Career development and leadership abilities extend far beyond the classroom. They thrive through direct interaction with experienced professionals and innovators.

Career development and leadership abilities extend far beyond the classroom. They thrive through direct interaction with experienced professionals and innovators.

On Sunday, January 4, more than 200 young people from universities and high schools across Bamenda, Cameroon, took part in a learning experience focused on passion and career choices, entrepreneurship, student mental health and well-being, as well as purposeful living and self-discovery during and after school.

The event, titled “Student Hangout 2.0” for Cameroonian Youngsters, was organised by Rethinking Me in partnership with COWED, Dream Reality Incubator, and the Center for Learning Testing and Excellence (TLC).

According to the Right for Education and the African Development Bank Group, some of the main causes of youth unemployment in Africa is: skills mismatch that stems from a poor educational system, slow economic growth, and insufficient job creation. This undermines progress towards achieving SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Responding to these shortcomings, the programme provided students with the opportunity to engage with professionals, innovators, and entrepreneurs from in and out of the region.

Participants were introduced to existing professional programmes and institutions aligned with labour market demands, guided on how to align passion with purpose for meaningful fulfilment, encouraged to cultivate healthy attitudes, and supported to better understand and adapt to real societal and workplace realities.

In addition to academic and career guidance, the programme created space for reflection on purpose and values. Students were encouraged to seek God’s direction in their life journeys, recognising faith as a source of clarity, peace, and joy in decision-making and personal growth.

The Student Hangout program reflects the core mission of COWED: empowering communities to thrive by aligning purpose through healthcare, education, spiritual development, and capacity-building initiatives.