"This year, I delegated the organization of the festival to 70%. The goal is that after a few years, I'll be just an average festival-goer. This project, you see, is yours. It is a training stable which, following the learning by doing approach, prepares the next generation that you are, gives everyone the chance to occupy positions of responsibility to prepare for its realization."
To serve, to give of oneself with love for the common good, to learn by doing. This is what the 560 volunteers involved in the activities of the Bia So Mengong festival learn every day in the performance of their tasks. They are hired as a protocol team, security guards, hostesses, ball boys... They can be seen at the COCAM stadium as well as at the festival village (the two sites of the festival), each busy making their contribution to the success of the event.
But the CEO of The Belinga Foundation, Prof. Steve-Félix Belinga, knows that with young people, managing and making people dream also means listening to them, breaking the ice. It is in this atmosphere that this Sunday, July 20, 2025, he chaired a coordination meeting with all the volunteers and staff of the Foundation, to make a mid-term assessment of the festival. His arrival is marked by a reaction that expresses all his attachment to humility.
The young people stand up to welcome him and we can see embarrassment drawn on his face. He swings his arms as if to say "but why are you doing this? And quickly asks the audience to sit down. The session was introduced by words of encouragement to a team whose dynamism, ability to improvise and self-sacrifice he praised. "For a week you have shown me that you understand the concept.
The Bia So Mengong festival no longer belongs to me. This year, I delegated the organization of the festival to 70%. The goal is that after a few years, I'll be just an average festival-goer. This project, you see, is yours.
It is a training stable which, following the learning by doing approach, prepares the next generation that you are, gives everyone the chance to occupy positions of responsibility to prepare for its realization.
The Bia So Mengong festival which, as we can see, has indeed taken on the scope of its theme, namely 'Beyond borders, must be perceived by each volunteer as his personal project' he punctuates behind the radiant smile we know him for.
We can see in the eyes of each participant, this glimmer of admiration that invites itself when we are in front of a speaker whose words follow the contour of his actions.
The meeting is open. Everyone has an equal right to speak. We propose, suggest, make remarks. All in a warm and friendly atmosphere. The festival manager draws attention to a few deviations, but congratulates the team overall. He goes even further by naming a few young people whose diligence, conduct and involvement have particularly marked him.
"As the festival evolves, we are on a bet that is being held and that we will still have to be able to meet during the last week."
To achieve this, Professor Steve Belinga has his formula that he shares with others: anticipate, defuse, smooth out the angles. He defends the importance for everyone to release the right energy by being helpful, available and always driven by the desire to do well.
"Even when you're already doing well, find a way to do even better. By proceeding in this way, I am certain that each of you will one day have your foundation. And my prayer is that it will be greater than this. So dare, transcend fears and work with discipline.
The meeting ended with words of encouragement and the promise of everyone to give their all for a flawless follow-up.
Bia So Mengong Festival - Where Dreams Became Reality!