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

Volunteer Program

Teach computers in the English speaking part of Cameroon.
Best month: Jan, Feb, March    or  Sep, Oct, Nov.
Best length of stay: 2-3 month (3 month is a trimester) Less than 2 month is not productive.
Cost: All included US$ 3000 plus cost of 2 lap tops.
Good idea: Bring a buddy, we will place two of you at a time.
Fundraising: Has to be approved by AIDSfreeAFRICA, 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 a fundraiser and you can use the money directly. It is also not tax deductible.

Accommodation: With local family. Expect to give them US$ 10 per week for cooking for you, for water, electricity and other costs.
Telephone and travel: Is expensive and has to be paid by use on a as needed base.
December: is the month of celebrations, dances, customs. If you can stay for Christmas or arrive towards the end of December and enjoy the annual dances.
Experiences: We had 6 volunteers age 20 to 64 ! They want to come back - all of them.

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 happy

Ann distributing donated tooth brushes and tooth paste

SIDA is french for AIDS - African Action on AIDS workshop

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 practise 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, http://www.cdc.gov/travel/
Can have them all done at once at a travel clinic or break it up into 2 visits.
 

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 from Rolande or 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, $98 money order- get at post office, 2 copies of the completed application, 2 passport photos, flight itinerary, recent bank statement (?), letter of invitation from Cameroon organization, self-addressed stamped envelop or FedEx. It takes 2-3 weeks
 
Or if you go in person in Washington DC on Mass. Ave.- their office is open 11am-1pm for visa application drop-off. It takes 2-3 days to process).
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.

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 rechargable
 
Medical supplies
-Feminine products
-Hand sanitizer
-Sunblock, moisturizer
-Benedryl, decongestant, aspirin, Tylenol, cough syrup and drops
-Antibiotics, band-aids
-DEET spray or lotion
-Toothbrush and toothpaste, floss
 
Etc.
-Only cash, $100 bills(no $20 bills), $1500/2 months
-bring $500 in travelerchecks as back-up in case one gets robbed….
-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, coloring books and color pencils if there are small children in the house.
 
Safety
Do not be on the road after dark. 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 kill, so don’t be too afraid. Give your money, camera, jewelry, cell-phone 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.  Take a Cameroonian with you.

Learn more about AIDSfreeAFRICA:

Become a volunteer. To apply study this web site, send your CV and a brief statement why you want to volunteer with us, what you want to do, when you want to do it and for how long, what you want to get out of your volunteer experience, what you promise to do when you come back to the US and how you will promote the organization.