Gaston Bappa on his village, Ndjock-Nkong

Ndjock-Nkong is the name of my village. It is situated in the litoral region of Cameroon, Sanaga Maritime division. The village is in a heavily forested zone, with a great and long rainy season. The population numbers fewer than 300 people. It has been decreasing because of remoteness. Its community is one of a larger clan called Ndog-Nem, which has six sub-clans in four villages. The Ndog-Nem community is itself a part of another bigger clan, Babimbi 2, with 42 villages.

Ndjock-Nkong village has historic specificity of having groups from all six Ndog-Nem sub-clans. Because each sub-clan wants to preserve its specificity, they are difficult to manage in this little village. But it is also an advantage for leadership in the entire Babimbi 2 zone, as we have a better knowledge and experience in managing diversity. Many leaders of the zone have been appointed from this village.

The zone is still landlocked, and enclosed. The road which leads there is bad (lake of maintenance). There is no electricity (some people have generators), no phone network, no television (some have satellite antenna), and very little access to radio broadcast. Because of that remoteness, the population has been decreasing, with young people going to town for life problems. Despite this sad situation, we have been working hard since many decades to reverse it.

Many community and industrial projects are on the way now with the government: a multi-purpose community telecentre has been built in the zone. It will open its doors in less than five months. The maintenance of the road has started. A mobile phone antenna which covers the entire zone is been installed. Projects to building three powerful hydroelectric dams on the Sanaga river (inside the Babimbi 2 zone) are awaited. Land is available for intensive and prosperous agriculture and breeding. The ATOE project we are preparing will also have a great impact in developing the area, with ICTs assisting communication, education and training.