Title:
YOUTHS MOTIVATION IN POLICIES AND REPERCUSSIONS ON YOUTH EMPOWERMENT IN KUMBO SUB DIVISION, CAMEROON

Authors:
KOME Blaise TARDZENYUY ,Cameroon

Abstract:
Youth policies are a crucial tool for youth empowerment and development in most developing countries. However, the motivation of youths to get engaged into policies or programs should be in adequation with objectives of such policies for this to be achieved. Using selected government youth programs, this study aims at identifying motivation factors of youth engagement into programs and their effect on youth empowerment in Kumbo Sub Division. The main hypothesis, is that the low empowerment of youths‘ beneficiaries in activities offered by state programs is accounted for by disequilibrium between youth motivation and objectives of such policies. Using snowball sampling technic, theory of social constructivism, associated with critical youth empowerment theory and a qualitative research approach, we conducted semi-guided interviews with 65 youths involved in programs such as PAJER-U, PIFMAS and NCSAPD as well with 19 youths who never had the opportunity to belong to such programs. Interviews were equally conducted with administrative staff who animate the execution of these policies as well as field observations and visits to project sites. Results highlights the fact that the poor outcome of youth policies is linked to unbalance between motivation factors, and objectives assigned to such policies. Non-selected youths, expressed interest but lack of social capital. Administrative officials admitted that there is self-interest among stakeholders involved. As a result of all these, a consideration of youths aspiration and motivation as well as a bottom-up approach in youth policy designs and execution can help achieve policy youth empowerment.