Give people a fish and they eat for a day, teach them to fish and they will never go hungry

 

Volunteer Programs

Best month: Jan, Feb, March    or  Sep, Oct, Nov.
Best length of stay: 2-3 month. Less than 2 month is not productive.
Cost: All included US$ 3000 plus cost of 1 or 2 lap tops.
Good idea: Bring a buddy, we rather place two of you at a time.
Fundraising: Has to be approved by AIDSfreeAFRICA and the money has to be given to AIDSfreeAFRICA.
You can ask friends an family to GIVE you money towards your trip expenses as a GIFT. This is not fundraising and you can use the money directly. It is however, not tax deductible.

Accommodation: With local family. Expect to give them US$ 30-50 per week for cooking for you, for water, electricity and other costs.
Telephone and travel: Has to be paid out of pocket.
December: is the month of celebrations, dances, customs. If you can stay for Christmas enjoy the annual dances.
Experiences: We had 8 volunteers age 20 to 64.

 

 

HOW TO become a Volunteer:

1. In the US: study our web site and tell us what you would like to do.

2. In Cameroon:

      If you are a scientist, chemist or pharmacist we love to have you volunteer in drug production and drug access programs, or teach at one of Cameroon's Universities.

      If you are a nurse, MD doctors, dentist, or in public health, we place you in an AIDS treatment center, rural or urban hospital.

      For students, young people or professions not related to the above, tell us what you like to do and we'll work with you, or you can teach in primary or high school English and Computer skills.

Send your resume, time frame, goal.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words  

 

Katie and Jennifer marching in school uniforms on Youth Day

                                          Marlene enjoying the the children while a teacher looks on laughing

tooth brushes - Ann came with useful gifts for the children

                                                                   SIDA is French for AIDS - African Action on AIDS workshop

Take Action: Opportunity to Empower

__ I would like to sponsor AIDSfreeAFRICA
__ By sending a monthly check of $_______  beginning  __________ (date)
__ Through automatic, monthly bank transfers of $________ by _____(date)
__ I will inspire 5 friends to become a sponsor by ________ (date) and receive a handmade, framed picture from the Sisters of Emanuel, Bamenda Cameroon.
 
__ I would like to sponsor some of the following projects:
__ Women’s micro credit project US$ ____________ monthly (US$ 26)
__ An orphan school child US$ _____________monthly (US$ 20/child)
__ A school teacher US$ ______________monthly (US$ 60/teacher)
__ Community Partnerships Against AIDS, US$ __________ monthly.
__ Training of scientific/production staff US$ ____________ monthly.
__ Acquisition & shipping of (donated) equipment US$ ____________ monthly.
__ I will ask my organization/church to donate US$________by_________(date).
__ I will ask my company to donate money or equipment by ___________(date).
 
__ I will do the following
 
__ Write an article in a local newspaper, by________________(date).
__ Provide speaking opportunity for AIDSfreeAFRICA, by___________(date)
__ Arrange for a newspaper/TV interview, by________________(date)
__ Ask my company to donate equipment (see list below), by__________(date)
__ I have an idea__________________________________, by_______(date)
          
Please follow up with me by ____________(date).
Please send e-mail indicating the action you want to take.
Questions? Please e-mail us.
 
If you would like to join the AIDSfreeAFRICA team or would like to make a donation, please feel free to contact any of our board of directors’ member at:   RRHodel@aol.com

For Credit card donations, please go to the home page, click on donation button.

 

Volunteers for AIDSfreeAFRICA

written by Marcy Auerbach, AIDSfreeAFRICA volunteer February 2007

Study the AIDSfreeAFRICA web site !
Study our Mission and Vision of AIDSfreeAFRICA
Be clear what your goals are. Write them down.
Be clear  of the role you are having as an volunteer for AIDSfreeAFRICA.
You travel on your own risk and no legal action can be taken against AIDSfreeAFRICA for any reason.
As a volunteer of AIDSfreeAFRICA everything you do on this trip has to be agreed upon with AIDSfreeAFRICA.
If things change while in Africa, discuss any change prior before taking action.
Do not promise anything to the people in Cameroon. They remember and later ask for whatever it was and you may have already forgotten. Instead talk to the head of AIDSfreeAFRICA if there is anything you want to do. Do not use anything from the trip for business at home or to make money in any way. Fundraisers have to be discussed and approved to by AIDSfreeAFRICA. E-mail solicitations are not allowed in most places of employment. Any fundraising letter has to be approved by AIDSfreeAFRICA prior to posting/mailing. Any contacts made on the trip are not to be used for other organizations or to establish new organizations. It is good practice to CC any correspondence to AIDSfreeAFRICA.

Healthy Traveling

Vaccinations:

1) Yellow fever (the doctor will give you a YF certificate- you need this for your arrival in Cameroon at the airport- carry this with your passport)
2) Typhoid (the shot lasts for 3 yrs, 5 yrs for oral- 4 pills over a few days)
3) Meningitis (bacterial)
4) Hepatitis A and B vaccine
5) Poliovirus booster
*It’s best to see an infectious disease-travel doctor and check the CDC website,
You can have them all done at once at a travel clinic such as passport health .
 

Medications:

-Malaria Prophylaxis
1) Lariam- take 1X week for 2 weeks before, 1X week while in Africa, 1X week for 4 weeks after return. Get it through Rolande or from a travel doctor.
2) Malarone- take 1 the day before you leave, 1X day while in Africa, 1X day for 1 week after return.
-Antibiotics- for bacterial infections, diarrhea. Get from your doctor.
 

Register with the US Embassy online

Entry Requirements

1) Passport that is valid for at least 6 months after departure (first time passport or renewal). You will need a total of 4 passport photos (2 for passport, 2 for visa). You’ll need your passport to get your visa so get this done ASAP. Takes 2 weeks to 3 months to process. You can rush it for a hefty fee.
 
2) Visa- passport, as of 2010 $141 money order- get at post office, 2 copies of the completed application, 2 passport photos, flight itinerary, letter of invitation from AIDSfreeAFRICA, self-addressed stamped envelop or FedEx. It takes 2-3 weeks
 
Or if you go in person in Washington DC
http://www.embassy.org/embassies/cm.html
phone: 202-265-8790, staff is very helpful.
 
5) Yellow fever vaccination record (you’ll get this at the doctor’s office).

Flights

www.besttravel.com
See if you can use any miles towards your ticket. I buy my tickets directly from  Swiss air via Zurich. Reliable and wonderful service. Consider donating your miles to AIDSfreeAFRICA if you can not use them otherwise.

Packing 

Clothing

-Long sleeve light clothing- pants, T-shirts, tank tops, shorts, bring several skirts (if you go to church or visit elders), you can also buy clothing in Cameroon.  Bring one nice outfit.
-Shoes- sandals, Tevas (seemed to be the worst option- crocks were great), sneakers, flip flops for the shower, one nice pair for church, or a celebration.
 
Electronics

-Digital camera
-Universal converter (Radio Shack has a good one- different parts of Cameroon will use different plugs so be ready)
-Flashlights rechargeable
 
Medical supplies
-Feminine products
-Hand sanitizer
-Sun block, moisturizer
-Benedryl (antihystamine), decongestant, aspirin, Tylenol, cough syrup and drops
-Antibiotics, band-aids
-DEET spray or lotion
-Toothbrush and toothpaste, floss
 
Etc.
-Only cash, $100 bills are prefered over $20 bills, $1500/2 months
-traveler checks don't work well. 

- you can wire some money to AIDSfreeAFRICA's African bank account.

-Books, journals, good pens that don’t dry out
-Sheet, blanket, or fleece for sleeping
-Mosquito net- must be queen size bed not the small dingy ones.
-Familiar snacks (i.e.- nuts, power bars…)
 
Gift ideas-
For women- cosmetic products- lipstick, nail polish, perfume, pens and pencils,  coloring books and color pencils if there are small children in the house. DVD movies, soccer balls. Western style clothes, books.
 
Safety
Avoid being on the road after dark. Avoid traveling alone. Allow for plenty of time to get home prior to dark fall at 6 PM. Do deposit bulk of cash and passport in safe place away from place of residence. Have copies of passport/visa and yellow fever card in separate place. When taking a taxi know where you go. Know the local appropriate price. Be alert. Cameroonians generally do not harm tourists but stealing is common. Carry little money but give it if robbed. They also ask for camera, jewelry, and cell-phones. Give it  and keep yourself unharmed. Stuff is replaceable, you are not. Call US Embassy and report any incident to the local police. Get a copy of the report.  Stay in the company of a Cameroonian you know.

 

Volunteering at the Dilicig Primary Schools  2006

From Volunteer Ann Higgins                                   

  

DILICIG Nursery and Primary school  Alakuma/Cameroon

and more was yet to come.....you would not guess from looking at our tank tops, but it was indeed Christmas.

  

Speechless but happy school principal Madam Rose looks on.                  

 

AIDSfreeAFRICA volunteers Hayley and Kathleen arrived in Cameroon April 13, 2009:  
.

They transported and handed over a CURE KIT sponsored by Ramapo Valley Rotary in collaboration with Rotary Bamenda. The CURE KIT was gratefully accepted by Dr. Christopher Anyangwe proprietor of the Alpha Royal Clinic in Bamenda. Read more....  

Their taught children at Presbyterian Youth Centre Limbe (PYC) and an orphanage in Buea how to use a computer and English.

 

    

At the end of the day everything we adults do is for the children and their future.