By Bakah Derick
Ngwanwi
Lidwina M. Chief Executive Officer CEO of Community Impact For Africa CIFA has
returned to Bamenda after successfully taking part in the Youth Connekt African
Summit in Rwanda.
In an experience sharing moment with this reporter, CIFA CEO
begins with her invitation to the event which received and responded to with lots
of concerns. “I left Cameroon with too many fears in my mind: fear of the
unknown, fear of having a bad experience, fear of getting out of my comfort
zone, fear of traveling alone, fear of not being able to afford my travel
expenses, fear of getting lost etc. These and much more clouded my mind occasionally
but one thing kept me going; hope in uncertainties.”
She was
however comforted on her arrival in Kigali. “I arrived the airport in Kigali
where i met this kind hearted gentleman who received me warmly and we shared
some stories and laughed a couple of times then i realized there is always home
out of home.”
As to what
she retained from the summit she explained “The speakers all came ready to
inspire, educate and empower us to ensure that this year's theme of
"Boosting a Young Industrious African" was realized.”
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Ngwani Lidwina M Pictured her at
the #YCA'19 summit ground
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She then
went on to point out key speakers who inspired her. “Addressing us at the
summit, the President of Rwanda His Excellency Paul Kagame said YouthConnekt
means a lot of things. It means individual young people, irrespective of
gender, religion, borders, coming together to do what is important for them and
for society and for our countries. Football star Didier Drogba told us that all
his life has been surrounded by challenges until he decided to take the lead, he
said that he cannot change the world alone but he is interested to change the
narratives of his country. This really marked knowing about how much he has
given back to his country after a very successful football career.”
Ngwanwi then
mentioned the likes of Yolanda Ngarambe who said that Success stories are not
linear adding that people will doubt you and you will doubt yourself but as
long as you work hard, you need to have passion and resilience then you can be
an example to others, Hon. Rosemary Mbabazi Youth Minister of Rwanda who told
them that “No one can solve a problem alone, we are better off together"
and Nigerian artist Patoranking who in his intro song said "I am born to
win and survive".
As to the
side events that marked her the most. The young CEO who is also a social worker
noted “away from the conference, i was also privileged to visit the Genocide Memorial
Center a place with a haunting experience but very necessary. My visit to the
center was one of my highlights because it took me back to my country where so
much blood has been spilled and i ask myself for how much longer?”
With the
hope of intensifying her peace efforts to avert the horrible feeling of the
Rwandan Genocide, Ngwanwi Lidwina somes up her experience in the words of Louis
Scott "I am a people builder. I look for opportunities to encourage others
to bring out their seeds of greatness and help them become all that God created
them to be".
She returns
to Cameroon at the time her institution Community Impact for Africa Africa-CIfA
in Partnership with United Youth Organisation is planning the Celebration of
the International Day of Older Persons.
The event scheduled for October 26 at the Baptist Centre Hall Nkwen in
Bamenda, takes place under the theme "The Journey to Aged Equality".
Talking to
this reporter about the event, Nnemkul Frida one of CIFA team members explained
that “the event is aimed at fostering elderly friendly Communities, changing
negative narratives and stereotypes involving the aged.”
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| CIFA Team members |
Community
Impact for Africa it should she explained “is an NGO which has as vision to
create a safe space for socially vulnerable persons as well as to build
resilient Communities free from all forms of violence and human rights abuses
for sustainable development..
CIFA also
has as one of her objectives to empower and mentor youth especially teenage
mothers and young widows in sustainable livelihood activities an area Ngwanwi
Lidwina believes, knowledge gained from Youth Connekt Afrrica will be very
useful.
First published by The Guardian Post Daiily Newspaper on Monday October 21, 2019