We would like to introduce the two pupils who will be representing Cameroon at this year’s International German Olympiad (IDO), as well as their accompanying teacher. The three of them can look forward to an exciting programme and a wonderful opportunity to exchange ideas with other pupils and German teachers from all over the world – and why not make some new friends too?
Learn more about who our candidates are and what they are excited about at the IDO.
I’m learning German because I love it. German is a beautiful language. It broadens my knowledge and horizons. It’s also a useful language in the professional world.
What is your favourite German word and why?
My favourite word in German is ‘froh’, because I like being happy and I want to make others happy too. I’m particularly happy in German lessons. In my mother tongue, my favourite word is ‘anti wam’, because it makes people laugh, and I love that.
What other foreign language(s) are you learning apart from German, and why?
I’m also learning English because I want to speak several languages and travel a lot.
What would you like to take back home with you from the International German Olympiad in Mannheim?
I’d like to experience a new culture and meet new people. I’d also like to learn a lot about German specialities and the many tourist attractions in Mannheim.
“Growing Together” is the new theme for IDO 2026. It’s a word play and can mean two things: coming together and forging new paths together. What does it mean to you?
To me, ‘growing together’ means building a future together – in other words, staying together, working together, sharing together and learning together.
What can we do for our shared future?
To build our future together, we must love one another just as we are, come together, help one another and, above all, live in peace.
I love languages. They are the key to communication between people. One day, I’d like to travel to Germany, live there and work there. It’s a wonderful country.
What is your favourite German word and why?
My favourite word in German is ‘Arbeit’ and in my mother tongue it’s ‘fahh’. This word is important to me because work is at the heart of people’s lives. It is work that has enabled me to win the national competition, and it is through work that I will also win the international competition.
What other foreign language(s) are you learning apart from German, and why?
I’m not learning any other foreign languages. I don’t currently have the opportunity to learn another foreign language.
What would you like to take back home with you from the International German Olympiad in Mannheim?
I’d like to take away new ideas, new friendships and contacts for the future. It’s also an opportunity for me to improve my German language skills.
“Growing Together” is the new theme for IDO 2026. It’s a word play and can mean two things: coming together and forging new paths together. What does it mean to you?
To me, “Growing Together” means sharing fun moments with others, learning from them and solving our problems together.
What can we do for our shared future?
The IDO and KmD* are very important programmes for the education and training of young people. In the future, such programmes should be organised everywhere to foster greater solidarity and harmony in the world.
*KmD: Kreativ mit Deutsch (Creative with German), the national competition to qualify for the Olympiad in Germany
I teach German because I am passionate about the language and because it gives me a deeper insight into the history of my homeland – an insight that I am keen to share with others.
For me, teaching German means far more than simply imparting grammar and vocabulary. It is an invitation to explore the past together, to discover historical connections and to become more aware of our cultural roots.
What is your favourite German word and why?
My favourite German word is ‘Liebe’. It simply sounds beautiful and feels good to say. Even though it consists of just a few letters, it has a special power: love brings people together, regardless of their background or culture.
In my mother tongue, Basaa, my favourite word is “Hilolombi”, which means something like “the eldest”, “the one who was already there” or, literally, “the one who surpasses everything”. This word reminds me of my roots and gives me a sense of stability. It gives me a feeling of security: everything that happens in my life has already been under the protection of “Hilolombi” – and will continue to be so in the future.
What other foreign language(s) are you learning apart from German, and why?
As well as German, I’m also continuing to learn English and French, as they play an important role in my career. I also enjoy learning new vocabulary and getting to know other cultures.
What would you like to take back home with you from the International German Olympiad in Mannheim?
The international experiences and the chance to interact with participants from all over the world mean a great deal to me. Above all, I want to share the strong sense of community and cultural diversity that characterise the IDO with those around me.
“Growing Together” is the new theme for IDO 2026. It’s a word play and can mean two things: coming together and forging new paths together. What does it mean to you?
For me, the play on words ‘Growing Together’ represents the strength that arises when people come together: we become stronger, more imaginative and more open-minded than we are on our own. Particularly at an international event like the IDO, this creates a space where diversity does not divide, but brings people together. It is a motto that not only describes the present, but also invites us to shape new things together and move forward into the future.
What can we do for our shared future?
We can take responsibility, treat one another with respect and remain open to new ideas. Together, we can achieve more than we can alone. By valuing diversity, acting sustainably and developing creative solutions, we can shape a fairer and friendlier future.
The answers have been reproduced verbatim.
Visit the IDO website: Internationale Deutsch- Olympiade 2026 - 13 to 22 July 2026 - Goethe-Institut
The International German Olympics (IDO) is the world’s largest competition for the German language. Around 100 students and 50 accompanying teachers from over 50 countries meet at the final in Mannheim.
It will take place from July 13 to 22, 2026.
The IDO 2026 will be held in Mannheim. Mannheim is a city in the south of Germany, located in the federal state of Baden-Württemberg.
The IDO 2026 will take place under the motto “Zusammenwachsen”.
Two students from Cameroon: the winners of the KMD final.
All students in Seconde and Première (Série A) born after July 22, 2008, can apply.
You can apply by sending your complete application documents to the Goethe-Institut Cameroon by November 30, 2025.
Send the documents and the collage (photo) by email. You can also send the video directly by email. If the file is too large, use one of the following platforms and send us the link: OneDrive, Google Drive, WeTransfer, or grosfichiers.com.
All documents should be sent in one email to bkd-yaounde@goethe.de with the subject line Application Competition KMD.
If you don’t have your own email address, your parents or your teacher can help.
A collage is an image made from many different elements.
It can include newspaper clippings, ribbons, colored paper pieces, and photos glued onto a solid surface or canvas.
For example, like this:
Envato
wepresent/wetransfer
These are file formats. PDF is used for documents with text and images. JPG or JPEG are image formats used for photos. You can simply take a photo of your collage.
The summer camp takes place during the holidays in August. Students from all over Cameroon come together. Participants can expect a varied program with interactive German lessons, creative workshops, and a wide range of leisure and cultural activities that offer opportunities for exchange, fun, and new friendships.
