National Youth Day Artisan Exposition

Each year on February 11th, Cameroon observes National Youth Day celebrating who else, but the youth of the country! Leading up to the holiday is a week full of activities from sports tournaments to talent shows.

Today was the official Youth Day Exposition sponsored by the Ministry of Youth Affairs at the main high school in town, Lycee Classique. The teacher and girls that I work with to design and sell calabashes showed up for the day long exposition. While there, I taught the girls various marketing and sales techniques. Beyond the publicity created, a fellow high school art student also committed to helping the girls with composing more intricate designs.

The best part of the day? As the Delegates and government officials took a tour of the room, they announced that the girls' booth had won the first place prize! The 4.000CFA (~$8US) prize will go towards the girls reimbursing their micro-loan. Well done girls!

First place prize at the Youth Day Exposition

The finished calabashes! The girls are still learning how to carve them, but they're learning quickly!

Youth Day is one of the best Cameroonian holidays because the kids get so excited and thus, everybody else does as well. Click here to read about one of the best Peace Corps memories I have from last year's Youth Day.