Cameroon
Nicknamed 'Africa in Miniature' because of its diverse peoples, cultures and geographies, Cameroon's enticing atmosphere will not disappoint; from drum beats on the beach to safari in the far north, your passion for new experiences will be fulfilled. Volunteer abroad and discover a contagious joie de vivre among the flare of Cameroon's two official languages, French and English, as well as the 24 major native languages that echo throughout the country. Dance to tribal music and witness local artisans carving masks while eating one of many regional delicacies. Enjoy the local culture as Cameroonians share it with you.
Location in Cameroon:
Douala, a coastal francophone city with over 2 million people.
Accommodation:
Homestay with local family, at least two meals per day
Duration & Price:
Minimum of two weeks starting at 950 USD. See Cameroon fees.
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Orphanage Work & Childcare |
We always have a high demand for volunteers who are able to help us out in orphanages and alternative childcare centres in Cameroon. We work with several orphanages who care for orphaned and abandoned children. In addition, children whose families are simply too poor to care for them are looked after.
The children range in age from 0-20. Many have spent time living on the streets and have been abused or prostituted. Still others are handicapped or living with HIV/AIDS. In addition to childcare, education, and extra-curricular activities, there is a focus on teaching life-skills and trades so that all children can be self-sufficient, and be able to attain their basic human rights with dignity as adults.
In addition to orphanage work, we also work with Le Cameleon. In Cameroon, many handicapped children are literally pushed out of the school system. At Le Cameleon, children who are deaf and dumb, or are suffering from Down's syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, and other conditions are cared for. They also learn trades and life skills, and gain a basic education. In addition, Le Cameleon staff work with families who are desperate to learn how to care for their suffering children.
In general, volunteers help to care for, teach, and mentor children, or run extra-curricular programs. If a volunteer has a particular relevant skill, from soccer coaching to occupational therapy, we will assess how a volunteer's specific skills can be used to help the children.
Your schedule depends on which orphanage you are working with, and whether or not you are taking French classes. Volunteers generally spend eight hours a day, five days per week at the orphanage. Those learning French will spend three mornings per week with their French tutor.
Positions Available for this Project
Orphanage AssistantVolunteers who spend time with children, offering their love and care, play an integral role in child development. In this position you will be caring for handicapped, orphaned, and abandoned children, as well as those children living with HIV or AIDS. Please note: In this position you may be working at Le Cameleon. This is a centre for handicapped children and youth rather than a full-care orphanage. If you have a preference, please indicate this in your application.
Position Type:
Volunteer
Duration:
1 month +
When:
Year round
Language:
At least basic French or a willingness to learn
Who:
Everyone
Description of Activities:
- Dress and feed children
- Tutor children in various academic subjects
- Assist staff in the nursery school
- Mentor children
- Run extra-curricular activities
To Apply:
-
Complete online application
Summer Camp Supervisor
A summer camp is run for children who have been orphaned, abandoned or previously abused. Some are suffering from HIV/AIDS or are handicapped. The summer camp provides a positive environment in which children can laugh, learn, play and just be kids. In this position you will be working with one or two other international volunteers to lead children on excursions, run extracurricular activities, and act as mentors. Each year the camp takes place at a different location outside of Douala. The chosen location always has plenty of options for cultural and tourist excursions.
Position Type:
Volunteer
Duration:
1 month
When:
August
Language:
At least intermediate French or a willingness to learn
Who:
Everyone
Description of Activities
- Mentor children and youth who attend summer camp
- Supervise children on excursions and daytime activities
- Work with a cross-cultural team to run the various aspects of camp programming
To Apply:
-
Complete online application
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HIV/AIDS Awareness |
The suffering due to HIV/AIDS in Cameroon has been devastating. Despite widespread knowledge of the existence of HIV/AIDS, stigma and misunderstandings are still widespread. It is necessary to raise awareness about how HIV is spread and the importance of getting tested.
Knowledge is power when it comes to fighting HIV. There are many ways to engage communities. For example, public awareness teams can casually speak to people in the community about HIV/AIDS, helping to make it more acceptable in everyday conversation. And campaigns using local forms of media, such as the poster on the right, encourage people to learn more. Alternatively, peer-to-peer presentation are another effective way to help raise awareness. Presentations can be delivered at conferences, in schools, workplaces, and community centres, and to youth who are living on the streets. It is important to educate people about how HIV is and is not spread, the importance of getting tested, and the options available for all those who test positive for HIV/AIDS
Positions Available for this Project
HIV/AIDS Peer Health EducatorIn this position you will be an integral part of the local team that educates people in the surrounding communities about HIV & AIDS. There is an ongoing campaign to educate, and to bring the myths and realities of HIV/AIDS to light. You will be educating primarily through presentations to local youth and community member in schools, community centres, and other venues.
Position Type:
Intern or Volunteer
Duration:
1 month +
When:
Year round
Language:
At least intermediate French or a willingness to learn. At the beginning of your placement you can focus on learning French, but don't forget that in this position you will be teaching others about HIV/AIDS in French.
Who:
Everyone
Description of Activities:
- Become familiar with the fight against HIV/AIDS as it is taking place in Cameroon
- Identify target audiences for program delivery
- Deliver HIV/AIDS awareness as member of education team
- Assist staff in raising awareness in the surrounding community
- Assist staff in developing health education materials
To Apply:
-
Complete online application
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Community Development |
Our partners in Cameroon serve the poorest and most vulnerable people in Douala. They are continually striving to improve their work, and look to volunteers and interns to help make that happen. Community Development refers to activities that help build capacity and create the building blocks for lasting change. It encompasses a wide variety of positions.
Positions Available for this Project
Community Development InternBuild capacity on behalf of orphaned, handicapped, abandoned, and street children. The children and youth being helped are among the most marginalized children in all of Douala. In this position, you will assist in an administrative manner, and learn key skills relevant to capacity building and community development from a local perspective. There is a wide variety of tasks to be completed, which will depend on local need, as well as your skills and background.
Position Type:
Intern
Duration:
2 months +
When:
Year round
Language:
At least intermediate French or a willingness to learn.
Who:
Everyone. Grant writing, marketing, and public relations experience are considered assets.
Description of Activities:
- Write grant proposals
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Create or add to written materials (for marketing purposes)
- Assist local staff in implementing extra-curricular activities
- Translate documents from French to English
- Prepare reports
- Research and develop partnerships with national and international agencies
To Apply:
-
Complete online application
Web & Social Media Officer
Love facebook? Have basic webdesign skills? Then this position is for you. You will help local organizations to gain international exposure and potential support for their programs in Douala. Depending on your skills and background, and local need at the time of your application, you will be responsible for either creating or maintaining/updating the web presence of the organization. If you are developing a website, it is imperative that you use a free content management system (Drupal, Wordpress), as opposed to software that must be bought (Dreamweaver). You will also be expected to train local staff before your departure.
Position Type:
Volunteer
Duration:
1 month +
When:
Year round
Language:
At least basic French or a willingness to learn.
Who:
Everyone. Experience with content management systems is considered an asset.
Description of Activities:
- Design website using free and accessible content management system
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In consultation with local staff and volunteers, develop content for website
- Connect website to social media
- Update social media whilst in-country
- Translate web content from French to English
- Train local staff and volunteers on how to update website and social media
To Apply:
-
Complete online application
- If available, submit sample blogs/websites
The Need
Cameroon is bilingual, both English and French are spoken. You will be volunteering or interning in Douala, which is francophone, and is also Cameroon’s largest city. Douala is also a major trading port located on the coast, protected in the heart of a large bay.
In comparison to many other developing countries, Cameroon has a relatively stable social and political situation.
Health issues are of significant concern in Cameroon. In 2007 it was reported that 5.1% of the population had contracted AIDS. General health of the population is poor, with prevalent risks being waterborne diseases, Hepatitis A and E, Typhoid, Malaria and Yellow Fever, among others. Health Care facilities are often not sanitized sufficiently. Mortality rates are high accounting for general low life expectancy and high infant mortality. 41% of the population in Cameroon is under the age of 14; many of these children are used to help fuel Cameroon's export economy through crude oil and other petroleum products, timber, cocoa, aluminum, coffee and cotton.
Infrastructure is of particular concern in the realm of education as the increasing number of students in schools exceeds the quality of the buildings. Environmental issues include deforestation, overgrazing, desertification, poaching and overfishing.
In Cameroon, our partners focus on combating HIV & AIDS, and caring for children and youth who are handicapped, orphaned, or previously exploited or abandoned.
History
In 1472 Portuguese explorers invaded Cameroon by sailing up the Wouri River, subsequently labelling it Rio dos Camarones (River of Prawns). Later, the Fulani tribe came over from Nigeria, dislocating many indigenous peoples southwards. The migration of the Fulani peoples continued with greater urgency as Dutch, Portuguese and British slave-traders sought to capture them. Colonial exploitation traded hands briefly in 1884 from British to German rule; after the First World War the German protectorate was divided between France and Great Britain. Local revolts were repressed in the 1950's as French-controlled Cameroonians expressed discontent about colonial rule, this sentiment was widespread in Africa at the time and the Independence of Cameroon soon came in 1960.
Things to See & Do
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Ring Road (Savannah: Be sure to ask permission from the chief before entering, bring along a small gift, a bottle of whisky is customary.)
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Mt. Cameroon (Highest peak in Western Africa, an active volcano, it overlooks the Bight of Bonny, also known as the Bight of Bifra, a large bay where the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean meet, as well as a neighbouring island of Equatorial Guinea.
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Limbe (Anglophone town with many beaches, an ethical wildlife centre, and botanic gardens).
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Safari Animals: Elephants, Chimps, Gorillas, Rhinos, Hippos, Cheetahs.
Program Fees for Cameroon
All fees are in USD.
|
2 Weeks |
1 Month |
2 Months |
3 Months |
4 Months |
5 Months |
6 Months |
Volunteer |
950 |
1100 |
1300 |
1500 |
1700 |
1900 |
2100 |
Intern |
1050 |
1200 |
1400 |
1600 |
1800 |
2000 |
2200 |
Volunteer/Intern while learning French |
1200 |
1500 |
2150 |
2850 |
3400 |
4100 |
4750 |
Volunteer & complete intensive French during first 2 weeks of placement. |
1550 |
1700 |
1900 |
2100 |
2300 |
2500 |
2700 |
Intern & complete intensive French during first 2 weeks of placement. |
1650 |
1800 |
2100 |
2300 |
2500 |
2700 |
2900 |
Note:
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Standard French during placement in Cameroon consists of two hours, three times per week and is taught one-on-one.
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Intensive French is three hours, five times per week, for two weeks and is taught one-on-one.
See program fees for all countries and what they include.
