Community Agriculture and Environmental Protection Association (CAEPA) is a non political, non profit making body. It is an educative and a research body that was born in 2007 and legally registered in 2009 with the mission to enhance community health, Agriculture and to enhance environmental protection within Cameroonian communities and beyond.

In the domain of health CAEPA has been carrying out sensitizations, mobile screening, care and support, nutrition, reproductive health counseling for HIV/AIDS in communities. 325 sensitizations have been carried out in 2 divisions of the North West Region, with at least 25,452persons sensitized on HIV prevention, transmission and treatment. From 2007 till date 4 voluntary confidential counseling and testing (VCCT) have been conducted, enabling 1570 persons know their status. 200.000 male and female condoms have been distributed to promote safer sex reducing the spread of HIV. The overall goal of this opportunity is to raise awareness and mobilize the population to join the fight to kick out HIV/AIDS. The North West Region is topping the list with those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, ranking first with 8.7% with a 79% prevalence rate of ages less than 40 years.76228 people live on antiretroviral treatment in Cameroon by December 2009, with14000 people in the North West region.

The following activities amongst others will be carried out in order to contribute to the achievement of the overall goal: Fons, teachers and youths leaders will be trained from Balikumbat sub-divisions to assist in spreading the message on HIV/AIDS. A functional network will initiated amongst 30 youth groups from Balikumbat sub-division and newsletter contributions from youths will be produced and distributed to youths, the public and other partners. The network will beneficial as there will a lot of information sharing between youths and the entire public. Traditional healers will be trained on HIV/AIDS so that they could improve on those traditional practices that promote the spread of the virus.

As a volunteer, you would be working with the field staff carrying out sensitizations on HIV/AIDS in different schools, youth groups, church groups, collaborate with field staff in the organization of mobile voluntary counseling and testing exercise (VCCT) for HIV/AIDS. Teach people living with HIV/AIDS to accept their status. Initiate income generating activities for people living with HIV/AIDS to improve on their living conditions.

Volunteers will be involved with building the capacities of community educators on HIV/aids, care, support and treatment literacy. They are expected to organize fundraising events, and lobby for assistance to support the HIV/AIDS orphans supported by the organization before coming and during their stay in the project area as a commitment to render help to the infected and affected population. Personal initiatives will be appreciated. Volunteers are also free to initiate new projects as far as they will benefit the community.

The volunteer will have to get in touch with the coordinator of CAEPA for all necessary letters regarding the facilitation for visa acquisition. The coordinator will pick up the volunteer at the Douala international airport upon arrival to the project site. The volunteer will pay pick up fee of 80 Euros. This will be the cost of hiring a vehicle since the organization has not got one. Hotel bills if volunteer will arrive late. Feeding and other light cost associated with the transportation to the project site

Housing

A good house with electricity in a very conducive environment is 25000 FRS a month. There are other low quality houses. Cost of Living: Below is an estimated sketch of the cost involving volunteering in Mezam Division,Bamenda- Cameroon.

1. Cost of food per week. It is estimated that an international volunteer could spend 5500 Frs. CFA per week, which is about 13 US dollars. This is the highest amount each volunteer could spend on food per week. Sometimes CAEPA will subsidize with foodstuff.

2. Cooking. A volunteer could decide to cook for him or herself. He or she has to buy the kitchen utensils worth 30 000 FRS, gas, gas plate etc, that is about 71 US dollars. If he or she has to employ a cook the payment per month will be 25000 FRS, if it is couple it will be 30000 FRS. 25000 FRS is about 59 US dollars.

3. Cleaner. A volunteer, if he or she so wills can employ a cleaner, who cleans the house and surrounding twice a week, washes his or her clothes twice a week at 10 000frs per month.

4. Transportation. Weekly transportation’s are worth 3000 FRS, about 7 US dollars. It can also go up to 5000 FRS to 10 000 FRS if the volunteer visits other places, or other towns like Ndop. The transport fare from Bamenda to Ndop and back is about 4000 FRS including food money and taxi money. It should be noted that the value of a dollar now with the CFA francs is 420 FRS to one dollar.CAEPA will have to play its part to support and make the opportunity a success by subsidizing in some areas.