Highlighting Changemakers - Frederic Adou
Brief introduction of your work:
Community activism is one of the ways to fight for social good, but as a community activist I feel closer to the problems people are facing and communicate easily with them so as to find solutions together. I am involved in two kinds of community work, on one side as a consultant and on the other side as a volunteer. As a consultant, I am involved with CIVICUS in bridging divisions through dialogue. I lead the SPEAK! campaign in West Africa, Central Africa, Francophone Africa and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. People are divided because of their political, religious and ethnic differences while they are all living on the same territory which they have to work for in order to ensure a prosperous future for the coming generations. We therefore understand that what unites us is stronger than what divides us. Through our work, we build understanding, trust and harmony between divided communities and people. As a volunteer, I am the Secretary general of the Network of African Youths for Development (NAYD). In fact, at NAYD we aim at promoting youth-led organizations’ community sustainability efforts, and we also raise awareness and engage rural communities in implementing the Global Goals. More, I am voluntarily managing the Hope Spring Water charity in Ivory Coast. With its headquarter in the UK, Hope Spring Water aims to help vulnerable communities have easy access to clean water, toilets and a clean environment. We have been able to offer one well to a village called Temin located in the South East of Ivory Coast.
Community activism is one of the ways to fight for social good, but as a community activist I feel closer to the problems people are facing and communicate easily with them so as to find solutions together. I am involved in two kinds of community work, on one side as a consultant and on the other side as a volunteer. As a consultant, I am involved with CIVICUS in bridging divisions through dialogue. I lead the SPEAK! campaign in West Africa, Central Africa, Francophone Africa and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. People are divided because of their political, religious and ethnic differences while they are all living on the same territory which they have to work for in order to ensure a prosperous future for the coming generations. We therefore understand that what unites us is stronger than what divides us. Through our work, we build understanding, trust and harmony between divided communities and people. As a volunteer, I am the Secretary general of the Network of African Youths for Development (NAYD). In fact, at NAYD we aim at promoting youth-led organizations’ community sustainability efforts, and we also raise awareness and engage rural communities in implementing the Global Goals. More, I am voluntarily managing the Hope Spring Water charity in Ivory Coast. With its headquarter in the UK, Hope Spring Water aims to help vulnerable communities have easy access to clean water, toilets and a clean environment. We have been able to offer one well to a village called Temin located in the South East of Ivory Coast.
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| Construction of a Well to the rural community of Temin, South East of Ivory Coast |
Any success stories from your work?
Through our campaign at CIVICUS, a collaboration has been created between the local authorities and the local organization we selected to lead the campaign in Kinshasa in DRC, this is an unprecedented because the previous activities of the organization were all repressed by the local authorities. Another success story with the speak campaign is the involvement of rural people in a campaign which managed mainly online whereas internet is not available in rural areas. We were able to bridge the digital divide through a strategy of recording calls and instructions and engagement messages which they listened to, and the champions were the medium to attain the people in the remote areas.
Through our campaign at CIVICUS, a collaboration has been created between the local authorities and the local organization we selected to lead the campaign in Kinshasa in DRC, this is an unprecedented because the previous activities of the organization were all repressed by the local authorities. Another success story with the speak campaign is the involvement of rural people in a campaign which managed mainly online whereas internet is not available in rural areas. We were able to bridge the digital divide through a strategy of recording calls and instructions and engagement messages which they listened to, and the champions were the medium to attain the people in the remote areas.
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| The completed Well |
Most important lesson learnt?
I have learned a lot and the most important I retained is the importance of team work when it comes to community development work. In fact, a team is always diverse and this richness is important for the work. People never have the same level or the same knowledge and experience, and this difference can play a part in developing solutions for any challenges.
I have learned a lot and the most important I retained is the importance of team work when it comes to community development work. In fact, a team is always diverse and this richness is important for the work. People never have the same level or the same knowledge and experience, and this difference can play a part in developing solutions for any challenges.
Where should youth interested in community work start?
For youth who want to get involved in community work, the first thing to do is look around you and look at what is not going well in your area. There are many community issues, I advise my peer youth to choose what they want to fight, that helps not only to be focus but also to be efficient and impact effectively the lives of their counterparts. Not everyone will be involved in community, but when you are in it means this is what you can do to better this world. You will be facing obstacles, mainly funding issues, but never give up and communicate with those who you want to impact, they will be there for you and will give you a hand to accomplish your mission because they need leaders like you.
For youth who want to get involved in community work, the first thing to do is look around you and look at what is not going well in your area. There are many community issues, I advise my peer youth to choose what they want to fight, that helps not only to be focus but also to be efficient and impact effectively the lives of their counterparts. Not everyone will be involved in community, but when you are in it means this is what you can do to better this world. You will be facing obstacles, mainly funding issues, but never give up and communicate with those who you want to impact, they will be there for you and will give you a hand to accomplish your mission because they need leaders like you.
What is the most important SDG?
I think all the SDGs are important, but based on my specific context, I am sure if we are able to achieve the SDG 16, all the other issues will find solutions. In fact, we have very weak and corrupt institutions in Africa, whereas strong institutions will be able to monitor the work of our authorities, regulate the private sector and protect the rights of workers, foster transparency and accountability which will help in the equal distribution of the resources of the countries, thus fighting poverty, hunger and improving people's access to good health care systems. Strong institutions will be able to organize transparent elections this preventing conflicts, wars and refugees. I believe achieving the SDG 16 will be key to Africa's development, especially Ivory Coast.
I think all the SDGs are important, but based on my specific context, I am sure if we are able to achieve the SDG 16, all the other issues will find solutions. In fact, we have very weak and corrupt institutions in Africa, whereas strong institutions will be able to monitor the work of our authorities, regulate the private sector and protect the rights of workers, foster transparency and accountability which will help in the equal distribution of the resources of the countries, thus fighting poverty, hunger and improving people's access to good health care systems. Strong institutions will be able to organize transparent elections this preventing conflicts, wars and refugees. I believe achieving the SDG 16 will be key to Africa's development, especially Ivory Coast.
Final remarks:
To conclude, community work is one of the most humanitarian field in which you can get engaged to impact people lives. It does not hold you from doing your business and studying, it gives you either more ideas of market and or more knowledge that is not possible in formal learning institutions.
To conclude, community work is one of the most humanitarian field in which you can get engaged to impact people lives. It does not hold you from doing your business and studying, it gives you either more ideas of market and or more knowledge that is not possible in formal learning institutions.
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