Education for social change in Cameroon

Background information

In Cameroon, corruption, rising living costs, unemployment and terrorist attacks by Boko Haram, in addition to the conflict in the Anglophone regions, threaten social cohesion. Cameroon's society is undergoing rapid change. A young, fast-growing population is moving from the countryside to the cities in search of work-often for nothing, even more so since the Corona pandemic and the conflict in the southwest. Both separatist groups in the Anglophone part and terrorist organizations like Boko Haram are becoming attractive to some Cameroonian youth without prospects because of their financial incentives and group dynamics. The Presbyterian Church in Cameroon (PCC) aims to provide pastors and lay people with sound academic training and continuing education so that they can face the challenges in the country and at the same time have an active impact on society, particularly in the project area, which has been severely affected by the conflict. PUCA's innovative, interdisciplinary programs and approaches to eco-theology, peace and trauma healing in Yaoundé also empower students to become "agents of change" in their churches and communities.

Project goals

The primary aim of this project at PTS is to provide a sound theological education for prospective pastors. They are trained in contextual, ecumenically oriented theology for ministry in the PCC and to people in the wider sphere (congregation and social work).

In higher academic training (master's, doctorate) in Protestant theology at PTS and PUCA, the central concern is critical and ecumenical learning across ethnic and denominational differences. Interdisciplinary exchanges with researchers and students from other faculties and with other universities in Africa and Europe on peace and development, social sciences, and international relations enrich the program. At PUCA, a program of study in eco-theology and courses in trauma healing are offered as majors in collaboration with the Faculty of Agriculture and the Faculty of Medicine. The well-trained theologians are active in Cameroonian society as "agents of change" during and after their training. Their comprehensive training enables them to face the great challenges posed by social change and the current conflict in Cameroon.

Target group

The students of PUCA (160 theology students, 300 in eco-theology) and PTS (64 students), their leadership and faculty, the laity and the students' partners are in focus.

Activities

The scope of duties primarily includes the following activities:

• "Bachelor of Theology's Program" & Master's Degree in Theology at PTS.
• Development of online programs and intranet system at PTS
• Agrology courses and domestic violence workshops for future pastors at PTS.
• "Licence-Maîtrise-Doctorat Programme" at the PUCA
• Implementation of the new program "Eco-Theology" at PUCA.

Project progress

In the face of the crisis, investment was made in closer collaboration with the PUCA Faculty of Medicine. This has made it possible for the topic of "trauma healing" to be made part of the training of future theologians. The population of the Anglophone regions, traumatized by civil war-like confrontations and fleeing in large numbers to the capital Yaoundé, will benefit from this knowledge. In addition, a program called "Eco-Theology" was developed in 2019 to address the topics of agribusiness, ecology and theology in theory and practice across disciplines. Women now make up about 30 percent of the student body. The same trend is evident at PUCA, where the proportion of women in some faculties is over 60 percent. The promotion of women is strengthened, among other things, by the establishment of a crèche on campus. Despite the current crisis and extremely difficult conditions, PTS is maintaining operations and theological education as far as possible.