Please find below some practical information about life in the villages and towns where we host volunteers, such as Nyasoso, Kumba, Mbonge, Manyemen, Nguti, etc. If you have any questions that are not answered on this page, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Climate and Landscape:

There are many opportunities for walking and trekking in the beautiful local areas surrounding the villages and towns. The dry season runs from October/November to March/April, during which daytime temperatures range from 28ºC to 35ºC and nighttime temperatures from 24ºC to 30ºC. The rainy season lasts for the rest of the year, with heavy rains in July and August, and temperatures ranging from 25ºC to 30ºC. However, in the mountainous areas of Kupe Manenguba, Nyasoso, and beyond, cooler temperatures are experienced during the same period.

Pick up at the Airport

AJESH offers pick-up services from Douala Airport to any of the selected work sites. From experience, travelling by public transport from Douala to Kumba is time-consuming, uncomfortable, and not very safe, taking between 3 to 5 hours. Due to limited resources, AJESH requests payment for the pick-up in advance, which costs 100 Euros inclusive of hiring

and fuelling a car, food and drinking water during the trip. If you arrive late, you may need to spend a night in Douala, adding an extra cost of at least 61 Euros for hotel accommodation for both you and the person picking you up.

Regarding communication facilities, you can buy a local SIM card and insert it into your unlocked phone. You can purchase top-up credit from call shops/boxes. Texting home is relatively affordable, but calling can sometimes be expensive. Alternatively, you can buy a cheap phone. Internet is available in a couple of internet cafes, but it can be slow and frustrating at times.

Money

It is possible to withdraw money in Kumba using an international Visa card. However, MasterCards are not accepted. It is advisable not to bring traveller’s cheques as they cannot be changed here. It is recommended to bring Euros, dollars, or pounds in bigger notes as they can be easily exchanged. If you are planning to stay for a long time, you may be able to open an account with a standard commercial bank in any of the neighbouring towns.

Security

All volunteers will be taken to the Divisional Officer and the Gendarmerie and Police, who will ensure your safety for the duration of your stay. AJESH also has a Legal adviser who handles incidences requiring such intervention. Medical Provision Should volunteers need to see a doctor during their stay, there are available medical facilities for such services. Please bring ALL prescription, medications required for the duration of your stay.  You can also bring basic medical supplies (first aid kit,, etc.).

Suggested things to bring: – Sturdy walking shoes – Sandals – Comfortable and loose clothing – Warm clothing for cool nights – Umbrella, raincoat and rainboots – Mosquito Repellent-Extra bed sheets, mosquitoes net – Camera and torch.

Cameroon Visa: Contact the Cameroonian embassy in your home country to obtain a visa to travel to Cameroon. For the US and UK, please check here: US Citizens: https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui

UK Citizens: https://www.locate.fco.gov.uk/locateportal

Visa for Countries without an Embassy in Cameroon We would like to advise all those who are coming into Cameroon that it will not be suitable to leave your home country without a visa with the hope that you will have it in any Cameroon airports. You will most likely be denied entry. If you do not have a Cameroonian Embassy in your country, you will need your contacts at AJESH in Cameroon to prepare an application for the Director General of National Security in Yaounde, which will take about a month. They may decide to give you a visa or not. You will need to send in your scanned passport. Volunteers/interns are responsible for the associated costs. The other alternative is that volunteers from countries without a Cameroon embassy could cross over their borders to a nearby country that has a Cameroon embassy to apply for a visa.

Health Insurance:

We do not insure volunteers as we do not have liability insurance. Our association with trained medical personnel working in the large Government and Mission Hospitals, where some Americans work as missionaries, will aid us in cases of emergency. We encourage volunteers to obtain their insurance before they book a flight. Here are some websites to get more information: WHO [1] and CDC [2]. If you have any disability or illness, please contact us so that we can advise you on what to do before you book your flights.

Training Opportunities with AJESH As AJESH thrives on exchanging knowledge, we would be delighted to train you in any local skill you so desire. There is also the possibility for you to develop projects from our broad objectives and to be the founder of that particular project within AJESH, constituting your think tank. I appreciate your understanding. We are looking forward to seeing you soon. _Harrison

Nnoko Ngaaje, CEO – AJESH