Spend the Summer in Africa with GYPA

Are you an undergraduate student interested in exploring the world in a meaningful way? Have you wanted an opportunity to travel to Africa and network with the youth leaders who are leading their countries towards the Millenium Development Goals (MDG's) or participating in post-conflict development? Think you might be interested in a career in international development but don't know how to get started?

Global Youth Partnership for Africa (GYPA) just published our summer 2007 catalogue of programs. Its been a banner year for us, expanding our travel programs for undergraduate students to three countries. After leading four trips to Uganda in 2006, I'll leave the program to fresher faces and head to Cameroon, where we have put together an innovative program and great team.

Our full catalogue of programs is here, and I've posted the Cameroon trip I'm leading below. I've made the case here why I think GYPA travel programs are central to addressing the challenges of creating innovative ways of transcending endemic challenges and creating cross-cultural exchange.

Also, if you want to get a sense of what our programs are like, definitely check out the blog from our January 2007 Kimeeza II program in Uganda. Applications for all trips are due Tuesday, April 3rd. Email me at goldstein dot joshua (at ) gmail dot com with questions.

Cameroon Immersion: Youth, Development and the MDGs (June 10-26, 2007)

Cameroon has largely existed under the radar of the international community since achieving independence because it remains one of the most peaceful and prosperous countries in West Africa. However, Cameroon also demonstrates many of the same challenges as its neighbors; every day its population faces complex issues such as poverty, HIV/AIDS, poor infrastructure, and corruption. In September 2000, world leaders came together to establish a global commitment to achieving responsible, sustainable change. The UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set standards regarding education, health, and the environment, among others, that Cameroon is working to achieve. This Immersion will explore how Cameroonian youth are at the forefront of development efforts, and are utilizing creative, pragmatic, and innovative tools to achieve the MDGs and improve their country.

Fifteen American students will be selected to participate in the Cameroon Immersion. They will meet with their counterparts to explore the political, economic, and social successes as well as challenges facing Cameroon. Participants will meet with leaders in government, civil society, and the international NGOs who are experts in West African development. Additionally, participants will engage in community service projects alongside Cameroon's Youths and Students Forum for Peace (CAMYOSFOP), a group dedicated to educating youth and the general public about human rights and conflict resolution. Students will also have the incredibly unique opportunity to interact with delegates to the first African Youth Forum for Peace, a conference in Yaoundé that will mobilize youth leaders from across the continent as peace-builders.

Program Description (DOC)
Application (DOC)