‘Let the little children come to me, do not hinder them…’. Mark 10, 14
From 12 to 15 June 2025, the 3rd Provincial Days of the African Child (JPEA) took place in Maroua, the capital of Cameroon’s Far North region. Every two years, one of Cameroon’s dioceses hosts this ecclesial event. With the theme ‘Missionary children, let us carry the light of Hope’, 1,182 young people from Garoua, Ngaoundéré, Maroua-Mokolo and Yagoua came to Maroua to take part in these days. Their aim is to enable young people to meet in their ecclesiastical province to honour the memory of the children killed in Soweto, South Africa in 1976, and the martyrs of Uganda on 3 July 1883. It is also to give importance to the very young who sometimes have no place in society, who are abused or mistreated.
This year, the diocese of Maroua-Mokolo was in the spotlight. At the opening ceremony, young people, full of life, presented various traditional dances from the peoples of the diocese and elsewhere. The various events during these days enabled the children to understand that they are the bearers of the Good News, the future of the ecclesiastical province of Garoua, the Church of tomorrow and the world to come. The young people and children had the pleasure of discussing their rights -education, health, living in a family, protection of privacy- and their duties -working, respecting parents and adults, obeying-.
Other moments of relaxation such as the presentation of works of art, modern and traditional dances, poems, sketches, matches, the presentation of food from each diocese… allowed the children to relax and also to learn. A march for peace in Cameroon and throughout the world was an opportunity to understand that peace in our hearts, in our living environments, is a treasure to be constantly sought by all. The Provincial Days of the African Child ended with a pontifical mass presided over by Bishop Barthélémy YAOUDA OURGO of the diocese of Yagoua. From his homily, the children remembered that they are the joy of their parents and of the whole Church. Bishop Barthélémy also invited them to love God, to love each other, to love their culture and their school, to be respectful and to avoid delinquency, drugs, theft and lies.
After Mass, as we said our goodbyes, we could see that the joy and pride of the children in being together gave radiance and beauty to these exceptional Days. Two Daughters of the Holy Spirit, sisters Julienne MATCHOU (Maroua-Mokolo) and Jeneviève KOVOU (Yagoua), were actively involved in this event to show our closeness to the children, our collaboration and our commitment to diocesan activities. We are proud and happy to be close to thes e little ones and to accompany them.
All the children returned home exultant with joy, very happy with their stay in Maroua.
Jeneviève KOVOU, Touloum community. Published on 25 June 2025
