Bamenda and Beyond
on The Road Less Travelled (Cameroon), 22/Apr/2010 15:10, 34 days ago
So I have been in Bamenda for almost three weeks now and I have to say I have been enjoying myself greatly. The organization I am working with– The Integrated Development Foundation (IDF) – is quite an organized organization and I have found that I am able to contribute greatly. Although I was tasked with helping them develop an information management system, when I arrived they were in the process of having their partnership review with VSO and my secondment focus changed to helping them write project proposals. So over the last few weeks I have been giving training sessions on how to write letters on inquiry, and project proposals. I also developed a manual that goes through the whole process (email me if you want a copy). Wehave sent out a letter of inquiry and we are awaiting a response from the Global Fund for Children. We are almost done writing the full project proposal which focuses on providing financial and psychosocial support to orphans and vulnerable children to permit them to go to school.Enid (VSO volunteer from Uganda)Matou (IDF director)View of Bamenda from the officeIn addition to being quite busy with work I have managed to find time to meet other volunteers, play tennis and study for my upcoming GMAT exam. I found a great tennis instructor here who is on the Cameroon National team and I think I have improved a lot.Tennis instructor Eric and ball boyMy placement with ACDES in Maroua ended abruptly at the end of March with my departure for the secondment in Bamenda. There were some issues that VSO did not feel warranted a continuing partnership and so I will not be returning to ACDES. At the end of April I will be going back to Maroua to spend two weeks while my dad comes to visit. We have plans to tour the extreme north region a bit and visit some of the game parks. Then I will be back in Canada for two weeks to see friends and family. At the beginning of June I will return to Maroua, pack my belongings and move to Bamenda to start a long term placement with IDF. While being here we have identified a number of areas where I can assist them. This is Cameroon and things are likely to change quickly without warning, but this is the plan for now.