The earth is the only home we have for now, therefore we must endeavour to preserve and protect it’. This call was made by the Delegate of Environment and Nature Protection for Fako, Mr. Funchi Emmanuel Diangha during an environmental workshop organized by OGCEYOD CAMEROON at the Limbe Wildlife Centre from the 19th to the 21st of September, 2011.

The workshop that brought together head teachers from over 30 primary schools around the Limbe Municipality, had as objective to train these teachers in an effort to  raise awareness in their pupils, through environmental education in a bid to foster environmental protection and beauty.

 Opening the event, captioned “Nurture Youths to grow environmentally friendly for a sustainable development”, Mr Funchi Emmanuel Diangha thanked OGCEYOD for giving him the honor to talk to the teachers. He remarked that it was a day he would always remember because it was his first official ceremony since he came to Limbe. He also expressed great pleasure to see  young and vibrant Cameroonians taking an interest in building the environment. He mentioned the fact that the entire human race rely on the environment for survival and reiterated this point by laying emphasis on unsanitary conditions which lead to cholera. He also talked on the dangers of deforestation stressing that, 2-8% of the earth’s species will disappear over the next 25 years. This will have profound implications for economic and social development of the country, and even put our future and that of our unborn children in jeopardy. He also mentioned the occurrence of floods and other natural disasters that result from man’s negligence of his environment. Also present at the workshop was the Director  of the Limbe Wildlife Centre, Mr Kiyang John who gave a word of gratitude for OGCEYOD to have taken interest in the environment, specifying the importance of the animals and humans in sustaining the functioning of the ecosystem. He also stressed on the importance of biodiversity giving a brief  history of the Limbe Wild Life Center. As a mission it has to implement the Wild Life Law and any breach of these laws can lead to a fine of 1-10million CFA. He went further to say that the animals also act as a source of educating the public and the Limbe Wild Life center acts as a rehabilitation ground for animals.

During the seminar, the head teachers were trained on soil conservation methods and the ecosystem and later divided had group work  sessions in which they came up with simple practical techniques through which they could teach their pupils. The teachers promised to create environmental clubs in their schools and revive already existing ones through the knowledge they had acquired during the seminar. Some of these teachers like Mr. Lingondo Joseph of G.S. Mokunda expressed fears that, although such programs were very good, they were never followed up afterwards. On his part, Mr Asaah Gideon representing OGCEYOD and its partner the New England Biolabs Foundation, presented the goals and the mission of the Organization and also expressed his immense gratitude to the Divisional Delegate of the Ministry of the Environment and Nature Protection (MINEP) and other resource persons from SONARA, the Limbe Wild Life and HYSACAM. He talked about the need for the society to have a new generation of youths who are flag bearers and ambassadors of the environment since the youths are tomorrow’s leaders. He cited examples of improper waste disposal methods and rampant pollution around Limbe. The teachers were therefore promised to be taken care of and nurtured in the course of the workshop, with follow up sessions within the course of the academic year. It is worth mentioning that the goals of the workshop fall in line with OGCEYOD’s objectives which is that of investing in the lives of youths by creating incentives for them to be educated, healthy and socially protected. Fostering environmental awareness by educating primary school pupils is all part of the educational programs that OGCEYOD has in stock as far as it’s educational and environmental projects are concerned. The project was developed in 2009 and was being implemented thanks to the New England’s Biolab Foundation, OGCEYOD’s sponsor and major partner