Miss-Delectable

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sec...?storyid=46831

FREDERICK — Hope can overcome all barriers was the message the president of the Frederick County chapter of the NAACP shared with Maryland School for the Deaf students Tuesday.

Guy Djoken talked about the challenges he faced as a child growing up in Cameroon.

"In Cameroon, life is very difficult," he said. "We had to walk seven miles to get water."

Most members of his village were poor and struggled to provide basic necessities for their families. Despite the difficulties, people survived and some moved on to other opportunities, he said.

Mr. Djoken was able to emigrate to the United States and now leads the Center for Peace, a Frederick-based nonprofit organization that promotes peace.

"Me being here shows there is always hope for your life," he said.

Students listened silently while Mr. Djoken spoke and asked him many questions throughout the presentation, on topics such as his goals for Frederick County and what brought him to the United States.

Darrin Smith, 15, is president of Maryland School for the Deaf's roughly 15-member Junior Black Deaf Association, which organized Tuesday's event.

He said Mr. Djoken's message inspired him to maintain optimism for the future.

"If he can do it, so can I," Darrin said.

Darrin said he has many goals in life, but listening to Mr. Djoken helped him realize he needs to be realistic about how to accomplish them.

He said he was particularly interested in Mr. Djoken's rise to lead the NAACP chapter.

Mr. Djoken joined the group after it helped him resolve a discrimination incident in his life. He began handling communication for the chapter and soon was asked to serve as vice president. He became president in 2004.

People sometimes react with trepidation when they learn the NAACP is getting involved in a dispute, Mr. Djoken said. Yet the group aims to help opposing parties find common ground.

Hope plays a role in reaching any solution, he said; people must believe that they can respect one another and work together to improve the situation, he said.

"The power of hope overcomes bigotry. Hope will win," Mr. Djoken said.

Mr. Djoken said he was pleased to speak during Black History Month. The mere fact he was invited to speak to students illustrates progress has been made regarding racial relations in the United States, he said.

"There was a time when I wouldn't be allowed to come in," he said.

Although positive changes have occurred, advocates of peace and hope are still needed, he said.

Nearly every week, the NAACP receives calls from Frederick County residents who believe they have experienced discrimination, Mr. Djoken said.

He challenged the students to carry hope into their communities and work together to erase barriers of all forms.

"We want to build a community where any one of us has opportunities," Mr. Djoken said.

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