Last month alumni in Cameroon had the opportunity to celebrate their own country, while simultaneously reflecting on their YES experiences in the United States and spreading the mentality of service and altruism. Cameroon celebrates its National Unity Day on May 20 – a special day commemorating when Cameroonians voted to become a unitary state from their pre-existing status as a federal state. To celebrate the day, YES alumni in Cameroon organized a volunteering event at a local school, Lycee de Japoma, in Douala. Since National Unity Day is a celebration of Cameroon, it only seemed fitting that the YES alumni carried out an event that shows their love and patriotism for their country. And what is more symbolic of their patriotism than the Cameroonian flag? Six alumni worked together to build and paint a flagpole for the school. The group painted the flagpole base with Cameroon’s colors of green, red, and yellow.  YES alumni also re-painted benches in the school’s garden that the group had donated five years prior. Alumni painted the YES logo onto all the benches, hoping that the logo will serve as a reminder to students to focus on their academics so maybe someday they can become a YES student. A new coat of paint looked great on the benches!

The new flagpole was only the beginning of the day of service and celebration – once the flagpole was completed the principal of Lycee de Japoma donated a flag to be hosted up onto the flagpole. As the flag was raised for the first time on the beautiful new flagpole students from the ninth grade sang the National Anthem. YES alumni and school officials spoke to the students about what a national emblem such as a flag represents, and the importance of respecting and learning from Cameroon’s history. An underlying theme of their patriotic discussion was that the flag is symbolic of national unity – and one of the best ways to portray national unity is by living in peace and harmony with others. As Cameroonians they have a social responsibility to their country to make their society a better place.

This served as a segue for YES alumni to make a presentation on service. It was important to the alumni that they demonstrated the power of altruism through their actions (constructing the flagpole and painting benches), and also formally explain the steps it takes to be a good volunteer. The project leader, Claude Essomba Minlah (2014-2015, Cameroon, hosted by PAX in Cordova, TN), explained that a good volunteer must be open minded, expect challenges, have a willingness to make the best use of their skills and talents, and be reliable. Essomba also shared steps about organizing a project, such as identifying an issue, working for a cause, and making an impact.

The day was described as a big success by all those involved and the school’s new flagpole and flag will serve as a reminder how patriotism and community service go hand-in-hand!

Alumni involved in the project:

- Claude Essomba Minlah (2014-2015, Cameroon, hosted by PAX in Cordova, TN) 
- Mama Nouredine (2015-2016, Cameroon, hosted by American Councils PO in Anchor Point, AK) 
- Jalane Maiva Tsague Nguepi (2016-2017, Cameroon, hosted by PAX in Davenport, IA)
- Nike Ange Djiade Ngalamo (2016-2017, Cameroon, hosted by ASSE in Glendive, MT)
- Evangeline Safeh (2011-2012, Cameroon, hosted by PAX in Bossier City, LA)
- Hilary Susie Kencle Lekeufack (2012-2013, Cameroon, hosted by AFS in Sitka, AK)