More About Cameroon

August 21, 2010

Droughts are unheard of in Cameroon, with rainy seasons throughout the country from March to October. During the heaviest rainfall (July – October), many roads are impassible. On our trips, we’ve seen young children braving overflowing rivers by clinging to makeshift rope guides in an attempt to reach their schools. As well, many of the schools are made of mud and sticks that wash away during the rainy season. Building more permanent structures within reach of remote locations is a key priority of the Obakki Foundation.

The difference between the original and new schools is striking.

The life expectancy for Cameroonians is about 50-years-old (in Canada, it is 80-years-old) and 40% of the population is under the age of 14-years-old. Death due to malnutrition, water-borne diseases and infectious disease is rampant, and combating these issues is a central concern for the Obakki Foundation.

We’ve worked to bring clean water sources to villages, where women/children were walking up to five hours to get water for the day.

The most important part of Cameroon to me, and one I hope I’ve conveyed to you through my blogs, is the beautiful people. Looking through the eyes of North Americans, they could be viewed as ‘poor’, and in some ways they certainly are. But the love and sense of community that abounds in Cameroon makes them, to me, one of the richest nations in the world.

About Cameroon

August 4, 2010

The Obakki Foundation works with organizations around the world, but anyone reading our blog knows that we have a vested interest in Cameroon, Africa. The modern state of Cameroon was created in 1961 by the unification of two former colonies, one British and one French. We work within a small portion of Cameroon and I wanted to share with you some information about this vast and beautiful country.

Cameroon is a little smaller than Spain and bigger than California, with a population of just over 19 million. People speak French, English and over 24 African languages. Yaounde is the capital, but Douala (where we always begin our trip) is the economic centre. It’s been described as “a sweltering hot mess of dusty honking traffic jams” (which is true!) but I tend to agree with the locals, who like to say that “while Yaounde sleeps, Douala moves”.