The
Sahelian regions in Cameroon experience a set of socio-economic and
ecological problems that are particular for the three Northern
provinces of Cameroon. They include illiteracy and under-schooling
especially among women and girls, rural exodus, endemic and epidemic
diseases, low rainfall, underproduction of the land and destruction of
crops by birds and insects, lack of drinking water, disquieting
desertification. Social inequalities that lead to the harassment and
exploitation of the rural population contribute further to the problems
of hunger and poverty. Government actions have been
inadequate and the churches that are present in the region seem to
resign to the situation in passive silence.
However, a group of
Protestant theologians and concerned Christians from the three Northern
provinces of Cameroon is breaking through this silence and seeks to
connect the preaching of the Gospel with social action for man's
salvation in Jesus Christ. They see it as the task of the church in
general and of pastors as God's servants in particular to play an
active role in the integral development of men and women. These
theologians have created the Association Chretienne pour le
Developpement du Sahel (ACD-Sahel) and set out as its goals:
- to
reinforce the Christian ethics of Love, Hope and faith and sensitize
the Churches and Society on man's responsibility in respect to his
physical and social environment according to the plan of God the
Creator; to develop and preach an integral theology to include the
spiritual and social aspects of the Gospel at the example of Christ
himself; to train local church workers in this respect.
- to
create and conduct development projects related to education of the
disadvantaged layers of society and to help churches and village
communities to develop income generating projects.
- to sensitize
youth, women and men on questions of social justice and human rights
through seminars, publications and other ways of communication;
- to put in place networks of solidarity, organize farmers into associations, and encourage partnerships between men and women;
- to promote the schooling of girls; established specialized schools;
- to fight rural exodus;
- to
improve food security by diversification of crops, usage of natural
fertilization, irrigation, providing drinking water for animals by
throwing up dams,; promote methods for optimal food conservation and
storage;
- to raise awareness among the populations on general
environmental problems and problems of desertification: to fight
commercial exploitation of wood, to limit firewood cutting, discourage
practices of burning the fields, discourage extensive agriculture;
encourage planting of trees adapted to the region and use of
alternative heat sources; to dig wells; to fight the environmental
destruction and pollution by industrial companies;
- to educate the population on primary health care and preventive measures to fight against epidemics and endemics
- to assist those afflicted by disasters;
ACD-Sahel
has regrouped these goals in the domains of social justice,
environment, agriculture and breeding, health, education, religious
issues and capacity training and organizes its intervention through
respective committees.
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Community well near Maroua
Community granary
Leadership of women-run granary in Mowo near Maroua
Children excluded from education
Children in rural village
Cotton farming communities
weighing the bales
Fun in the shipping container
Climatic changes and desertification |
