Frontpage / News / Conference in Cameroon

Norwegian children in Cameroon

(Friday 14 September 2007)

Twelve children and chaperones from various Norwegian communities went to Cameroon in late July, where they attended the Regional Children's Conference on the Environment, held in preparation prior to the UNEP Tunza 2008 conference in Stavanger. Children from more than 40 African countries took part in the conference.

The Norwegian children were selected from local communities that are closely linked with their friendship cities in African countries. The children came from the municiplaities of Haugesund, Re in Vestfold, Stor-Elvdal in Hedmark and Marker in Østfold. All of these municiplaities collaborate with their African friendship cities on environmental projects in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia.

The conference main theme "Practise what you preach" provided a focus for the numerous thoughts and ideas represented at the conference. Delegates shared knowledge and experience and raised their awareness on the challenges and possible solutions for environmental degradation. The children representing Norwegian and African friendship cities held a joint presentation of photographs illustrating their international collaboration.

This was the first time UNEP held a preparatory conference prior to a Tunza main conference. The main objective of the conference was to raise awareness about the specific challenges related to environment and development in African countries. Global poverty and the UN Millennium Goals will also be addressed at Tunza 2008.

Young Agenda 21 was the major sponsor of the preparatory conference, supported by Friendship North-South and the Norwegian Embassy in Tanzania.