
Tfurndabi Tawong Cornelius, 2025
Q: Why was Action Lab for Development founded?
A: The inspiration for Action Lab For Development started when we identified, in our Cameroonian
community, some economic challenges, and we thought that for these challenges to be
addressed, we would look for the clearest ways to solve them. We thought that through fostering
innovation and entrepreneurship, most of these challenges could be resolved. In response Action
Lab For Development was created by Tobby Vision Computers Institute staffs, students and Jaime Garcia, a product designer from Tokyo Japan inspiring people
to build businesses via creative value generation. The challenges in the community that we
wanted to address primarily included unemployment and lack of skills, and so we started as a
vocational training center focusing on skills development for employment. We wanted Action Lab
For Development to be another way to bring creative innovation and methods of solving problems
to our community. The mission of Action Lab For Development is to develop, support and look
after entrepreneurs, innovators, and creative economies in local communities and business
ecosystems. So, leading into your next question, that mission has remained with me for many
years.
Q: In 2025, we are just as close to 2000 as we are to 2050. What sustainable impact do
you want to have over the coming years?
A: Here in Canada, in an advanced world compared to where I was back in Cameroon, I am
focusing on sustainable impact both here and in Cameroon, and we are developing initiatives that
can empower and foster community development in both places. In Cameroon, I aspire to have
an “Action Lab Training Institute” where we can develop skills and different vocational programs.
While in Canada, our mission is and will remain the same, but we will be focusing on the problems
here, like mental health and high care spending by the government. We want to achieve a goal
of fair business practice, and we want to uphold and bring the values of fairness and equity into
the community here in Canada. We are already a member of “Action Dignity,” and with some
experts in the social domain, we can begin to make policy recommendations to the government.
(“Action Dignity” is another organization with a similar mission of gender equity, social innovation,
and 170 partner organizations collaborating to solve community challenges. Action Lab is a
member.)
Q: Where are Action Lab for Development’s future goals and how are you reaching them?
A: The future goals we see for our organization remain the same as they are currently. We have
been functioning in Cameroon and Canada, joined across the world through United Nations
volunteers. Volunteers are helping through different projects and programs, and other members
are joining Action Lab in many different ways. We are developing projects like the “Career Connect,” advancing social services, engaging in entrepreneurship training, and these are all
initiatives that will help us reach our goals.
Q: How can people get involved?
A: Currently, the way to get involved is by collaborating with Action Lab to address local challenges
through driving innovation and entrepreneurial initiatives. Further, working as a volunteer, you can
lead a workshop, you can become a mentor in our programs, or you can become a trainer in
entrepreneurship. As a member of our community, you can also take part in our networking
events. We are fortunate because we are accredited by the United Nations Economic and Social
Council, and we participate in UN meetings around the world, so you can take part in representing
Action Lab on a global platform and advocate for us. We are looking for people that contribute a
wide range of skills- we are building digital platforms in Canada, and you can help support efforts
for social equity and policy change through research and community outreach. We not only
partner with the United Nations, but also “Moving Worlds,” to broaden Action Lab’s mission. You
can donate and contribute resources to our organization by finding us on “Global Giving,” or
donate on our website to support the activities that we are pursuing.
Q: Can you talk about one project that deeply resonates with you?
A: Action Lab was founded in 2016 at a school – “Tobby Visions Computer Institute.” I was the
founder of this school. We were offering agricultural training, IT training, and different courses in
vocational trades. At the time, in Cameroon, our deepest concerns were vocational training and
developing employable skills for people. So, I wanted people to get practical employability skills
and develop entrepreneurial mindsets to create projects and solve challenges. Currently, in
Canada, I am asking myself, coming from Cameroon to an advanced world, what am I offering,
and what can I offer? Will the same skills training from Cameroon still be useful here in Canada?
The answer is yes; I still think those skills will be useful. What I am deeply concerned about in
both Canada and Cameroon, are skills in residential construction- for example, drywall
installation, carpentry, painting, using of power tools, and fence building. Skills for these projects
are needed everywhere. People can develop these skills, and perhaps be self-employed or hired.
Equally and intuitively, I see that here I will be working in social service projects with the goal of
making policy papers. Many people here put relationships in terms of the law, but the human
being is above every other thing, so relationships should be based on equity. They should not be
transactional. They should not be something that is exclusively contracted by law. Relationships
should be out of trust, they should be out of respect, and if these things are maintained, not only
thinking about the law, people will treat people with fairness. I would like to see this resolved. You
should always be a local observer to identify problems in your community.
Q: Should we all support entrepreneurship, and what does it mean to support creative
economies and civil society?
A: Supporting entrepreneurship is important because it drives innovation, creates jobs, and
stimulates economic growth. Entrepreneurship empowers people to solve problems, become
better employees, tap into new opportunities, and contribute to communities in which these
ideas are developed. So, if you support civil society this means strengthening the networks,
organizations, and institutions that allow individuals to participate in their communities. We want
individuals to participate in community life, so we have to advocate for their rights and contribute
to social change. Creative economies are economic systems where creativity and innovation
are key drivers of growth, value creation, and cultural development. We want to support
economic systems where creativity and innovation are key drivers of growth, enabling value
creation and fostering further development.