Hi everyone!

I would like to bring your attention to a non-profit grassroots organization in Cameroon- the Cameroon Association of Active Youths (CAMAAY). CAMAAY’s mandate focuses on advocacy, educational, charity and development activities in a region of nearly three million people. CAMAAY’s vision and mission is to assist Cameroonian communities using the expertise and connections of local people in order to provide reasonable and sustainable assistance to youth and their families. CAMAAY wants youth to reach their full potential and works with local and international stakeholders, volunteers and organizations to raise funds and organize projects to provide short and long term relief, protection and assistance.

CAMAAY aims to provide humanitarian aid and protection to Cameroonian communities and internally displaced people (IDPs) affected by the country’s current conflict and crisis. Separatist violence between the North-West and South-West regions along with Boko Haram insurgency have left children with the inability to attend school and communities without access to basic necessities and services.

Specifically, CAMAAY focuses on the following development areas:

Education – providing supplies and assistance with curriculum.

Security, Protection and Shelter – donations are allocated to specific families and communities that have approached CAMAAY in dire need.

Food Security and Nutrition– teaching students about nutrition and gardening methods, running agricultural workshops to support women in rural areas.

Women Empowerment -supporting local women initiatives, businesses, cooperatives and farms.

Our recent projects include:

The Child Sponsorship Program: This can be done for as little as $25 USD per month. 90% of the donation goes towards the children, while 10% covers the operational costs.

CAMAAY’s Dynamic Women: CAMAAY supports this group of women with their agricultural work and outputs. Donations have helped this group of women rent a plot of land, purchase seeds and tools. CAMAAY will also run workshops and support groups for the Dynamic Women pertaining to motherhood, parenting, etc.

Connecting Classrooms and Communities: This program that provides students around the world with the opportunity to write letters and communicate with pen pals in Cameroon. After schools and teachers sign up for the program, CAMAAY partners international schools with schools and students in Cameroon. I was managing this program last September and it has currently been put on hold due to COVID-19. This program will hopefully be running during the fall academic year (September 2020) as we try to move towards digital forms of communication. Click here to read more about this program.

Day Care Centre: Provides care and services to children and orphan children in need.

COVID-19 Initiative: CAMAAY’s Global Giving fundraiser has provided children in need with masks and has helped CAMAAY purchase sanitation supplies. CAMAAY has also been dedicated to COVID-19 awareness, precautions and safety as seen on our instagram page and website.

CAMAAY accepts donations for all of the activities and causes listed above. As CAMAAY is a grassroots and small non-profit organization, the funds do reach the people directly and make a difference. This is perhaps one of the most important traits of this organization, and why I decided to donate funds from my birthday fundraiser to helping women and children in Cameroon.

I am also thankful to be appointed CAMAAY’s Volunteer Resource Person. If you have any questions or inquires about how you can help CAMAAY, please contact me at the following email address: gabby.richardson@camaay.org

Thank you!!

Website: https://www.camaay.org/about-us/