Our Story
The Edimar Princesse Grace Center (CEPG), born from the work of Father Maurizio Bezzi, was created to welcome street youth in Yaoundé, with the support of MAP.
The CEPG is rooted in the long-standing experience of the Foyer de l’Espérance, an initiative launched by Brother Yves Lescanne, a missionary with the Little Brothers of Charles de Foucauld. In 1992, Brother Yves left Yaoundé for Maroua (in northern Cameroon), where he was tragically killed on July 29, 2002, by a street child.
In the early 1990s, the urgent need for a dedicated reception and guidance center for children who had made the street their permanent home became increasingly clear. From this need emerged the idea of a social center—a new educational structure distinct from the Foyer de l’Espérance. Choosing the location for the center was not easy: it was essential to find a space in the heart of the city to ensure accessibility for the youth. After a long search, a plot of land was finally found in central Yaoundé, near the train station—a key crossing point for many children arriving from all over the country.
In May 2001, thanks to support from Cameroonian institutions and the concrete help of MAP (Monaco Aide et Présence), along with the involvement of John Martinotti, Luc Raynaud, and many other friends, construction work began.
Edimar — The Story Behind the Name
At a gathering organized by Communion and Liberation, Father Maurizio heard the story of a young man named Edimar. This name, full of meaning, would soon be given to the center under construction.
Edimar was a street child in Brazil whose life was transformed through the encounter with caring individuals who welcomed and loved him just as he was. With their support, he overcame the darkness of drug abuse and violence. The light returned to his eyes, once clouded by suffering. That encounter opened his heart to the beauty of life. Little by little, Edimar developed a new awareness of himself, marking a profound inner transformation.
At a party, he unexpectedly crossed paths with his former gang leader, who ordered him to kill the rival gang leader to prove his loyalty. Edimar stood firm, declaring that his life had changed and he could no longer follow the gang’s violent code. Enraged by his refusal, the gang leader killed him.
At that moment, Father Maurizio could think only of the street children in Cameroon and the center under construction. In memory of the courage of that sixteen-year-old boy, the center would be named Edimar. It would also honor Princess Grace of Monaco, whose presence—through MAP—had become a tangible reality.
May 2001
Start of construction work.
10 May 2002
Inauguration of the Edimar Princesse Grace Center in the presence of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco.
August 2018
Father Maurizio is sent on mission to Algeria.
2019
Mireille YOGA becomes the director of CEPG. The leadership is now 100% Cameroonian.
2022
Celebration of the 20th anniversary of CEPG.
Father Maurizio Bezzi
Founding Father
Born on October 20, 1957, in Foresto Sparso, in the province of Bergamo, Italy, Father Maurizio Bezzi joined the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME) and was ordained a priest on June 23, 1984. He arrived in Cameroon on August 9, 1987, where he began his missionary work.
Starting in October 1991, he worked alongside Brother Yves Lescanne at the Foyer de l’Espérance, a shelter for street children. In 1992, he took over leadership of the Foyer while also serving as chaplain at the central prison of Kondengui. Drawing from his experience with street youth and inspired by the educational vision of the Communion and Liberation movement, he envisioned a center dedicated to these children—a place that would offer them a second chance at life.
In May 2001, he initiated the construction of the Center for the Education and Promotion of Youth, which was officially inaugurated on May 10, 2002. He served as its founding director and guiding force until August 2018, profoundly impacting the lives of many young people and shaping the history of the Edimar Princesse Grace Center.
“The real outcome is what Brother Yves used to say: ‘To shake someone’s hand, look them in the eye, and give them 10 seconds of dignity.’ Ten seconds of dignity, over the years, tells an entire story shaped like a miracle...”
Father Maurizio Bezzi
