Category: Geen categorie

Emergency assistance to Cameroon

A few months ago we reported on the conflict that is going on in Cameroon. Because we’re not going to stand on the sideline, we switched to emergency aid. We will explain our choice in this blog.
What’s going on in Cameroon?
A group of people in Cameroon want to become independent from the Cameroon Republic. They are fed up with years of corruption and discrimination. This has been going on since the sixties, but since three years there has been protest and the conflict is escalating. The crisis in the country is getting worse every day, resulting in many acts of violence, deaths and injuries.
What are the consequences of the conflict in Cameroon?
Villages have been burned down and many villagers – including those of the LiveBuild cooperating – are on the run and are currently living in communities in the “bush”. These “Internally Displaces Persons” (IDPs) are therefore refugees in their own country. Among them are children, elderly people, pregnant women and sick people. There is no access to medicines or clean (drinking) water in the bush.
In consultation with our local partners, it has been decided that we will stop working on all our projects. This is to guarantee the safety of our partners, the employees of the water company and the inhabitants of the villages. Our project partners and project coordinator stay in close contact over the telephone with the people involved in the projects. In this way, we stay informed of developments in their villages. We hope to be able to start our projects again as soon as the situation is stable.
What does LiveBuild do?
normally we support structural projects that have an effect on the longer term. This way, we ensure that the projects are adopted by the villagers, and that the actions we undertake are sustainable. However, after long consultation, we have decided that it is not an option to do nothing. We want to do something for “our” villages at this moment.
That is why we are currently providing emergency assistance to these IDP’s in the South West of Cameroon. We do this in the form of non-food items such as medicines for malaria and flu, painkillers, bandages and hydration salt. A first charge of €5000 has now been successfully delivered to a few camps. Quite a task, given the road blocks, “Ghost town Mondays” (days when everything must be closed) and other travel restrictions.
Fortunately for this project we can also count on our regular partners and our project coordinator. They have ensured that our contribution, together with that of local NGO’s such as the Center for Economic Development (CED), Farming and Animal Husbandry Project Cameroon (FAHP CAM) and Investing in People Worldwide (IPW) has made an impact.
And now what?
We are not only struggling with our role as LiveBuild, but also with how we communicate about this in the Netherlands. We have always tried to create a positive image of Cameroon, where the self-sufficiency and entrepreneurship of the local communities can be seen. We find it difficult to show the dependency and reliance on help caused by this conflict.
However, this is also part of open and honest communication, so we will do our best to keep you informed in the coming period.

Projects are temporarily on hold

Ever since the 1960’s, when the oil and cocoa rich English regions were added to the predominantly French-speaking republic, there are subdued tensions in Cameroon. Many people in Cameroon have grown tired of the long years of corruption and discrimination. Since 2016, the situation is getting more and more out of control and more citizens have become victim of deadly violence.
The crisis is getting worse by the day, with more acts of violence, injuries and deaths as a result. It is expected that the violence will escalate even more with the presi- dential elections on 7 October 2018.
As LiveBuild is working closely with people in Cameroon, we are also facing this difficult situation. Due to the violence and general insecurity, our project partners cannot travel to the projects anymore.
The villages we work in are often abandoned, as the inhabitants fled out of fear. In consultation with our local partners, we therefore decided that we will put on hold all our projects for now. This to safeguard our partners, the employees of the water company and the inhabitants of the villages.
Our project partners and project coordinator stay in close contact with the people that are involved in the projects. This way both they and we can stay informed about the developments in the villages and the projects. We hope we can start again as soon as the situation al- lows us to. Till then we will keep you updated.
If you have any questions, please contact us at kameroen@livebuild.org

Eva in Cameroon: eating, clubbing and the fashionstyle in Cameroon

Two weeks ago, our LiveBuild volunteer Eva told you about her live in Cameroon (and how she got water for example) in this blog. Today she’ll tell you about the rest of her week.
Wednesday, January 24
The day starts, as usually, early. At 8 am we get up and I make some bread with fried eggs for breakfast. There is still no running water so that means we have to fill the water bottles and carry them home every day; luckily it’s close by. Besides that the morning is quiet. Normally I would go to the LiveBuild office in Utrecht on Wednesday. I try to maintain that rhythm. So at 10 am I set off to Eyole’s office, one of our partners who has the Centre for Environment and Development in Buea. I write for this blog post and update my administration. A quiet day. At least if you don’t count the racket from the road next to the office. I work til 4 pm and go home to change.
Delicious food and stunning views
I’m meeting some friends at IYA at 6 pm to eat something. ‘IYA’ means ‘mother’. The restaurant is located at a great location with views of the beautiful gardens and Mount Cameroon. The restaurant is cosy, warm and, as one of the only places in Buea, well decorated. Everywhere you look you see art that’s made in Cameroon. The employees are friendly, something that’s not always a standard in restaurants.
Mojito
We order two avocado salads  and one tonga roll, chicken filled with shrimp and spices in tomato sauce served with rice. The cocktails here are delicious so I order a Mojito. We toast to live, while we watch the sunset and the changing colours of the sky behind Mount Cameroon.
I’ll definitely come back to this lovely place that really feels like coming home to your mother. So if you’re ever in Buea, Cameroon this is a must
Food IYA
Friday, January 26
Tonight we’re going out. We meet at 22.00 at Twist. This is a restaurant/club on the fourth floor in the centre of Buea with a fantastic view. During the day it’s a little more quiet and if you’re lucky you have an amazing view of the surrounding area and you may even see the sea nearby Limbe and Tiko. While you’re enjoying this view you can see the life in Buea pass by: the yellow taxis which are always honking  to pick up new customers. They drive to the busy parts of the city: Malingo, Classquaters, Buea town or Mile 17. in the background you can hear music from Cameroon and Nigeria. Mr Leo from Buea with his new hit Partou or one of Davido’s hits. I think it’s enjoyable, joyous music.
Kameroen
At night the music volume in the club gets turned up, Water pipes appear and the youth come here to meet and drink a cocktail (slippery nipple or sex on the beach). We share a cocktail that is pretty strong and talk about various topics: The protests, life at university and music.
Nightlife fashion
Around 1 am we go to club Ebony. It’s normal here to reserve a table beforehand with a bottle of alcohol. Every group sits and dances around their own table instead of on a dance floor. Such a shame cause they’ve got some moves here!
In case you think there is no fashion style in Cameroon: You’re wrong. Especially young people in Buea know how to dress and sometimes it’s a competition for who does it best. Especially girls go all out. From tight dresses that expertly show their figure to high heels, jewelry and a different hairstyle every week.
The man are no stranger to some vanity as well. When you walk in club Ebony you come across a huge mirror where everyone stands in front of taking selfies. All kinds of poses pass by. Those photos are subsequently shared on facebook.
 The whiteman (that’s what you’re called as a white person) is often laughed at because of his style. You see a lot of tourists passing by in big safari trousers, wide beige or brown shirts and dirty shoes, or even worse: hiking shoes. Fine for a hike of course but not for a club. I wear a dress but without heels so i can dance a lot. At 4 am we call it a day. It was an amazing night!
 
 

How the tree nursery returns the watersource to its original state

There is not just regard for the watersystems in Cameroon but also for the area around the watersource. That is why we started a project focused on water, forest and landscape conservation. This way the watersources will be protected by plants and trees. Our wypke will explain how this green approach works in short.
A tree nursery was constructed in Manganjo and at this moment 3000 little trees are growing there. These native trees are good for the quality of the water and in addition they hold the water. The  seeds for these trees are collected by an expert botanist in the nearby Mount Rumpi National Park.
tree nursery
The seeds are cultivated in the tree nursery. 3000 seeds are individually planted in polythene bags. After a couple of months the botanist, with help from the villagers, replants the little trees in the area around the watersource. This way the area is brought back to its original state. Not only is this beneficial for nature but also for the water supply of the village.
nature
The tree nursery is part of a project focused on water, forest and landscape conservation. It is important to have a foundation in the local village and to train the locals. Not only in maintenance but also in the production of plants and animals and honeybee keeping.
This way, in collaboration with local parterns CED and FAHP Cameroon, the villagers, the farmers and the Dutch partner Rain Netherlands we work on alternative methods which are essential for the preservation of clean and running drinking water and thus for the overall health.