Welcoming volunteers for our mental health and art therapy projects and eco farm project in Yaoundé, Cameroon

Details

• 

  Description

  I'm Sandrine, married with children.
  Originally from the west of Cameroon, I grew up in a French-speaking area, but as Cameroon is a bilingual country, I like to speak in English whenever I can.
  My favourite activity is humanitarian aid. That's why I set up the organisation in 2009. The mission is to improve the living conditions of people dealing with mental illness in Cameroon and to support their families and carers.
  The VISION is to create a network for people in need. We put them in touch with therapists and pharmacists.
  
  What our organization works on:
  
  1. Community Awareness & Mental Health Education
  We work to raise awareness about mental health and break the taboos surrounding it, especially in rural and underserved communities.
  Our actions include:
  - Fighting stigma, discrimination and social isolation faced by people living with mental health conditions.
  - Promoting positive and compassionate attitudes toward mental health.
  - Organising awareness campaigns, seminars, workshops and free psychological consultations in collaboration with mental health professionals.
  -Supporting families to better understand mental illness and improve daily life with their loved ones.
  
  2. Free Psychological Support & Capacity Building
  We aim to strengthen access to basic mental health care and build local capacities.
  This includes:
  - Offering free first-line psychological listening, guidance and psychosocial support.
  - Training community facilitators and community health workers to ensure continuity of actions on the ground.
  - Strengthening the skills of psychologists through capacity-building seminars (mid-term).
  - Encouraging psychology students to gain practical experience and work as local therapists (mid-term).
  - Creating a mental health knowledge base to support research in collaboration with universities (mid-term).
  
  3. School-Based Interventions
  We work closely with schools to support young people’s mental well-being by:
  - Organising workshops on emotions, self-esteem, psychosocial skills and well-being.
  - Creating safe spaces where young people can talk freely and feel supported (mid-term).
  
  4. Family Support & Peer Support
  Families are at the heart of the recovery of patients. We:
  - Develop family peer-support initiatives.
  - Create solidarity networks so families do not feel alone.
  - Offer guidance and emotional support to caregivers and relatives.
  
  5. Strengthening Local Health Structures
  We collaborate with:
  Health centres, hospitals and local health authorities to better integrate mental health into existing health services and improve access to care at community level.
  
  6. Socio-Professional Reintegration
  We support social and economic reintegration by helping people regain confidence, skills and autonomy.
  Our activities include:
  - Facilitating discussion and support groups that bring together people living with mental health conditions, people in recovery and their families (mid-term).
  - Introducing organic and sustainable farming practices as a pathway to healing, learning and income generation.(mid-term).
  - Providing skills training in collaboration with vocational training centres.
  - Organising practical workshops in bakery, cosmetics, farming, leadership, entrepreneurship...... to support participants in starting small businesses and becoming financially independent.
  - Donating essential equipment whenever possible to support income-generating activities.
  
  7. Partnerships & International Collaboration
  We actively seek partnerships with national and international organisations to:
  - Increase the impact of our work.
  - Strengthen credibility and sustainability.
  - Create learning and exchange opportunities for volunteers, professionals and students.

• 

  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Charity Work

  Art Projects

  Language practice

  Help with Eco Projects

  Teaching

  DIY and building projects

  Farmstay help

  Babysitting and creative play

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet
• 

  Interests

  

  Videography

  

  Sustainability

  

  Self development

  

  Fashion or beauty

  

  Farming

  

  Events & social

  

  Languages

  

  Art & design

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Music

  

  Photography

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Nature

  

  Dancing

  

  Fitness

  

  Cycling
• 

  UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve

  ...

  ...

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  What's this?
• 

  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

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

• 

  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.
  
  HOW YOU CAN HELP - WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
  We can use many kinds of support. Our goal is to offer you a meaningful, human and enriching experience, while allowing you to contribute in ways that match your skills, interests and passions.
  Activities are flexible and always discussed together. We strongly believe in co-creation, respect and learning from one another.
  We are currently looking for volunteers to support the following areas:
  
  I- HELP WITH ORGANIC & SUSTAINABLE FARMING PRACTICES
  
  We are looking for motivated volunteers to support the introduction and development of organic and sustainable farming practices as part of our socio-professional reintegration program.
  Volunteers will help us explore, adapt and introduce eco-friendly farming techniques that can be used as learning tools, therapeutic activities and income-generating opportunities for people living with mental health challenges and their families.
  Possible areas of support include:
  - Introducing organic farming principles (chemical-free agriculture, natural inputs, soil health).
  - Supporting composting techniques (household compost, plant-based compost, manure compost) to enrich the soil naturally.
  - Promoting permaculture principles (working with nature, diversity of crops, low-impact systems).
  - Introducing agroecology approaches adapted to the local context.
  - Supporting crop rotation and intercropping to improve soil fertility and reduce pests.
  - Introducing mulching techniques to conserve water, protect soil and reduce weeds.
  - Exploring natural pest control methods (plant-based solutions, companion planting).
  - Supporting seed saving and seed selection to promote local and resilient crops.
  - Introducing water conservation techniques (rainwater collection, efficient watering practices).
  - Supporting small-scale kitchen gardens and community gardens.
  - Sharing knowledge on sustainable livestock–crop integration when relevant.
  
  Volunteers do not need to be experts. What matters most is:
  *A willingness to share knowledge and learn together.
  *Creativity and adaptability to a low-resource, community-based setting.
  *Respect for local knowledge, culture and rhythms.
  An interest in using farming as a tool for empowerment, healing and autonomy.
  
  This support will contribute directly to helping the organisation to build skills, confidence and pathways toward sustainable livelihoods.
  
  II-MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION & YOUTH EMPOWERMENT
  
  Volunteers can help design and facilitate workshops for young people with the aim of:
  - Raising awareness of mental health issues and reducing stigma.
  - Developing psychosocial skills for better emotional regulation and well-being.
  - Creating safe spaces for listening, dialogue and peer exchange. (mid-term)
  - Strengthening self-esteem and a sense of belonging.
  - Promoting mutual respect and compassionate, non-violent communication among young people.
  - Community Awareness & Advocacy
  - Supporting the organisation of community mental health awareness campaigns.
  - Helping to break taboos and encourage open conversations around mental health at community level.
  - Research, Mapping & Knowledge Building
  - Supporting field research to better understand the needs and challenges of people living with mental health conditions and their families .
  - Helping to build collaborations with local and international universities to support research and documentation.
  
  III- TECHNICAL, DIGITAL & INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT
  - Helping to set up an emergency mental health helpline.
  - Supporting grant writing and funding applications.
  - Contributing to the development and improvement of our website and the national mental health platform we have created.
  - Mental Health Professionals or anyone interested on the field
  We especially welcome:
  Clinical psychologists and psychiatrists, particularly those willing to provide consultations on the ground in Cameroon and support capacity building of local actors.
  
  
  IV- ART THERAPY PROJECTS
  We also look for clinical psychologists or psychiatrists - especially those willing to come and provide consultation, art therapy., conference....... on the ground in Cameroon.
  
  We are open to ideas and initiatives. If you have a skill, a passion or a project that aligns with our mission, we would love to explore it together.
  
  Please feel free to ask for more details about our projects or visit our website. We would be happy to answer your questions and hear your ideas on how we can strengthen mental health support in Cameroon — together 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

  We can host female volunteers, couple, but males need to find their own accommodation in Yaoundé. We can of course support finding something suitable.
  
  Accommodation
  The worker will sleep in a room provided in our family home. Toilets and washing facilities are inside the house. Remember, this is Africa and you may not have the luxuries of your home country. There is usually running water, but there are occasional mains water cuts (but they don't last long, sometimes less than 24 hours) and you will learn to wash with a bucket of water and soap (it's not difficult). Clothes and sheets are also 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!
  
  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 ...

  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

  • 

    Internet access

  • 

    Limited internet access

  • 

    We have pets

  • 

    We are smokers

  • 

    Can host families

• 

  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

• 

  My animals / pets

Website Safety

Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host

+3

Feedback (10)