Grassland Peace Centre-GRAPEC

09/07/2026

"What if a meal could reduce conflict? What if school feeding programmes, sustainable agriculture, and food security were among our most effective peacebuilding tools?"

🔗 : https://bit.ly/4bmtQZZ

Start the month of July reading Ntang Julius Meleng's exploration of how access to nutritious food fosters inner peace, strengthens interpersonal relationships, and builds resilient communities. Julius is a Cohort 6 Makerere University Rotary Peace Fellow.

09/07/2026

Great job Ntang Julius Meleng

As a Cohort 6 Rotary Peace Fellow at Makerere University, Julius brings a researcher's discipline and a practitioner's instinct to the work. His latest piece on Bum Subdivision in Cameroon's conflict-affected North West Region is a reminder of what grassroots peacebuilding looks like when it works.

Read; https://bit.ly/4aKllb7

The article documents how Village Development Associations in Bum have kept communities alive during active conflict. They are financing community teachers after government teachers fled. They are building bridges, maintaining water systems, reopening roads, renovating schools and preserving cultural heritage. Young people are awarding scholarships, building libraries and maintaining roads voluntarily.

08/07/2026

Community-led road maintenance in .

As the ongoing crisis in the North West Region continues to affect infrastructure and public services, the people of Ngunabum are coming together through community-led manual labour to maintain and improve their roads. This collective effort reflects the community's resilience, unity, and determination to keep local roads accessible despite the challenges.

30/06/2026

The Spirit of Community Work Rekindled in Bum.

Yesterday, Monday 29th June 2026, the denizens of , and communities in Bum Subdivision demonstrated the true meaning of community spirit. More than 200 community members came together to maintain the Saff–Konene road, a vital route that connects Konene to Fonfuka, the administrative headquarters of Bum Subdivision.

The exercise was led by respected traditional and community leaders, including the Fon of Ngunabum in the Sarki of Konene, and the Quarter Head of Saff, with the support of the local administration. Their collective leadership inspired an impressive turnout of women, men, and young people, all working side by side to improve a road that serves thousands of people.

This road is more than a pathway. It is a lifeline for farmers transporting their produce to markets, children travelling to school, patients seeking healthcare, traders conducting business, and families staying connected. Well-maintained rural roads contribute significantly to local economic development, improve access to essential services, strengthen social cohesion, and reduce isolation in rural communities.

To ensure this progress is sustained, the community has institutionalised every Monday as a Community Road Maintenance Day. Every healthy community member is encouraged to participate, making this a remarkable example of local ownership, volunteerism, and collective responsibility.

However, despite the overwhelming participation, the work was slowed by a severe shortage of basic road maintenance tools. Volunteers struggled to clear large stones, open drainage gutters, and repair damaged sections because they lack essential equipment such as:

🛠️ Hammers
⛏️ Digging axes and pickaxes
🚜 Spades and shovels
🛞 Wheelbarrows
🪓 Crowbars
🧤 Protective gear and other road maintenance tools

The community is therefore making a heartfelt appeal to sons and daughters of Bum, development partners, businesses, philanthropists, and friends of Cameroon to support this inspiring initiative through the donation of tools or financial contributions to purchase the required equipment. Even a single tool can make a meaningful difference.

This initiative forms part of the Grassland Peace Centre (GRAPEC) commitment to promoting environmental peacebuilding, community dialogue, local resilience, and citizen-led development. When communities work together to solve shared challenges, they are not only repairing roads—they are building trust, strengthening peace, and creating opportunities for sustainable development.

Let us stand with these communities. Together, we can transform this road into a lasting symbol of unity, resilience, and hope.

📩 If you would like to donate road maintenance tools or financially support this community-led initiative, please contact Grassland Peace Centre (GRAPEC). Your contribution will directly support the volunteers who are dedicating their time and energy every Monday to keep this vital road open for everyone.

Together, let's build roads that connect communities and peace that lasts.

28/06/2026

Beyond Peace, Edition 2

Food as a Pathway to Peace

Peace is often discussed in terms of ceasefires, dialogue, and conflict resolution. Yet one of the most powerful foundations of peace begins with something much simpler: food. A well-nourished person is more likely to think clearly, regulate emotions, learn effectively, and contribute positively to society. Hunger, by contrast, fuels stress, frustration, inequality, and social unrest.

Food first nurtures inner peace. Adequate nutrition supports brain development, emotional regulation, and mental well-being. Research shows that food insecurity is strongly associated with anxiety, depression, psychological distress, and reduced quality of life (Ejiohuo et al., 2024). Likewise, the World Health Organization emphasizes that access to safe and nutritious food is essential for healthy brain development, cognitive functioning, and overall well-being (WHO, 2023). A child or adult who is not constantly preoccupied with hunger is better able to focus, make sound decisions, and engage constructively with others.

Inner peace naturally extends to interpersonal peace. Across cultures, sharing meals has long been a symbol of trust, hospitality, reconciliation, and belonging. Families that eat together strengthen relationships, while communities that farm, cook, and share food collectively build cooperation, empathy, and mutual respect. Food reminds us of our shared humanity before our differences.

At the community level, food security contributes to social cohesion and resilience. When communities have reliable access to nutritious food, competition over scarce resources decreases, children attend school more regularly, livelihoods improve, and opportunities for conflict are reduced. School feeding programmes, for example, improve attendance, learning outcomes, health, and social protection while generating long-term economic returns (Bundy et al., 2009; UNICEF, UNESCO, WHO & WFP, 2025). Food, therefore, is not merely humanitarian assistance—it is an investment in human capital and peaceful societies.

Peace and development are inseparable. Peace creates the stability necessary for agriculture, education, entrepreneurship, and investment to flourish. At the same time, equitable access to food strengthens human dignity, builds trust in institutions, and lays the foundation for inclusive development.

As governments, development partners, civil society, and communities seek lasting peace across Africa, food security must become a strategic peacebuilding priority. No child should be expected to learn on an empty stomach. No family should be forced into conflict because of hunger. Investing in school feeding, sustainable agriculture, and resilient food systems is not only an investment in nutrition, it is an investment in peace, human dignity, and sustainable development.


By Ntang Julius Meleng
Early Recovery in Conflict Specialist
Peace and Development Practitioner

26/04/2026

Join Ntang Julius Meleng our Board Chair tomorrow 27th April 2026 at 9am on CRTV National Station for an insightful chat on Labour issues. The focus will be on Staff Representatives.

31/03/2026

ESTABLISHMENT OF NGUNABUM–KONENE (JULL FONDOM) INDIGENOUS COMMISSION FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND SUSTAINABILITY

On Saturday, 28 February 2026, a crucial meeting took place in Konene, Bum Subdivision, Boyo Division, North West Region, Cameroon, leading to the establishment of the Ngunabum–Konene (Jull Fondom) Indigenous Commission for Future Generations and Sustainability. This commission, the fifth of its kind in the Northwest Region, is placed under the patronage of HRH Fon Kiyam Robert Bangsi, the Fon of Jull Fondom, and Sarki Yaya, the Chief of the Hausa community in Konene, still in Jull Fondom.

The commission will serve as a community-based body responsible for promoting sustainable development, environmental stewardship, responsible leadership, and the protection of the rights and interests of future generations. In other words, the Commission intends to promote socio-economic development and sustainable practices by leveraging indigenous knowledge and governance mechanisms, long-term thinking and strategic foresight. Among other issues, it will address challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, environmental degradation, health and wellbeing, education and youth employment, peace and social cohesion, food security, language preservation, cultural adaptation and continuity, future visions, and governance innovation.

During the meeting, the population identified limited knowledge and skills in areas such as climate friendly agricultural practices, farmer-grazer conflict prevention, climate action, cultural preservation, development planning, community development inclusive community leadership, access to funding opportunities, fundraising, financial management and reporting, etc. The Commission will help in brainstorming potential solutions to some of these challenges from a long-term thinking perspective.
The Ngunabum–Konene (Jull Fondom) Indigenous Commission builds on frameworks such as the United Nations Declaration on Future Generations, the Wales Protocol, and the School Of International Futures (SOIF) Handbook, as well as initiatives in indigenous Fondoms (Kingdoms like Mbessa, Nkar, Ajung, Din-Noni) and countries like Cameroon, Kenya, Wales, and Finland.

The historic meeting was chaired by Ntang Julius Meleng, Prince of Jull Fondom, and the Founder of the Grassland Peace Centre-GRAPEC a community and youth-led non-profit organization based in Ngunabum, as well as members of
UNITY Foundation Cameroon-UFC
The meeting was attended by several traditional and community leaders and representatives of community organizations. Among those present were HRH Fon Kiyam Robert Bangsi, the Fon of
Jull, Sarki Yaya, the Chief of the Hausa community in Konene (Jull Fondom), the representatives of the Quarter Heads of Ngunabum and Konene, the Presidents of the Ngunabum Area Development Association (NADA) and the Konene Area Development Association (KADA), representatives from the Islamic Youth Association, Konene, members of Kongmu Meeting, and representatives of women and youth groups.

The commission is strategically advised by Shufaay Ntumfoyn Dr Nsah Mala, a native of Mbesa and an expert in arts, literature, culture, environmental humanities, sustainability science, planetary wellbeing, future generations, foresight, and anticipatory or long-term governance.

Done in Konene (Jull Fondom), on Saturday, 28th February 2026, by
HRH Fon Kiyam Robert Bangsi, the Fon of Jull, and Sarki Yaya, the Chief of the Hausa community in Konene (Jull).

Source: The Ijim Times Mbessa Eye


Rotary International President
Rotary Peace Centers
Makerere University Rotary Peace Center

05/03/2026

A Milestone for Sustainable Community Development in in

On Saturday, 28 February 2026, community stakeholders from Ngunabum and Konene (Jull Fondom), Bum Subdivision – Boyo Division gathered in Konene for an important consultation meeting that resulted in the creation of the Ngunabum–Konene Indigenous Commission for Future Generations and Sustainability.

The meeting was chaired by Ntang Julius Meleng, a Peace and Development Practitioner, and brought together traditional leaders, community associations, youth and women groups, and civil society actors committed to building a sustainable future for the community.

Distinguished participants included HRH Fon Kiyam Robert Bangsi, Fon of Jull, Sarki Yaya (Chief of the Hausa Community in Konene), Quarter Heads of Ngunabum and Konene, Presidents of Ngunabum Area Development Association (NADA) and Konene Area Development Association (KADA), representatives of the Islamic Youth Association – Konene, members of Kongmu Meeting, women and youth groups, as well as representatives of community-based organizations.

The meeting was also attended our Executive Director and some members and members of UNITY Foundation Cameroon-UFC, community-driven non-profit organizations working on peacebuilding, humanitarian assistance, community mediation, climate action, agriculture, and youth empowerment.

Participants were informed that similar Future Generations Commissions have already been established in communities such as Mbesa and Din-Noni, and that the long-term vision—developed in collaboration with foresight and future generations experts including Dr Nsah Mala is to establish similar structures across all Fondoms in Bum. These community commissions will ultimately form the Bum Indigenous Commission for Future Generations and Sustainability.

The newly created Ngunabum–Konene Commission will serve as a community platform to:
• Promote sustainable development
• Protect community resources for future generations
• Encourage responsible leadership and transparency
• Support climate resilience and sustainable agriculture
• Strengthen intergenerational knowledge transfer

This initiative marks an important step toward ensuring that today’s decisions safeguard the wellbeing of future generations in Jull Fondom and the wider Bum community.

Together, we build a future that lasts.

21/08/2025

Today, Grassland Peace Centre (GRAPEC) joins the people of Cameroon and the world in solemn remembrance of the Lake Nyos gas disaster of August 1986. This tragedy claimed thousands of human lives and livestock in just a single night, leaving families broken and entire communities devastated. Nearly four decades later, the pain remains, but so does the strength of our people.

We pay heartfelt homage to all the souls who perished and extend our deepest compassion to the survivors and their families. To the communities of Menchum and Boyo Divisions, and especially to our brothers and sisters in Bum Subdivision, we say: your loss is our loss, your resilience is our inspiration, and your loved ones will never be forgotten.

The Lake Nyos tragedy is a reminder of the fragility of life, but it is also a story of courage and rebuilding. Survivors have carried forward the torch of resilience, showing us that even in the shadow of grief, hope and unity can prevail.

At , we stand with you in prayer and solidarity. We recommit ourselves to promoting peace, compassion, and community resilience so that from the memories of the past, we can build a future of safety, dignity, and harmony.

May the souls of the departed rest in eternal peace. May the survivors continue to find strength and healing. May our communities in Menchum, Boyo, and across Cameroon live in unity and peace

06/08/2025

FULLY FUNDED SCHOLARSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT:

CHEVENING SCHOLARSHIP 2026/2027 APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN!

Are you a future leader ready to create positive change in your community, Country and beyond? The UK Government’s prestigious Chevening Scholarship Programme is now accepting applications for the 2026/2027 academic year!

🌍 What is Chevening Scholarship?
Chevening is the UK Government’s international scholarship scheme that offers fully-funded opportunities to outstanding professionals from around the world to pursue a one-year Master’s degree in the UK.

🎯 Eligibility Criteria:
To be eligible, you must:
✅ Be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country (Cameroon is eligible)
✅ Return to your country of citizenship for a minimum of two years after your award ends
✅ Have completed an undergraduate degree (equivalent to a UK upper second-class 2:1 honours degree)
✅ Have at least two years (equivalent to 2,800 hours) of work experience
✅ Apply to three eligible UK university courses and have received an unconditional offer from one by the Chevening deadline
✅ Meet the English language requirements (if applicable)

🗓️ Application Deadline:
Applications close on [Insert final deadline – October 7 at 12:00 GMT

🌐 How to Apply:
Submit your application through the official Chevening website:
👉 https://www.chevening.org/apply

Don’t miss this life-changing opportunity to study in the UK, expand your professional network, and join a global community of Chevening alumni making a difference around the world!

For further inquiries or guidance on the application process, feel free to reach out.