Cameroon

Volunteering in Cameroon

Each year in Cameroon, France Volontaires has approximately:

60% International Solidarity Volunteers (VSI – Volontaires de Solidarité Internationale)
9% volunteers under Civic Service status
3% interns
26% International Solidarity Work Camps
Senior volunteers

Present in Cameroon since 1964, our team supports volunteering stakeholders and volunteers in defining and accomplishing their mission, helps them with their administrative procedures and informs them about the country.

Our services

Reception and personal advice
Networking
Stakeholder information
Guidance
Putting people in touch with each other
Specialised training
Welcome and information sessions
Monitoring and support
Promotions of volunteering experiences/practices
Themed workshops and discussion time
Internet access, documentation
Addresses, tips and newsletter
Annual volunteer meeting
Volunteering Cocktail

Our partners

Volunteer host organisations in Cameroon

There are many volunteer host organisations in Cameroon. Here is a non-exhaustive list of some of the host organisations:

National Museum (C2D), Ministry of Basic Education (C2D), ACEFA – Bafoussam (C2D), La Route des Chefferies, Sosucam Foundation, Bishopric of Sangmelima, Collège François-Vogt, IECD – European Institute for Cooperation and Development, Diocese of Obala (CODASC), SGMC Foundation, La maison de l’Artemisia, Solidarité Technologique, Tockem, etc.

The dispatching organisations that are members of France Volontaires include:

The European Guild, the DCC, FIDESCO, CEFOD, DEFAP, Planète Urgence, IFAID, etc.

Settling into Cameroon

Identity card

Official name: Cameroon
Type of regime: Republic
Head of State: Paul Biya
Political capital: Yaoundé
Economic capital: Douala
Main cities: Yaoundé, Douala, Ebolowa, Bafoussam, Bertoua, Ngaoundéré, Garoua, Maroua, Buea, Bamenda
Official language (s): French and English
Spoken language (s): Bassa, Sawa, Fulfuldé, Douala, Ewondo…
Currency: CFA Franc/€1 = ± 655 FCFA
Population: 26.55 million inhabitants (2020)
Literacy rate: 80% (according to UNICEF)
Religion(s): Christian, Muslim, Animist

(Sources: demographic data: UNFPA/UNDP; economic data: DGTPE (Treasury and Economic Policy Directorate General), European Union)

General presentation

Cameroon is located in Central Africa, at the bottom of the Gulf of Guinea. It is bordered to the north by Chad, to the east by the Central African Republic, to the south by Congo, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, and to the west by Nigeria.

Cameroon has great geographical diversity characterised by forest, savannah and mountains and a population comprising more than 240 ethnic groups.

Its geographical and cultural diversity has led Cameroon to be often referred to as “Mini-Africa” or “all of Africa in one country”. This geographical diversity is characterised by a wide variety of vegetation:

In the north-west, a long volcanic chain extends from Mount Cameroon (4,070 m), which overlooks the Atlantic coast.
To the west, there are wooded hills.
In the centre, there are high-altitude pastures in the Adamaoua massif, which rises to 2,500 m.
In the north are vegetation and savannah landscapes as well as a mountain range (Mandara Mountains) on the Nigerian border.
In the south are tropical forest and swamps.

With an estimated growth rate of 3.5% in 2021 and accounting for approximately 40% of CEMAC’s GDP, Cameroon is the economic powerhouse of Central Africa. Its Atlantic coastline facilitates the flow of trade for many countries such as Chad and also the Central African Republic. In addition to this geo-strategic advantage, and unlike its neighbours, Cameroon has begun to diversify its economy by exploiting the numerous energy, mineral, fisheries, forestry and agricultural resources that make up its potential.

Particularly rich in natural resources, Cameroon is a world leader in the production of commodities such as cocoa, coffee, palm products, bananas, cotton, maize, cassava, tobacco and rubber.