Music for Promoting Environmental Best Practices

Hans Anderson once said ‘where words fail, music speaks’. RCESD continues to sensitize the public on environmental best practices through the use of music with its Camer Green competition. The 10 finalists made of 9 individual contestants and a group of two, strengthened their capacities at a 10 days intensive boot camp from the 8/10/17 to the 17/10/17 in Douala, the littoral region of Cameroon. The training kicked off on Monday 9/10/17 at 8 a.m with a motivational talk from a motivational speaker to get the contestants fired up for the boot camp. The project leader, Mrs Naseli Okha enlightened the contestants on the Camer Green project and the purpose of the boot camp. She outlined that the boot camp was meant to improve on the contestants’ music, communication, knowledge on local environmental challenges and approaches towards achieving a healthy environment and above all, how to use their music to raise awareness about the environment. In the course of the boot camp, several experts delivered professional trainings on the Environment, Music, Communication, Leadership, Mentorship etc. Professionals from the Regional Delegation for Environment, South West Region did training on the context of local environmental challenges. Other trainers included the CEO of RCESD, Mr Mbunya Francis, a renowned environmental musician Mr. John Njabi, Ton-Ton Boudour a local music star, Miss Gina Leke a communication expert, Mr Bakia Akanchap from the ministry of forestry and wildlife, Mr. Achankeng from Guiness Cameroon just to name a few. The contestants also actively engaged in a "One Less Plastic" musical street cleaning and sensitization exercise in the Ngwelle area, Douala. Contestants picked plastic litter off the streets while singing to raise awareness on the effect of plastic litter on the environment. The mayor of the Ngwelle Council exercised his support to the project with his words of encouragement and some good music at the council where he hosted the team. Contestants also developed projects environmental projects which they are now implementing in their local communities. The boot camp was enthralling with several episodes of good music, dancing, arts, laughter, field trips to Limbe touristic sites etc. The contestants also composed a Camer Green theme song titled "Green Earth" which was added to their Green Music album of 11 tracks. It was indeed a week to remember. The end of the boot camp was commemorated with a farewell party the night of 16/10/17, during which the CEO of RCESD thanked the contestants for their cooperation during the boot camp and urged them to carry best environmental practices far and beyond.