Focus Cameroon: Inter Campus as seen from those involved

I got to know Inter Campus through the partnership with Centro Sportivo Italiano, who had projects in Cameroon. One of the Inter Campus directors Massimo Seregni was involved in the Centro Orientamento Educativo from the Milan diocese. We got to know each other at the Mbalmayo centre and immediately understood that we were on the same wavelength. From then on (back in 2001!), we’ve always collaborated well.

For us, F.C. Internazionale’s social project is a valuable tool for social inclusion and the promotion of childhood rights. It's also a way to promote sports and leisure activities which provide integrated education as permanent problems persist in Africa – unfortunately often the site of disasters. 

For around 20 years, the project has had a ‘federal’ element, uniting vulnerable children from disadvantaged and dangerous urban areas such as Mvog-Ada or Rails-Bénoué in the capital Yaounde with those from remote rural villages such as Yokadouma and Garoua-Boulai. It has allowed English-speaking children from Bafmen to socialise and live alongside the Francophone kids from Mbalmayo and Baham. In short, it has allowed youngsters to break down social barriers because children are all equal. Poorer children receive sporting equipment that only more privileged children would normally be able to afford and they play and have fun alongside the Cameroonian and Italian coaches, breaking the chains of social exclusion.

Inter Campus has allowed for values such as fraternity, solidarity, non-violence, tolerance and justice to be strengthened among the children and sports coaches.