Volunteering is the process whereby an expert in a particular field makes available his expertise for the benefit of humanity. The Balikumbat council area which corresponds to the Balikumbat Subdivision is made up of five villages belonging to two ethnic groups. The Chamba (Balikumbat, Baligashu and Baligansin) and the Tikari (Bafanji and Bamunkumbit). Their mitigation pattern and settlement in the area reflect this ethnic division. The Balikumbat subdivision was created in 1992 by presidential decree No 92/187 of 1992, following the transformation of the Ndop subdivision to the Ngoketunjia Division.

The Balikumbat subdivision is made up of Balikumbat, Baligashu, Bafanji, Baligansin, and Bamunkumbit which therefore corresponds to the Balikumbat Rural Council which was created in 1996 as a special constituency. A forest garden is a sustainable agro forestry system that fulfills economic, social, and cultural needs of the individual owners and provides biological conservation, carbon sequestration, and other valuable benefits to society. The Balikumbat community agro forestry nursery will serve as a platform for community members to acquire trees so as to join in the fight against environmental degradation. The volunteer will have the privilege to learn for the practices of the forefathers of this area. He/She will also learn the history, migration and settlement of these people. The relationship between ancestral beliefs and its role on their economy as a whole. The volunteer is free to visit different tourist sites for relaxation. This opportunity is free.

As a volunteer, you would be working with the field staff teaching students different schools, the role of agro forestry in curbing environmental degradation. With farming groups you will be teaching them the importance and benefits of agro forestry. In general you may play three different roles:

1. Teaching – students in different schools;
2. Orientation of farming groups on the importance and benefits of agro forestry, the role of agro forestry in curbing climate change;
3. Organizational development – volunteers are often involved with building the capacities of community members on how to manage the community nursery, organizing fundraising events, and lobby for seeds and assistance for the construction of the community nursery before volunteering. Working on community empowerment projects, link project with other partners. 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.

Note: volunteer opportunity is free, but volunteer is responsible for all insurance and flight expenses.

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.