Volunteer In Cameroon

Volunteer in Cameroon: Orphanage Program (Care for Children)

You will be able to volunteer in Cameroon alongside local staff at an orphanage to provide love and care to orphans that desperately need it. The main orphanage is newly built but is basic, underdeveloped and the staff is shorthanded and in need of volunteers to help out.

These children need love, attention, coaching and assistance with education and developing their life skills. Helping provide children with the essential skills they need in life will help them on their way to successful futures free from poverty, filled with the same opportunities that other children have.

As a volunteer you will help care for and mentor the children. During the day the children will attend school, during this time you will assist with the general running duties of the home. You may also choose to spend time assisting at the local school. After school you will assist with homework and tutoring.

Volunteers are also encouraged to initiate activities such as dance, music, games, sports, arts, and crafts. This role is suitable for a caring, motivated, and self-directed person who has a love for children and a willingness to get involved.

About the Children’s Program

If you volunteer in Cameroon, you will be working in an orphanage alongside local staff helping with the running of the orphanage home. The home is basic and needs a lot of volunteers to assist with loving the children and giving them attention and help with their education. Volunteer tasks may include: cleaning, washing, getting the children ready for school, preparing meals and organizing after school activities, such as sports and games. If you are a person with a lot of energy, a willingness to get involved and a love for children, this program will suit you well.

Accommodation and Meals

When you volunteer in Cameroon to server orphans, you will be staying at one of three places depending on the site of your placement. 1) On site, in rooms in the orphanage building 2) In host-families: some volunteers might stay with the orphanage manager or with other staff members of the orphanage. Others may stay with other qualified hosts. Note that all families selected for the home-stay accommodation are rigorously selected and pre-approved. 3) Some volunteers will be staying at a shared self-contained volunteer house.

Regardless of where you stay, you will need to expect to share facilities, such as bathrooms, with other volunteers or with the host family.

Regardless of where you stay, you will be provided with three meals a day. While breakfast is basic (something along the lines of tea, bread and jam), lunch and dinner typically consist of vegetable stews or soups (often spicy) with rice and fresh fruit.

We give your host or staff (depending on where you are placed) money from your program fee for your support, food and boarding. Staying with local Cameroonians is an exciting part of our program. You get to learn the Cameroonian culture and way of life, meet local people, eat local food, speak the local language and engage in local customs and traditions. Living is basic but most of the volunteer houses have electricity. A few have running water. Very few rural places don’t have electricity. All volunteer homes have a Cameroonian host who prepares meals. Cameroonian food is tasty, diverse and volunteers can expect to experience many flavors and meals during their Cameroonian experience. If volunteers wish to eat out, there are many restaurants and diners available to choose from. Please let us know ahead of time if you have any special eating needs so that we can make necessary arrangements for you. Having said that, we want to let you know that you should not expect to eat as you normally do at your home. We will do everything we can to see that you are well taken care of, but also as a volunteer, it is important for you to be flexible.

Work Time / Free Time

When you volunteer in Cameroon, you are expected to work Monday to Friday. On the weekends, you are free to travel and explore the area. We recommend that you should take full advantage of your time in Cameroon. There will be much to see and to do.

Communication

Internet cafes are available in the main towns and you can expect to pay around US$1-2 for an hour of Internet use. The Internet is slow but it is a much cheaper option for keeping in touch with family and friends at home than telephone.

Volunteer accommodations do not have telephones, but phone booths are usually located in the cities. You can also use mobile phones to keep in contact with the outside world.

Volunteer in Cameroon: Teaching (in Rural & Urban Areas).

Many schools in Cameroon currently have overcrowded classes and a shortage of skilled teachers. As a volunteer in Cameroon, you will help to empower children by equipping them for success in the future.  When there is lack in a society, orphans and other underprivileged children are the first to suffer. You will be a part of changing their future of from a future of poverty and hopelessness to a future hope, joy and bright future through education and not just handing over aid to them.

We currently have opportunities for volunteers to help with teaching in the following:

•Nursery Schools (4-5 years old)

•Primary School (6-11 years old)

• Secondary School (12-17 years old)

Volunteers teach subjects like English, Literature, Math, science, computer skills, environmental studies, physical development, psycho-social skills, music, dance, and art.

Teacher’s Certification is not required. However, volunteers need to have adequate knowledge in the subject that they will be teaching and be able to confidently deliver a lesson that they have prepared the night before.  A high school diploma is required to teach primary school.

While it is preferable to be able to run a class independently, some volunteers who are not able to teach alone are very helpful as teacher assistants or substitute teachers. Creativity is always welcome as volunteers can suggest new teaching and learning methodology to both the local teachers and children.

Accommodation and Meals Volunteers in Change Volunteers’ teaching program will be staying at one of three places depending on the site of your placement. 1) On site, in rooms in the school complex 2) In host-families: some volunteers might stay with the head teacher of the school or with other staff members of the school. While yet others may stay with other qualified hosts. Note that all families selected for the home-stay accommodation are rigorously selected and pre-approved. 3) Some volunteers will be staying at a shared self-contained volunteer house. Regardless of where you stay, you will need to expect to share facilities, such as bathrooms, with other volunteers or with the host family.

Volunteers are provided with three meals a day. While breakfast is basic (something along the lines of tea, bread and jam), lunch and dinner typically consist of vegetable stews or soups (often spicy) with rice and fresh fruit.

Work Time / Free Time

Volunteers are expected to work Monday to Friday. On the weekends, they are free to travel and explore the area. We recommend that you should take full advantage of your time in Cameroon. There will be much to see and to do.

Communication

Internet cafes are available in the main towns and you can expect to pay around US$1-2 for an hour of Internet use. The Internet is slow but it is a much cheaper option for keeping in touch with family and friends at home than telephone.

Volunteer accommodations do not have telephones, but phone booths are usually located in the cities. You can also use mobile phones to keep in contact with the outside world.

 Volunteer in Cameroon: Farming Project

Get in touch with nature while working together with local farmers of Cameroon supporting the farming program.

The orphanage has been growing food for the children on the land that belongs to the children’s home. Thus, by selling the excess produce locally helps in generating income to support the operation of the orphanage. This will provide a backbone for the children in learning how to cultivate the land enhancing their skills hence making them self-sufficient and empower them with the necessary skills. The responsibilities include planting, watering, weeding and harvesting.

Since it is not a full-time engagement, you will be able to spend a lot of time with the children in the orphanage. This role will be apt for those volunteers with valuable experience in gardening, farming and for those with a willingness to get involved and ones with a green thumb.

The orphanage has been growing food for the children on the land that belongs to the children’s home. Thus, by selling the excess produce locally helps in generating income to support the operation of the orphanage. This will provide a backbone for the children in learning how to cultivate the land enhancing their skills hence making them self-sufficient and empower them with the necessary skills. The responsibilities include planting, watering, weeding and harvesting.

Stay/Accommodation & Meals

Volunteers in Change Volunteers’  Farming program will be staying at one of three places depending on the site of your placement. 1) On site, in rooms at the orphanage that will benefit from the farm 2) In host-families: some volunteers may stay with the orphanage manager or with other staff members. Yet others may stay with other qualified hosts. Note that all families selected for the home-stay accommodation are rigorously selected and pre-approved. 3) Some volunteers will be staying at a shared self-contained volunteer house. Regardless of where you stay, you will need to expect to share facilities, such as bathrooms, with other volunteers or with the host family.

Volunteers are provided with three meals a day. While breakfast is basic (something along the lines of tea, bread and jam), lunch and dinner typically consist of vegetable stews or soups (often spicy) with rice and fresh fruit.

Work Time/Free Time

The normal working days will be Monday to Friday, with free weekends to travel and explore the surroundings.  We are sure you will cherish your time spent in Cameroon, since there is much to discover.

Communication

You will find internet as a better option than the telephone as it is cheaper. However the internet can be accessed through Internet cafes that are available only in the cities and you can expect to pay around US$1-2 for an hour of Internet use. The Internet is slow but it is the best way to stay in touch with family and friends back home.  Alternatively, we recommend that you bring along mobile phones that can use international simcards or you could also purchase a local mobile phone which is reasonably priced. Volunteer accommodations do not have telephones, but phone booths are usually located in the cities.

Volunteer Capacity

This program accepts up to 15 volunteers per month. Because we accept volunteers year round, we cannot guarantee that you will be there with other volunteers because our volunteers come and go. We don’t have fixed dates for starting the volunteer work.

Volunteer in Cameroon: Counseling

Counseling programs are in need of volunteers. As a volunteer in Cameroon, you will counsel orphans, foster parents and guardians both in our orphanages and foster parent program. Please read the Farming and Teaching programs to get information about accommodation and living conditions as they are the same.

Volunteer in Cameroon: Other Programs

- Medical Work - 1 Week Medical Missions with Dr. Ken - Music Program - Women Education Program [work to empower widows & underprivileged women]

If you are interested in these programs, please contact us.

Volunteer in Cameroon: Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need training before you go Volunteer?

Yes. We provide training before volunteers start work.

Do you provide airport transfers to and from Local airport? Yes. Pickup from airport is included in the volunteer fee. Drop-off is not included but the fee is minimal.

Which airport should I choose? The two international airports in Cameroon are: Douala International airport (DLA) and Yaounde Nsimalen airport (NSI). Either of them will be fine. The airfare costs between the two airports are usually different. So we advice you to choose the airport with the cheaper fare. We will be able to pick you up at any of the two airports that you choose.

Do you provide orientation on arrival? Yes.

Are there any recommended vaccinations that you suggest to volunteers? Vaccinations are recommended. Please see your doctor for advise on vaccines you will need.

Is accommodation provided? Yes

Are meals included, how many? Yes, three meals. Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Do teaching volunteers need to certified? No. You don’t have to be a teacher to teach. Your highest level of education will determine what level you can teach.

Should teaching volunteers bring any teaching materials? Not required. But if you like to bring materials, that is welcomed. Please talk to your program co-ordinator. He will tell you what is needed in that school at that point in time.

Will there be a language problem? Is English-only OK, even in rural areas? Yes. English is enough.

Where is the nearest Internet access for volunteers? 20 – 45 minutes away.

Can volunteers bring mobile phone from home? How can they make phone calls home? Yes, if your phone can use an international simcard, that is a great option. Ask your local phone company. Otherwise, there are telephone booths nearby that you can make calls home for a minimal cost.

What medical facilities are nearby for volunteers? There would be a local hospital less than one hour from your volunteer site. In our main center, the hospital is less than 10 minutes away.

Can volunteers buy prescription medicines? Like for diabetes? Yes, but we encourage all volunteers who are on medications to carry enough medicines with them for the period of the volunteer program.

Are there available weekend sightseeing trips? Program fees do not include leisure. However, volunteers work 5 days per week and can visit nearby tourist sites during weekends. The volunteer is responsible for the cost of sight-seeing.

Any one in your Organization speaks English? Most of our employees speak good English.

Are there certain projects better for short-term volunteers? Yes, volunteers can do at least two months.

Do you have other volunteers on-site during the year, or would I be the only volunteer? That depends on what time you sign up to go. We don’t have fixed dates and so volunteers come and go as they are scheduled. We cannot guarantee that you would have other international volunteers there during your volunteer period.

Safety is always a common concern. Are there any precautions or information you can provide on this subject? We have not had any trouble with safety. Cameroon is a very peaceful country. However, we take ample precaution to ensure safety.