It is eight years since the millennium summit of October 2000 where poverty was identified as a global catastrophy and commitments made through the Millennium Development Goals to reduce it by half by 2015. Global Welfare Association (GLOWA) which is a children and youths focus organization is convinced that children and youths are the most touched by poverty inherited from parents. Besides intervening through projects to meet the MDGs GLOWA actively took part in the 2007 Stand Up event against poverty in Bamenda, Cameroon.

A critical examination of the road covered by Cameroon towards 2015, saddens us that very little has been done. In our examination which focused on Goal 2 “Universal Primary Education” and Goal 5 “Maternal Health”, GLOWA realized that much still has to be done. We appreciate efforts made in creating schools and recruiting some teachers but deplore the infrastructure and working conditions which are reflected in the high repetition rate in public primary schools. Many women in Cameroon still die during child bearing. The little efforts towards meeting the goals has been an all government affair with very little association of the population through civil society organizations. The civil society still has very limited knowledge of the goals.

Development in our country has been highly politicized with the civil society left in the cold. The limited capacity within the civil society on the MDGs has made its contribution in meeting the goals difficult. GLOWA wishes to use the lunching the 2008 Stand Up and Speak Out events to call on the Cameroon Government and its development partners to demystify and localize the MDGs through capacity building workshops for CSOs. Local authorities such as councils should be compelled and supported in citizen education on the MDGs knowing that meeting the goals depends largely on the active participation of the citizens.

GLOWA urges the population of the North West Province and Cameroon to take a step towards poverty making poverty history. We should all imagine, and dream a world where poverty shall only be read in history books. This era can be achieved and it begins with each of us.

So let stand up against poverty and hold the Cameroon government accountable for its commitment of 2000.

JAMILS RICHARD ACHUNJI ANGUASEH
Director Of Programs