Work on mental healthcare projects in Cameroon

  • Favourited 330 times
  • Last activity: 3 Jan 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    I am Sandrine, married, and mother.
    Coming from western Cameroon I grew up in a francophone area but as Cameroon is a bilingual country I like talking in English whenever I can.
    My favourite activity is engaging in humanitarian aid. That's why I created the organization in 2009. Our mission is improving the lives of the mentally ill people in Cameroon, and supporting their families and carers.

    The vision is to create a network for people in need. We connect them with therapists and pharmacists.

    We work on:
    - Fighting stigma and isolation, suffered by many mentally-ill Cameroonians, especially in rural zones.
    - Promoting positive attitudes about mental health.
    - Organising seminars in collaboration with mental health professionals.
    - Helping families of the patient with living together and improving the patient's life.
    - Explaining the patient's rights - many are rejected, abused, and treated inhumanely. Some are separated from their children.
    - Driving local research on mental diseases (mid-term)
    - Empower psychology students to work as local therapists (mid-term)
    - Integration through discussion groups between patients, healed people and families (mid-term)

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Charity Work
    Language practice
    Help with Eco Projects
    Teaching
    Babysitting and creative play
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
    Help with Computers/ Internet
  • UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

    UN goals
    No poverty
    Zero hunger
    Good health and well-being
    Quality education
    Gender equality
    Clean water and sanitation
    Affordable and clean energy
    Decent work and economic growth
    Industries, innovation and infrastructure
    Reduce inequality
    Sustainable cities and communities
    Responsible consumption and production
    Climate action
    Life below water
    Life on land
    Peace, justice and strong institutions
    Partnerships for the goals
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    You will really experience the Cameroonian culture by living together with me and my family in Yaoundé and take part in our everyday life. Learn to cook our meals, speak our mother tongue etc.

  • Projects involving children

    Projects involving children

    This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

  • Help

    Help

    It can use all the help available. We want to give you a meaningful experience and allow you to help us with what you find most enjoyable.

    We can therefore discuss any activities together.

    We surely look for people that can help us with:
    - Setting up the Mobile Caravan Event in October 2023.
    - Setting up campaigns to raise mental health awareness.
    - Building collaborations with local Universities to drive research.
    - Field research to map the needs and difficulties of patients and their families. We will visit patients in their homes.
    - Setting up an emergency helpline for mentally ill people.
    - Organising seminars on mental health.
    - Helping to write grant applications.
    - Extending our website and the national website on mental health we built.

    We also look for clinical psychologists or psychiatrists - especially those willing to come and provide consultation on the ground in Cameroon.

    Please ask for more details about our projects or look on our website. We would be happy to answer further questions or hear your ideas on how we can achieve our mission more effectively.

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    French: Fluent
    English: Intermediate

    This host offers a language exchange
    Interested in learning English and I can teach French

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    We can host female volunteers but males need to find their own accommodation in Yaoundé. We can of course support finding something suitable.

    Accommodation
    The workawayer will sleep in a double bed (top bunk with mosquito net provided) in a room shared with my three children. Toilet and sanitary facilities are inside the house. Remember, this is Africa, so you may not have the luxuries of your home country. There is usually running water, but we do experience occasional days of running water cuts (but they don't last long, sometimes less than 24 hours) and you will learn how to clean yourself with a bucket of water and soap (it's not difficult). Also, clothes and sheets are washed by hand.

    Food.
    The workawayer will have meals with the family. Simple dishes are prepared including sweet potato, beans, peanut soup, rice, fried or boiled ripe plantain, corn porridge, cassava, cassava stick, some vegetables and sometimes fish or meat etc. If you want special meals, you can buy your own food and prepare it. It is inexpensive compared to Europe and US prices. We can definitely accommodate vegetarians and vegans!
    During the workdays, lunches are delivered by a lovely catering lady.

    Water.
    Tap water is used for laundry and cooking. We usually drink filtered water in the house, but you may also easily buy your own bottled water to avoid any risk.

    Security.
    The house is surrounded by a metal gate for security, and the district we live in is safe and walkable. I usually accompany my workawayers wherever they need to go (bank, post office, etc.), as it can be difficult for foreigners to navigate the taxi system alone.

    Electricity.
    Power cuts sometimes happen, but it soon returns to normal. So no worries here.

    Internet.
    We have WiFi but with limited access. It is recommended that workawayers buy a Cameroonian SIM card with an Internet package. There are several different providers of SIM cards with internet and minute plans, but CAMTEL, MTN and ORANGE are the most common.
    For computers, you can use your laptop at my workplace which also has limited WiFi access (1G per day), but there will not always be WiFi at the house.

    NB: Cameroon is mainly a cash economy. If you do want to buy your own items here (including sim cards/phone credit/clothing/food), it is important to have an ATM card that will work here so you can withdraw some money!

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    You will be at the forefront of improving lives of the mentally-ill Cameroonians. You will have a direct impact on the work of our organisation. You will see the impact of your work on a daily basis.

    You will experience a socio-cultural integration in a multi-ethnic environment and take part in the daily life of an ordinary Cameroonian citizen. You will discover our traditional recipes, music, dances etc. and by also sharing yours we will make your stay an experience of intercultural exchange.
    I am open-minded, dynamic, always joyfull and very curious to get in touch with you.

    Thank you!

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    This host can provide space for campervans.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    One

  • ...

    Hours expected

    we will plan it with the volunteer (max 25 hours)

Host ref number: 444468517412

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