Organization Name: Better World CameroonContact: konkankohfamily@yahoo.co.uk
Website: Better World Cameroon
Tell Us About Your Organization
Better World Cameroon was founded in 1996 in Yaounde, Cameroon. The aim is to work on the following projects:
- Developing local, regenerative agricultural strategies
- Using Permaculture to enhance the ecosystem
- Designing a transferable African Ecovillage model that encourages youth entrepreneurship and female empowerment.
- Promoting local government action that drives innovation to ensure resilient food and water systems in a self-organized cultural heritage system.
- Creating social businesses and cooperatives to sustain work in the local community.
The work of Better World is entirely based on a voluntary basis and supported by a local board of directors. The individuals that make up the organization are all deeply committed to developing opportunities for local youth in sustainable projects based on Permaculture principles.
Location
Better World Cameroon has projects in multiple parts of the country. The first project started with Ndanifor Permaculture Eco Village. It came to life after the founder worked with unemployed graduates to identify a need. He sought government support and networked with international stakeholders and NP Eco Village was able to come to life.
The NP Eco Village is a full-featured eco-lodge and learning center dedicated to showing local craftsmanship and local materials. BWC trained young local builders in ecological practices throughout its construction while incorporating local craftsmanship into the design. It has become a safe space for women and youth and was also designed to be a safe space for volunteers and facilitators of the BWC program.
BWC is located between Yaounde, Douala, and Bamenda, so it’s a great destination if you want to combine some exploration with your volunteering. The lake at Mbalmayo is one of the most popular in the country and definitely something you shouldn’t miss visiting in Yaounde! Douala has some of the country’s best beaches, including Limbe, made of black sand.
Vision and long term objective
The vision of Better World Cameroon is sustainability using an eco-village projected-based concept. The goal to achieve this mission is by hands-on education that is oriented toward organic agriculture that uses indigenous knowledge and fair trade, all whilst considering principles of innovation through volunteering and youth exchange.
Better World Cameroon is dedicated to creating a social movement that will help end youth unemployment whilst enhancing sustainable development in Africa.
Who We Are
Better World was founded by Joshua Kankankoh, a youth development activist who founded the NGO with the Ndanifor Permaculture Eco Village project.
Our underlying values are the following:
- Environmental improvement and improved hygiene and sanitation.
- Capacity building.
- Skills for employment.
- Biodiversity conservation of knowledge.
- Global solidarity.
How can people help/volunteer with you?
Image taken from Better World CameroonVolunteers are a huge part of Better World Cameroon’s development.
As a volunteer your role is shared in mentoring each other, to learn valuable transferable skills that better the organization and your own personal development. It’s also possible to learn and practice sustainable farming principles at Ndanifor Permaculture Eco-Village.
If you have a particular interest in a career in Permaculture, then this could be a great volunteer project for you. Better World Cameroon is the countries Permaculture center. Some of the best local people in the field are working with Better World.
As an international volunteer, Better World provides information, training, and activities tailored towards the personal development of young Cameroonians, and your role is very involved from the get-go. Volunteering requires a great amount of leadership, outreach, and communication skills. If you’re not sure that you fit the bill for this, it’s possible to participate in their online questionnaire as a form of guidance.
BWC typically recommends a stay of 2-3 months to get the most out of the experience and have a chance to accomplish all your project goals. It’s quite easy to attain a 90-day Visa which is a great start for this.
If you come and volunteer with Better World Cameroon, they provide housing support in Bamenda and even have some guest houses. If these are occupied, they can offer support in sourcing an alternative solution.
What makes you the proudest about your organization?
In the worlds of the founding director Joshua Konkankoh himself, when asked what makes him proudest about his organization, he said the following:
“I am proudest about Better World Cameroon having created the sacred matrix through which the reality of a global culture is understood by the west.”
Better World Cameroon has successfully created a platform in which Permaculture and a sense of care for the environment have directly impacted and benefited the lives of the local youths that live in the areas of impact. It is a truly inspiring project where sustainability is at the heart of its offering and an inspiration to all.
If you would like to get involved with Better World Cameroon, feel free to get in touch using the contact details above.