About Youth Crime Watch of Cameroon - In development
Youth Crime Watch of Cameroon helps schools, colleges and communities in Cameroon start and sustain their crime watch programs. Services include:
- Background information about Youth Crime Watch
- YCW awareness presentations
- YCW implementation training for new sites
- Technical assistance getting new sites started
- Technical assistance once sites are up and running
News from Cameroon
May 2008: Two new sites launched in April

Mr. Armand Colin Leundjou presents the new core group at Yatchika primary school with youth manuals.
The children at the Yatchika school at the outskirts of Douala welcomed representatives of Youth Crime Watch Cameroon for an educational program introducing the concept of crime prevention and explaining the philosophy and goals of Youth Crime Watch. The core group at the school was formed and teacher Madame Ndoutou Sarah was nominated as advisor for the group. The YCWC gave the new group youth manuals to help with the day-to-day tasks of running a crime watch program. Mr. Emmanuel Fai of the US Embassy Branch in Douala graciously assisted in activities througout the day.

"Is it a crime you fight with your friend?" These and other good questions were put forth by the pupils at Yatchika.


Pupils and staff at Yatchika posed for the YCWC camera.
On April 26, YCWC visited Jeunesse des amis solidaires, a youth group active in Diboum II Douala. After the presentation of Youth Crime Watch components the presenters fielded a number of good questions from the youth. "What are drugs?... How do you report a suspect who is a neighbor without having problems?" A frank discussion followed and YCWC representatives won the youth over with their clear cut answers. Youth manuals were presented to the group by Mr. Armand Colin Leundjou.


Plans for May and June
YCW Cameroon plans events at a series of schools in the coming weeks. Among them are College Prive Laic l'Educateur, Ecole Enfants Africains, College Prive Laic Suzanna, College Prive Laic du Peuple, and Menemo Bilingual College.
April 2008: YCW Cameroon meets with U.S. Embassy representatives; Introduces the "Watch Out! Help Out! philosophy
Youth Crime Watch of Cameroon held its monthly meeting on April 5, 2008, in Douala to plan work for the near future. Outside of the usual agenda, the group was pleased to welcome special guests from the U.S. Embassy at this meeting: Embassy Branch Office (Douala) Director Robert Heater, Regional Security Officer Laura Williams and others. Led by Armand Colin Leundjou, YCWC representatives acquainted embassy staff with the crime watch program and it's "Watch Out! Help Out!" philosophy. Embassy staff were, for their part, interested to know how they might aid YCWC efforts.
We can be hopeful that YCWC will join in a fruitful partnership with the U.S. Embassy in Cameroon to address issues surrounding youth and crime in country.

YCWC group with their guests from the US Embassy Cameroon

YCWC welcomed the US officials at their monthly planning meeting (Armand Leundjou speaking)
April 2008: Launching a college crime watch program
YCW Cameroon held an awareness session at the College Privé Iaïc La Manne- Douala on March 26, 2008. YCW representatives met with school administrators and a student core group to explain the "Watch Out! Help Out!" philosophy and goals of Youth Crime Watch. Students posed many insightful questions, which YCW reps were happy to address: Why should individuals take responsibility for crime prevention instead of just leaving it to the government? What would YCW do for the community outside of the schools? And more. The session provided a wonderful opportunity to discuss civic responsibility, the community serving aspects of YCW, and the dream of creating a crime-free environment. The student core group nominated an advisor, Mr. Ndo, the school's disciplinarian. Photos from the session below:

The college crime watch group poses with YCW Cameroon representatives for a group photo at the moment of launching the program.

Mr. Gerald Sopte of Youth Crime Watch Cameroon spoke on starting a crime watch in a college environment.

Mr. Gwang Raymond spoke about the startup process and the need for an advisor.

School disciplinarian Mr. Ndo with Youth Crime Watch of Cameroon at the front of the room at the session introducing the YCW program to the college students. The student core group chose Mr. Ndo as their College Crime Watch advisor.

Students posed insightful questions at the awareness session.
February 2008: YCW presentation at Groupe Scolaire Bilingue TATIE
Youth Crime Watch continues to spread the word in Cameroon schools. A recent visit to a bilingual school elicited a good deal of healthy interest from the children. The Youth Crime Watch presentation was also welcome by school administrators, who wish to see it implemented in the form of a school watch.



February 2, 2008: YCW Cameroon founding members meet

November 2007: Youth Crime Watch gets underway in Cameroon
The organization team for Youth Crime Watch in Cameroon has begun spreading the word about the program in local schools. They intend to focus their outreach efforts on children aged 8 to 14. The photos below show them visiting two schools. We wish them the best of luck.















