rester fidèles à leur objectif initial de réduction de la pauvreté. En fin de compte, avec ces services, les pauvres peuvent mieux mobiliser leurs moyens financiers limités de sous le matelas littéral et figuratif et mieux réaliser l’indépendance financière. Savings are an integral and necessary facet of microfinance, a tool that promotes a sustainable financial growth of microfinance institutions and their customers. This research examines perceptions of Cameroonians in respect of savings and how the practices of small business owners and how to manage the budget affects their ability to save. To do this, research was conducted with a sample of clients of Unity Cooperative Society (UNICE), an MFI in the second group based in Yaounde, and owners who are not affiliated with UNICS and working at Central Market . This thesis examines how the positive perception of savings can be realized in practical tangible savings due to financial and economic situation in Cameroon, and due to inefficient management techniques Budget. Continuing to seek to provide financial services to the poor, particularly savings options MFIs also need to find a balance between profit and conscious effort to stay true to their original goal of poverty reduction. Ultimately, with these services, the poor can better mobilize their limited financial resources under the literal and figurative mattress and better achieve financial independence.

Cool Head, Warm Heart: Governance and the Mission of Microfinance in the Case of MC2 Micro-Banks, Cameroon
The concept of a cool head and a warm heart co-existing is a Buddhist principle which attempts to illustrate compassion and pragmatism as mutually compatible, not mutually exclusive. Without intelligent management, compassion is lost in its ineffectiveness, and without compassion, intelligence is purposeless reason. This equilibrium is exactly the vision of microfinance that drives this paper: an important social and moral idea that is nevertheless affected by the world and environment in which it operates. By examining the governance mechanisms affecting microfinance in Cameroon, namely the Ministry of Finance and the management structure of the firms themselves, an idea emerges of constructive actions to take to allow this industry to flourish in an environment that isn’t always conducive to accomplishing the industry goals. With an end objective of identifying proactive steps to be taken by the state and by individual microfinance firms, this paper examines the relationship between microfinance and governance generally, and uses the specific example of the MC2 micro-bank network overseen by the Appropriate Development for Africa Foundation (ADAF, who also embraces the idea of a heart in their logo and motto). Ultimately, by understanding the cool head of governance, the warm heart of microfinance’s social mission will be allowed to takes its proper place.

Perceptions of Microfinance in Cameroon: A Case Study of UNICS, Yaoundé
The subject of this project is the common perceptions that exist towards microfinance in Cameroon within the community of those who work with or are influenced in some way by microfinance institutions. Furthermore, the project focuses on the ways in which these perceptions affect the institutions, the actions of the institutions amidst and in response to these perceptions, and to what extent these actions have a positive effect on the community and the firms themselves. I also examine to a certain degree the relationship between the two main goals of category two and category three microfinance firms: specifically, the fulfillment of social goals such as poverty alleviation and financial success. A large part of my research is based on my involvement with UNICS Plc., a category two microfinance institution with its head office in Yaoundé. For the purposes of research, I was an intern at UNICS for two weeks of this project to better understand how individual microfinance institutions function in the face of community perceptions.

OPACITY: A Socioeconomic Study of Diamond Mining in South-Eastern Cameroon
Diamond mining in the southeastern Cameroon is on the cusp of a boom of development. Artisanal diamond miners served as the “beacon” for an industrial mining company, C&K, to explore and attempt to gain permission to commence exploitation. There are massive social, economic and environmental implications depending on the execution of exploitation. It is the role of the government bodies and the corporation to identify sustainable methods to develop this untapped natural resource and the surrounding infrastructure. The region is an isolated throwback; its basic functions are, in essence, dated four decades. They need improved simple infrastructure, although the local populations do not, at this time, warrant all of their demands for development. The diamond site at Mobilong exemplifies the Cameroonian government’s secretive attempts to properly exploit a rich natural resource after their fabulous squanders in the oil and timber industries. However, at the basic level, lack of transparency and communication are securing another tremendous failure to capitalize on an economic milestone. This report attempts to inquire in the reports of fantastic diamond deposits in Mobilong, interpret the efficiencies and management of the parties involved and provide a socioeconomic forecast for diamond mining in Cameroon.

The Integration of Traditional and Western Medicine In Ngaoundéré, Cameroon
The purpose of this study was to examine how patients in Ngaoundéré Cameroon integrate traditional and Western medicine, and how they perceive such integration on the part of their health care providers. Interviews were conducted with thirty-five patients of the Hôpital Provincial and of traditional medical practitioners in the neighbourhood of Yarmbang. Both modern and traditional health care providers were also interviewed. Patients generally believe that the two types of medicine have different strengths related to cost, accessibility, accuracy of diagnosis and treatment, ability to treat certain illnesses, and practitioners’ understanding of patients’ culture. Patients decide whether to use modern medicine, traditional medicine, or both by weighing these strengths. The majority of patients would like for health care providers to understand both types of medicine and the strengths of each better, so that the providers could play a larger role in the integration of the two. Though patients currently understand the necessity of both types of medicine, providers may need to be pushed to reach this understanding by institutionalization of traditional medicine by the government.

The Union des Populations du Cameroun and Third World Internationalism: Solidarity, Cooperation, and Abandonment, 1955-1970
Beginning in the early 20th century, and culminating at the Bandung conference in 1955, the Third World began to consolidate itself as an international bloc around a philosophy of self rule and international solidarity. Cameroon’s Union des Populations the Cameroun (UPC) embraced this project from its inception, and maintained a strong internationalist agenda throughout its existence as it struggled for Cameroon’s independence, first from French trusteeship, and then from what was, in its view, an illegitimate neo-colonial government. International solidarity was not merely a rhetorical tool for the UPC, but was rather an essential part of their strategy to achieve their national goals. The party attempted to put the objectives of Third World solidarity in to practice through a number of projects, most notably in the cultivation of personal and political relationships between the party’s elite and emerging Third World Leaders, and educational and military exchange. This work is intended to provide a body of historical evidence of the participation of the UPC in the Third World Internationalist Movement.

The Interplay of Peace, Justice, and Logic: Bali-Bawock as a Case Study for Inter-Ethnic Land Disputes
his paper seeks to explore the conflict existing between two ethnic groups, the Bali-Nyonga and the Bawock, as a case study for inter-ethnic land dispute. Through the process of this study the researcher tried to look past arguments of logic in order to uncover the struggle for autonomy, the struggle for respect, and how damaging the muddy relationship between tradition and modernity can be. She found that ultimately models of mediation and dialogue were the most constructive in helping the conflict’s actors heal among themselves, and to develop the tools for interacting with a globalized society.

Development in Our Own Words: A Survey of Development Perspectives Between Cameroonians and Americans in Yaoundé, Cameroon
It is said that development addresses the quality and progression of life; that a country be self-sustainable in accessing its resources, educating its children, curing its sick, and guaranteeing its citizens contribution to a sufficient political and social environment. If the term is so, how do we justify development on a world scale? Do development projects that begin in the West have the same capacity for efficiency in the Third World? How does development aid make certain that those who are in need receive what they are promised? This paper is a field-based case study that analyzes in first the progression of the term development starting with early economic theories, moving into discussions of modern western and alternative theories, in second, the ideas of employees of the development field in Cameroon of both American and Cameroonian decent. In using both historical and modern perspectives of the subject, this discussion on development seeks to define effectively the overall term of development as it applies to different people working in different levels of society, and assess why projects of Western foreign aid often fail at bringing overall development to the Third World.

Structural and Financial Constraints for Arabica Coffee Planters
Arabica coffee production in Cameroon is struggling. Coffee growers and their plants are aging rapidly due to a lack of incentives to continue production. The downturn in arabica production started in the 1980’s, with the drop in the world price of coffee and the privatization of formerly government-run programs and agricultural cooperatives. Financial problems continue today because there are no structures to replace those organizations which offered financial and technical support. This paper will examine the constraints facing arabica coffee growers today and the options available to them for the amelioration of their situation. This is achieved primarily through interviews with coffee growers, government and cooperative workers, and micro credit institutions. The paper then suggests the steps that must be taken by all parties involved in arabica production and trade to insure the continuation of this important crop into the future.

Preludes to Violence: A Comparative Look at the Pre-Maquis Period and Contemporary Cameroonian Society
The Union des populations du Cameroun (UPC) changed roles from a peaceful political organization to an underground militant one in late April of 1955. This study examines the reasons for which this revolution occurred, attempting to find modern parallels, with the goal of discerning the possibility of a future revolution in Cameroon. Extensive primary sources from the period were consulted, in addition to interviews with historians and sociologists for historical background, while periodicals, official studies, political scientists and economists were consulted for contemporary issues. Several individuals who were alive during the Maquis period were also interviewed. The study found that while there are striking similarities between the present and the past, the causal conditions of the Maquis were initially nationalistic and philosophical, while revolutions in contemporary Cameroon would most likely be born from socio-economic frustration. Project limitations were time, travel limitations, and the population of sampling. Future studies in Douala, Mungo, and Sanaga Maritime are suggested.

Along the River Soumsoum: Urban Agriculture in Ngaoundéré
With increasing urbanization large amounts of poverty is shifting from rural to urban centres, posing problems of unemployment and access to food. Due to this dynamic, urban poor all over the world have begun cultivating food in open areas in cities as a means of survival and in an attempt of securing food. With this in mind, this paper seeks to establish the place that urban agriculture holds in the small but rapidly expanding city of Ngaoundéré, in the Adamaoua Province of Cameroon. This is done through exploring the form, function and benefits of urban agriculture for those that partake in it on a daily basis. This paper also ad-dresses the largest problems faced and the associated risks of urban agriculture compounded by an unsupportive system, as well as considerations for ameliorating the present situation of urban agriculture in Ngaoundéré. Currently, urban agriculture in Ngaoundéré poses a poten-tial public health risk if problems faced by farmers remain unaddressed. But if the urban agri-culture system is enabled it has the potential of creating work, food security and nutrition to the urban poor of Ngaoundéré.

Endangered ? Yambetta in its Speech Community
This project is a study on the village of Yambetta and its efforts to keep its local language of Yambette. It looks into the organisation YALICO and the role of the local language within Yambetta’s speech community. Through observation and interviews, this study found that Yambetta is a living language not in immediate danger of dying out, and that the efforts of the Summer Institute of Linguistics through the local linguistic committee in Yambetta village is improving the chances that Yambetta will continue to be a living language. This was important because around half of the world’s languages are estimated to be in danger of dying out in the next two hundred years.

“Le Goût de Travail:” Work Value for Bamiléké Children
This research examines the value of work in the Bamiléké context, and explores the psychosocial and cultural factors that influence the transmission of this value to children. Research questions explored included the perception of children within the Bamiléké family, the values that exist within the family and specifically the value of work within these families, how this value is transmitted to children, whether children are motivated to learn the value of work, and the impact of work on the personality development of a child. Data was collected through questionnaires, interview, and observation. 121 questionnaires were collected, and 9 interviews completed. Quantitative analysis was used for the questionnaire through a collection of descriptive analysis, and the interviews and observation notes were analyzed quantitatively. Responses were greatly variable, but it was found that children are considered first a gift from god and a source of wealth. Work, solidarity, and respect are all important values for the Bamiléké families. Parents are responsible for teaching this value to children, and due so mainly through informal means such as imitation and observation. Teachers also play a role in teaching this value. In general, it was agreed that the impact of work on mental, physical, social and cultural development is positive, though it is important to keep in mind that there are types of work inappropriate for children. It is possible to conclude that work is an essential part of the Bamiléké culture, and is always considered an important value to teach to their children.

Women’s Literacy in Ngaoundéré, Cameroon
This paper will be a look at adult women’s literacy specifically in Ngaoundéré, Adamaoua, Cameroon. I will begin by placing Cameroon’s illiteracy rates into a global context. I will then define what literacy is, why it is essential to development, how it benefits women particularly, and what women are affected and why. This will be done through a combination of scholarly research and interviews with women participants of the project of “Les Femmes Royales du Lamidat.” I hope to create a setting and a face of one of development’s most pressing issues by letting the women’s words speak for themselves. The paper will conclude with a section on ideas for how women’s literacy efforts could be improved by incorporating the use of new and different resources.

“Il Faut Manger” : Eating Disorders in Cameroonian Women
The purpose of this study is to investigate unhealthy eating attitudes and negative body images in young Cameroonian women. The study will center around a standardized questionnaire that covers eating attitudes. The research will also focus on the traditional Cameroonian idea of beauty, versus the more Western, “modern,” body image that is popular today. By exploring cultural factors through observation, as well as interviews, and analyzing key statistics from the questionnaire, this paper has come to the conclusion that though the problem of eating disorders and body dissatisfaction are not as high in Cameroon as they are in the United States, young women today are having an increasing amount of trouble avoiding problems with eating disorders and body dissatisfaction.

Positive Living: Nutritional Realities and Interventions for People Living with HIV/AIDS in Northwest Province, Cameroon
In this paper I will discuss the range of realities and interventions relating to nutrition for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in the Northwest Province of Cameroon. After discussing the background of the topic, including the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the facts about nutrition and HIV, I will move on to discuss the methodology and findings from my fieldwork in the provincial capital, Bamenda. In the section titled “Realities,” I will detail the poverty, local diet, and stigma that PLWHA face everyday, in the context of the province with the nation’s highest prevalence rate, and present PLWHA’s own justification of the importance of nutrition. In the next section, I will describe the existing interventions that address nutrition, beginning with public and government-based institutions and programs, such as the National AIDS Control Committee and National Strategic Plan, Provincial Technical Group in the Fight Against AIDS, Provincial Hospital, and ARV subsidies and Therapy Committees. I will next discuss two private interventions, Heifer Project International and the Mbingo Baptist Health Center. I conclude with recommendations for the future. Throughout the paper, data obtained from fieldwork in Bamenda and individual private interviews will be interspersed with information from official publications and reports.

Remember Ruben? L’Histoire de Ruben Um Nyobé à Travers la Société Camerounaise
Aujourd’hui la société camerounaise est caractérisée par un sentiment de tribalisme que l’on peut voir dans plusieurs domaines. Pour combattre ce sentiment tribal (voire fraternel) l’on doit cultiver une mentalité plutôt nationaliste dans la société plus élargie. Pour créer cette mentalité, quelques intellectuels ont suggéré qu’il faut regardé le passé de ce pays, surtout chercher à cultiver cette mentalité en utilisant l’esprit des « grands nationalistes », ceux qui ont combattu pour l’indépendance avant les années 1960 et au-delà. Cette étude se focalise sur le père du nationalisme au Cameroun : Ruben Um Nyobé. Elle montre son taux de connaissance parmi des différentes couches de la société camerounaise, aussi bien que les différentes versions de l’histoire raconté par ces couches. Finalement, cette étude évalue les différentes voies par lesquelles cette histoire pénètre dans la société et puis sa puissance de créer un sentiment national au sein de la société.