BAPESU Seedling Project Report
The seedling project is organized by Benevolent Association for the Protection of the Environment and the Socially Underprivileged (BAPESU). The target group for the program were the youths (young people) of the Mezam Division, NW Province of Cameroon. The goal of this project was to assist youths with seedling inputs so as to help the youths open farms that in turn will act as a good source of income (economic empowerment). BAPESU is running a nursery whereby seeds are purchased, nursed and distributed to youths (young farmers) in helping them improve their lives. Youths of many villages in Mezam (Tubah Sub Division) have benefited much since the launch of the project in July 2007. This project was implemented with support from XminY Solidariteitsfonds.

Specific goals and objectives
* Open a seedling nursery whereby seeds are purchased, nursed and donated/distributed to youths (young farmers) in helping them improve their lives.
*Generate income for youths (economic empowerment).
*The beneficiaries are to contribute back to BAPESU after so as to permit it to assist other youths with seedling donation.
*In some cases supply youths directly with the seedling for them to plant in their farms.
*The provision of farm tools and fertilizers for farmers in return for purchase.

The seedling project was carried in Tubah Mezam Division that is essentially made up of rural communities. The project which covered a period of 7½ months has experienced huge appreciation from the beneficiary and they are calling for more actions to help the youth population that is suffering from marginalisation and abject penury. Due to the insufficient, tardy or late and somewhat difficult acquisition of funds the project had to take off behind schedule. This called for some inconveniences and adjustments.

The project effectively took off in late July 2007. The target population was made aware of the existence of the project. The project management team worked in gossamer thread of close collaboration with local youth groups commonly called Njangi, farmer’s group’s especially young girls. After an identification of beneficiaries, they were divided into groups. Eleven (11) groups have been identified and have benefited from the seedling program. Beneficiary youths and youths groups were recruited from all the five villages of the Tubah Sub Division (Mezam Division) The villages include Bambili, Kedjom-Keku, Keddjom Ke-tingo, Bambui, and Sabga.

Three field training workshops and farm demonstrations were held concerning the cultivation of agricultural products such as palm, tomatoes, water melon, and spices. Through this very practical workshop farmer’s capacities were greatly improved. In collaboration with sister NGO’s and social organisations, the objectives of BAPESU were attained. Since MEBONU (Mendel botanical nursery) had similar objectives, and trained experts, we worked together for aiding reasons. So far a good number of youths that had no means of assistance and little or no ideas in farming have benefited much by grouping themselves and collecting seedling for their newly created farms. Training on crop care especially in gardening for those that opt for spices, tomato farming was carried.

Outcomes: 5 villages have been covered in the seedling program with 11 youth groups benefiting. 6 new farms have been established and the beneficiaries have already been experiencing some improvement. BAPESU has established a permanent nursery to assist young farmers.

Key lessons learned from this work: That quite much is achieved or realized with little funding. In order to make any development project very beneficial it has to be participatory and the beneficiaries at the centre of the project in all stages of the project. That is making the target group define their needs by themselves. BAPESU Office