Many  children, especially girls, living in the rural areas of Africa have great difficulty gaining an education because their parents have insufficient income to pay school fees. This lack of education means that there is the danger  that many will not be able to secure jobs locally and will drift into urban areas where they are in danger of resorting to prostitution or crime for a livelihood. This project recognises the need to help young people gain an education and skills suitable for rural employment and the importance of protecting the environment that will sustain them well into the future.


This project, which recognises the importance of agriculture and the products of the natural forest in securing rural livelihoods for the long term, is focused on environmental education. This will supplement the vocational training (shoe-making, hairdressing, sewing, carving and woodwork} already being undertaken by an African non-government organisation. The goal is to establish environmental projects in 5 schools in the vicinity of the natural Kijum Ilim forest in NW Cameroon, Central Africa, which has been under pressure from population increase and farming.

Each school will have a 1 acre plot of land in which they will grow tree seeds collected from the forest and crops using organic farming methods. The education will involve a combination of practical and work and theory. Students will learn about the many uses of African tree species for water catchment protection, medicine and rural employment. They will also learn about the benefits of adopting organic methods of growing food which do not require expensive chemical fertilizers and pesticdes which harm the structure of the soil. Prizes will be given periodically to students who have shown the greatest achievement in their practical  work and/or theoretical studies.  The vegetables that will be grown on the school farms will include huckleberry, peppers, beans and carrots.

The project will be managed by the registered charity, PLANT A TREE IN AFRICA in conjunction with its Cameroon partner, non-governmant organisation CAMEROON GENDER AND ENVIRONMENT WATCH (CAMGEW). See CAMEROON NGO PARTNERS
The presenter and overall manager of this project is Mike Thomas and the field coordinator will be Emmanuel Wirsiy


Children being shown how to raise forest trees in a nursery.


Practical school work.

The project will also enable schools to gain an income which will be used to buy educational materials, make a contribution to teachers' salaries and help pay the school fees for poor families. This will build on the  schools environmental programme that has already been established. CAMGEW was involved in this programme.

The difference the project will make:
My interviews with school teachers and young farmers trained in organic methods have indicated the environmental and financial advantages of organic farming compared with conventional chemically-based methods (See video below). School staff have even told me that children have convinced their parents to switch from conventional to organic methods.

Can you help by making a donation and or becoming an 'ambassador' for the project? I have prepared to following image to assist with this and if you could distribute through your own network or create a link on your web site this would be a great help.

The funds donated for this project will  be used to establish environmental education programmes in 5 schools. The project will extend over a period of 4 months and income gained from selling produce at the end of the growing season will help sustain the programme.
Budget:
Salaries: £1,100
Running costs: £700
Prizes for children: £100
Working tools 50 cutlasses and 50 hoes): £300
Snacks for children during outdoor lessons: £400
25 watering cans: £200
Administration: £200

TOTAL £3,000

The funds will be used to expand an existing schools programme in the NW Region.  Any funds received in excess of the orignial target will be used to expand the programme further.

This programme involving two NGO partners, CAMEROON GENDER AND ENVIRONMENT WATCH  and STRATEGIC HUMANITARIAN SERVICES , has already been introduced into many schools in the rural areas of the NW Region. The current project location has special significance because of its proximity to an area of natural forest containing many rare species of plants and animals including the Bannerman's turaco. Obstacles to the success of the project are not expected, but some traditional practices which threaten wildlife will take time to change. For example the feathers of this bird have been used by traditional chiefs for  conveying titles.  I have explored the idea of using artificial feathers for this purpose.