About the Bootcamp

NECOD’s Bootcamp brought together 30 displaced youth in Yaounde for a two-day dialogue, skill-building and empowerment. The Bootcamp gathered young men and women between 15 and 30 years and from diverse backgrounds and displacement histories, to share individual and collective stories as a bridge for learning, healing and social cohesion.

Within the two days, Bootcamp participants inspired one another through individual stories shared during story circles. Sessions were also designed to enhance the financial literacy, leadership and entrepreneurship spirit of the IDPs.  The bootcamp also offered participants a safe space for frank peer dialogue. It widened the understanding of hate speech and its mitigating strategies.

Facilitators used interactive techniques such as storytelling, creative drama and group reflection, so participants could translate lived experiences into written and spoken narratives. The Bootcamp activities intentionally linked skill-building and storytelling with psychosocial support, helping participants process trauma and build confidence.

Daily dialogues and story circles fostered empathy and solidarity, enabling displaced youth to discuss identity, resilience and peaceful coexistence. 

Outcomes & Next Steps
By the end of the Bootcamp, participants produced short individual and collective stories (stories of self and stories of us). NECOD plans to expand Bootcamp into additional regions, partner with local, national and international institutions with similar priorities, and launch a nation-wide campaign to reach hard-to-reach communities.