Lesley Foundation and Partners Convene Mudeka and Missellele Community Dialogue to Advance Peace, Social Cohesion and Coexistence in Tiko
Tiko, Southwest Cameroon, September 2026: Community members in Missellele and Mudeka, Tiko Sub-Division of the Southwest region of Cameroon , have reaffirmed their commitment to peacebuilding, social cohesion and peaceful coexistence through two inclusive community dialogues organized by the Lesley Foundation in collaboration with CASAF and partners.
The dialogues, held on September 3 in Missellele and September 4 in Mudeka, brought together members of host communities, internally displaced persons (IDPs), women, youth and traditional leaders to discuss shared challenges and identify practical solutions for strengthening peaceful coexistence and community resilience.
The activities form part of broader efforts to promote integrated social cohesion and economic empowerment, particularly in communities affected by socio-economic pressures and displacement.
Community Dialogue in Missellele: Identifying Challenges and Solutions
On September 3, 2026, the Lesley Foundation, in collaboration with CASAF, convened members of the Missellele community at the Central Meeting Point for a community dialogue focused on peacebuilding, social cohesion and coexistence.
The session provided a safe and inclusive platform for community members to openly discuss challenges affecting their community and explore opportunities for collective action.
One of the key participatory tools used during the dialogue was the Problem Tree exercise, which enabled participants to identify the root causes, effects and interconnected dimensions of the challenges confronting their community.
Rather than limiting discussions to identifying problems, participants subsequently divided into focused groups to examine priority issues and develop practical responses.
The group discussions resulted in the identification of priority projects and actionable steps aimed at strengthening social cohesion, improving community resilience and supporting sustainable local development.
The process demonstrated the importance of allowing communities to define their own priorities and participate directly in developing solutions to challenges that affect their daily lives.
Inclusive Dialogue in Mudeka
On September 4, the Lesley Foundation and its partners continued the initiative with a Community Dialogue for Peacebuilding, Social Cohesion and Coexistence in Mudeka, Tiko Sub-Division.
Held at the Mudeka Chief Palace, the dialogue brought together host community members, internally displaced persons, women and youth.
The inclusive nature of the meeting created an opportunity for different groups within the community to share their experiences, identify common socio-economic concerns and explore ways of strengthening mutual trust.
Through focused group discussions, participants mapped local priorities, highlighted key challenges and proposed practical solutions that could contribute to sustainable development and peaceful coexistence.
Particular emphasis was placed on the role of women and young people in peacebuilding, community development and decision-making.
Their participation is essential to ensuring that community interventions reflect the realities and priorities of groups that are often underrepresented in formal decision-making processes.
From Dialogue to Collective Action
The dialogues in Missellele and Mudeka underscore an important principle of sustainable peacebuilding: peace is not simply the absence of conflict; it requires inclusive participation, social trust, economic opportunities and the ability of communities to collectively address their challenges.
By bringing host communities and IDPs together, the initiative creates opportunities to identify common interests and reduce social divisions.
The participatory approach also shifts communities from being passive recipients of development interventions to becoming active partners in identifying problems, designing solutions and implementing locally relevant initiatives.
For communities experiencing displacement, economic hardship and social pressures, strengthening social cohesion can help build resilience and reduce tensions while creating an environment in which all community members can contribute to local development.
Women and Youth at the Centre of Peacebuilding
The active participation of women and youth in the Mudeka dialogue was particularly significant.
Women and young people are important actors in preventing conflict, strengthening community relationships and promoting sustainable development. Ensuring their meaningful participation in community decision-making can also help ensure that peacebuilding initiatives address the needs of diverse groups.
The dialogues therefore provided more than a platform for discussion. They created an opportunity for women and youth to contribute ideas, identify priorities and participate in shaping the future of their communities.
Building Stronger and More Resilient Communities
The successful engagement of communities in Missellele and Mudeka demonstrates the potential of community-led peacebuilding and social cohesion initiatives in Cameroon.
The commitment demonstrated by traditional leaders, community members, women, youth, IDPs and other stakeholders provides an important foundation for future collaboration.
The Lesley Foundation and its partners expressed their appreciation to the traditional leadership and residents of Mudeka, as well as all stakeholders who contributed to the dialogues and demonstrated their commitment to building communities where peace, inclusion, dignity and development are shared priorities.
The initiative was supported through funding from the European Union in Cameroon and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), with coordination from GIZ and the German Embassy in Yaoundé.
As the communities of Missellele and Mudeka move forward, the priority will be to translate the outcomes of these dialogues into concrete actions and community projects.
The message emerging from both engagements is clear: sustainable peace begins when communities come together, listen to one another and take collective responsibility for building a better future.
About the Initiative
The community dialogues form part of efforts to advance integrated social cohesion and economic empowerment in Tiko Sub-Division, bringing together diverse community groups to identify local challenges, strengthen peaceful coexistence and promote sustainable development.
For the Human Rights and Legal Research Centre, such community-led approaches are important because meaningful peacebuilding must place human rights, participation, equality, inclusion and community ownership at the centre of development and conflict-prevention efforts.
Berinyuy Cajetan is the founder and publisher of Human Rights and Legal Research Centre (HRLRC) since 2017. He has intensive experience in strategic communications for Civil Society Organizations, campaign and advocacy, and social issues. He has an intensive experiencing in human rights monitoring, documentation and reporting.
