Tree planting holiday in Cameroon
| country: | Cameroon |
| departures: | Please contact us for departure details |
| price: | From £510 (14 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
An amazing opportunity to live and work in the Bamenda Highlands, a remote area of Cameroon in West Africa. This project brings us into daily contact with local communities. As we work alongside them, we'll be doing more than just planting trees, we'll be helping to preserve precious water supplies.
Who we are working with: Green Care Shisong is a locally centred environmental 'Non-Government Organisation' (NGO). Formed in 1998, with the goal of improving environmental management, their approach to conservation is "action rather than writing". They promote sustainable development in the region. Members of the organisation work on a voluntary basis because of lack of funds. Green Care's projects include developing a nursery of local tree species and planting these to protect water catchments. They also run training workshops on bee keeping and porcupine rearing, manage an environment and development library, organise agricultural technique workshops are experimenting with cane rat breeding (not rats as we know them, but a valuable protein source) and have a demonstration farm.
Where we're working: Shisong is 3km from the town of Kumbo in a remote corner of Cameroon's North West Province. This is an anglophone (English Speaking) region, whose people are amongst the friendliest you'll meet. The area is dominated by gentle rolling hills and beautiful grasslands. It is at its most attractive during the rainy season (April - October). Nearby are the Bamenda highlands and the impressive Mt. Oku and its crater lake - a visit we'll not miss out on! It is a Catholic dominated region in the fondom (kingdom) of Nso. Generally we work around 5 hours a day between 9am and mid-afternoon, with a break for lunch. Some of the sites will also require up to two hour’s trekking in hot conditions. Anticipate a relaxed and jovial atmosphere where everyone works hard to get things done. Be prepared for some flexibility in working hours, depending on weather and local working practices.
Where we'll be staying: Accommodation is in a basic but comfortable local hotel, with a bar attached. The hotel is close to the St. Elizabeth Catholic Hospital and the bar is a favourite with locals and visiting expat medical staff. Single rooms (but there are two double rooms, so ask for availability when booking if that's what you want). Showers and hot water are available on request. To save fuel we'll make sure we're organised and pre-arrange when we need it (mornings / after work etc.).
What else is there: There'll be plenty of free time see the local area and Kumbo town, or just chat to the neighbours over a beer in the evenings. Sport is big in Cameroon and if we can muster a team, we can be humiliated at football, basketball or volley ball. Included in the holiday will be trips to visit the volcanic Mt. Oku, the market in Kumbo, the local arts museum and the Nso Fon's palace - traditional ruling centre of the area’s ethnic group.
Who we are working with: Green Care Shisong is a locally centred environmental 'Non-Government Organisation' (NGO). Formed in 1998, with the goal of improving environmental management, their approach to conservation is "action rather than writing". They promote sustainable development in the region. Members of the organisation work on a voluntary basis because of lack of funds. Green Care's projects include developing a nursery of local tree species and planting these to protect water catchments. They also run training workshops on bee keeping and porcupine rearing, manage an environment and development library, organise agricultural technique workshops are experimenting with cane rat breeding (not rats as we know them, but a valuable protein source) and have a demonstration farm.
Where we're working: Shisong is 3km from the town of Kumbo in a remote corner of Cameroon's North West Province. This is an anglophone (English Speaking) region, whose people are amongst the friendliest you'll meet. The area is dominated by gentle rolling hills and beautiful grasslands. It is at its most attractive during the rainy season (April - October). Nearby are the Bamenda highlands and the impressive Mt. Oku and its crater lake - a visit we'll not miss out on! It is a Catholic dominated region in the fondom (kingdom) of Nso. Generally we work around 5 hours a day between 9am and mid-afternoon, with a break for lunch. Some of the sites will also require up to two hour’s trekking in hot conditions. Anticipate a relaxed and jovial atmosphere where everyone works hard to get things done. Be prepared for some flexibility in working hours, depending on weather and local working practices.
a day in a life of a volunteer
With the tree nursery now established, it's time to put those trees to work. Alongside Green Care volunteers and local villagers, we'll be planting seedlings from the nursery in three water catchment sites, each of which provides water to a village in the area. It's good, straightforward work with valuable results for the people. Working alongside villagers means we will have a great opportunity to get a real insight into life in this fascinating culture. There may also be opportunities to get involved with other Green Care activities, such as building beehives. Where we'll be staying: Accommodation is in a basic but comfortable local hotel, with a bar attached. The hotel is close to the St. Elizabeth Catholic Hospital and the bar is a favourite with locals and visiting expat medical staff. Single rooms (but there are two double rooms, so ask for availability when booking if that's what you want). Showers and hot water are available on request. To save fuel we'll make sure we're organised and pre-arrange when we need it (mornings / after work etc.).
What else is there: There'll be plenty of free time see the local area and Kumbo town, or just chat to the neighbours over a beer in the evenings. Sport is big in Cameroon and if we can muster a team, we can be humiliated at football, basketball or volley ball. Included in the holiday will be trips to visit the volcanic Mt. Oku, the market in Kumbo, the local arts museum and the Nso Fon's palace - traditional ruling centre of the area’s ethnic group.
volunteer travel - what's it all about?
Are you looking for an adventurous trip with a purpose, or on a gap year or career break? If you want to make a difference in some of the world’s most important conservation areas - and in community projects - then volunteer trips are for you! Volunteers tend to have a sense of adventure, and come from a range of different backgrounds and from all over the world. Edward Abbey said 'sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul'.
how this holiday makes a difference
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Eucalyptus plantations take up huge amounts of water from the soil, depriving villages of a reliable supply. Furthermore, deforestation and fires are having disastrous effects on natural forests. Without the stabilising influence of trees and roots, soil erosion is further causing disruption to water catchments. Increasing water run-off contributes to local flooding and reduces the purity of drinking water supply. The trees we are planting will not only help to reverse these physical effects, but have been selected to encourage future conservation. Many are medicinal and economic species, or favourable to bees or wildlife. When managed sustainably, this can provide income for local people: vital in a region with few other work opportunities.
Action: Making a difference is precisely what this trip is all about! We're working directly with a locally founded organisation helping them to achieve the things they've identified as of most value within the community. The trip is not an isolated project either, but an integrated part of wider organisational development (training, networking, skills-exchange) we are doing with Greencare helping them to improve their ability to achieve their aims way beyond this, and any of our projects. Economic: As a not-for-profit charity we seek external support for as much of our own administrative costs as possible effectively subsidising the cost for this holiday. As large a part as possible of your own contribution then covers the direct costs on the ground: accommodation; food; transport and materials, directly supporting the local community and economy. It also includes insurance and the costs of providing project leadership and technical support for the local organisation. Environmental: The impacts of international travel are well known. As well as providing support for anyone using alternatives to air travel, we're planting five trees and providing ongoing maintenance of these for every booking on this holiday. All tree plantings are integrated into longer-term conservation projects we are involved with in the UK and overseas. Assurance: We are the UK's largest environmental volunteering charity, with nearly 50 years experience of real practical action to improve the environments that real people live in. All our holidays have trained and experienced leaders with them who work closely with the local partner to ensure the maximum gain, and minimum negative impact of the holiday project, and that your own personal experience is the best it can be. All our holidays are group events, unlike many 'volunteer opportunities', so you can be sure you won't be left without support or direction, and that you'll be surrounded by other like-minded friends. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |