Cameroonian VET-partners take part in a training project on Renewable Energies supported by Noorderpoort and Apro Formazione
The Cameroon Renew-ed EU capacity building project is underway! After the February kick-off, which was partly online, all partners met in-person for the first time last June in Bafoussam, Cameroon to fine-tune the programmes on renewable energy and social entrepreneurship.
Cameroon Renew-ed is an EU Capacity Building project set up by a consortium of three EU organizations (Noorderpoort- NL; APRO Formazione – IT, MasterPeace – NL) and three in Cameroon (Hope for a Better Future, FAP NGO and Sopisdew).
The project aims to support the relevance, accessibility, and responsiveness of VET institutions and systems as a driver of sustainable socio-economic development using innovative renewable expertise on solar, wind and hydro. The project was created to address the need of upgrading skills for both trainers and students entering the job market in renewable energies, as highlighted by Ngo Abdulai Banfogha, the clubleader of Bameda VET Center. The main objective of Cameroon Renew-ed is to invest in local expertise and capacity, improving and increasing the skills of VET teachers and trainers, using 21st century and innovative renewable energy blended VET materials. Partners will bridge the gaps in profiles between education, the labour market and governance policies. The consortium is part of African and global networks to share the lessons learned and scale competences. The initial goal is to train 200 youths and nine trainers in renewable energies over the next two years. Exchanges between students and teachers from Cameroon and Europe are also part of the project and the 200 trained students will create business plans hosted by 25 businesses. The official launch of the project took place on 23 March 2023 at the HOBEF Center in Bamenda in the presence of the Divisional Officer of Bamenda 1 Subdivision, the Mayor of Bamenda 1 Council, the Regional Delegate of Vocational Training, and other administrative and local officials, plus representatives of development and humanitarian agencies in the Northwest region. In mid-June, the full project team met in person in Bafoussam to fine-tune the teaching modules. In addition to attending the Transnational Programme Meeting, the partners took part in a courtesy visit to the Northwest and West Governors, and to the regional delegates of Employment and Vocational training of the two regions: they all expressed their satisfaction and their readiness to support the project by contributing in facilitating certification and internship placement for students. Through the Cameroon Renew-ed project, the partners are creating tangible perspectives to the youth, providing them with engineering skills that are needed in the labour market, and involving schools, businesses and the local government and network in the process.
