In 2023, Better Breed Cameroon (BBCam) celebrated 10 years of researching, educating, advocating, mobilizing and anticipating a Better Cameroon. On this occasion, we took time off to reflect, going on a one-year hiatus to consider a more sustainable way forward. This ‘gap year’ enabled us to evolve our vision and fine-tune our strategy. Thus, we are excitedly announcing a resumption of our activities, an updated strategy for our second decade—BBCAM 2.0, and making a call for action towards a new leadership for BBCam.
On BBCam 2.0
Better Breed Cameroon was founded on the premise of “do what you can with what you have where you can”. We believed more activities would equate to more impact and change. Thus, in our first decade, we organized: 9 undergraduate essay contests awarding over XAF 2.5 million; countless trainings in everything from first aid and self-defense to web empowerment and gender-responsive parenting; four rounds of scholarships for underprivileged students; and a groundbreaking job fair. And all this was self-funded.
However, civil society organizing ought not be about reporting the most activities, but rather a strategic battle for lasting positive social transformation. Upon reflection, we realized that our next chapter couldn’t be just about “capacity building”, “women/youth empowerment”, “sensitization” and “poverty alleviation” programs; though laudable, these are but means to the end, not the end in itself. Our end is to address the issues that make such programs necessary. We are only ‘winning’ at social transformation if we’re progressively making dents in the wall of systemic oppression and rerouting away from paths that lead towards misgovernance.
We found that addressing the roots of the issues our programs were responding to would require more tactical effort and prudent choices. Hence, BBCam will be more calculated with programs for maximum impact, limiting trainings and opportunities to members and dedicating more time and support to the research development and planning required to combat systemic oppression. Our BBCam 2.0 strategy aims to influence youth development policies, sow seeds for a change agents network, and embody social enterprise.
A Call to Action: Scouting New Leadership via Apprenticeship
This new chapter and vision require the right structures; hence an improved organizational model—a hybrid of the flat and network models, boasting a board, a coordinating bureau, key units, and localized clubs.
Since creation, this non-profit has been led by its founder and first Executive Coordinator, Dr. Monique Kwachou, and a plethora of key members like Mr. Brian Tamungang, Mr. Ali Pechulano, Mr. Patrick Mayoh, Ms. Foba Akom, Mrs. Christine Djaffa, and more. However, with most of our current leadership nearing the rear end of the ‘youth’ age margin, we need to cultivate a new crop of Better Breed Cameroon leadership. Therefore, we are inviting dynamic and dedicated young individuals who aspire to lead social transformation to apply for the unique opportunity of becoming a BBCam Legacy Fellow.
The BBCam Legacy Fellowship is an apprenticeship program designed to identify and nurture civil society change-makers primarily to run Better Breed Cameroon and effect change in the country.
If you are a motivated young person who has dreamed of running a civil society organization, who is considering establishing one of your own or merely interested in supporting nonprofit/civil society sector work. This is an opportunity to develop essential skills through hands-on experience and guided learning within our organization.
How to Apply:
Email your application to BBCam via betterbreed@gmail.com with the following attachments:
- A CV of no more than 3 pages listing two referees (one of them should know you in a professional or academic supervisory capacity);
- A letter of motivation showcasing your drive for this opportunity, information about yourself and your personal interests, as well as your capacity to meet the expectations of fellows;
- A fellowship manifesto demonstrating your understanding of Better Breed Cameroon’s work and your critical appraisal of it. In addition, it should present your ideas for developing the organization should you one day be in the position to run it, outline areas you have identified as necessary for your personal development, and highlight potential challenges you hope to overcome in and through the fellowship.
If you do not hear back within two weeks of applying, please assume that your application was unsuccessful.
NB: Fellows will receive a stipend to cover operational costs over the course of the nine-month program, at the end of which employment contracts will be offered to selected candidates.
