Ifa's visit this year was successful overall. The children we have been supporting since 2001 are growing up fast and now several of them are managing to support themselves through a trade or vocation. Mary (14) is doing very well at school and was very proud to be in the top ten in her class of 75 in the summer exams. She will be studying for her GCSEs over the next two years and is very keen on English and R.E. Misha(10) is now living with his brother,Eyo, who is building up a healthy business,cultivating and selling plantains on a section of his mother's old farm and doing occasional jobs as a mechanic and driver. Arrey (16)has now enrolled at a secondary school in Kumba to do A levels and is in much demand as a 'healer' and prayer leader. Nawa has completed school at 14 and would like to learn a trade as a seamstress. Emmanuelle is training to be a church minister, Ellisha is still at secondary school,in year 10 and Levis is working as a carpenter in Kumba. We do not know about the whereabouts of Hughes who has cerebral malaria and has mental health problems; he is known to go 'walkabout' but had not been seen for some time around Kumba, his home town.

We provided support in schooling, training, clothing and accomodation for all these resourceful, wonderful, young people where necessary and will continue to do so until all are able to manage for themselves.

The visit to Ekondo Nene village was beset by problems due to the terrible state of the roads under torrential rains. As last year,there were oil trucks, taxis and motorbikes stuck in the mud, impassable swollen rivers and consequent delays and detours. However, Ifa managed to reach Ekondo Nene and convene a meeting with villagers and elders at which the details of continuing maintenannce and clearing of boundaries was hammered out; families with fewer able-bodied members being given less to clear etc. It was agreed that the two forest rangers could be employed to clear any section not covered by the families and that we would contribute towards the cost of this.

News form Hotpec is encouraging, whilst worrying. More very young children and babies are being found abandoned or brought by grandparents who can no longer cope. Hotpec Orphanage has responded courageously and Ifa was once again impressed by the tremendous warmth and enthusiasm of the key workers and volunteers who, under Beatrice's unflagging leadership, provide such a caring environment with so few resources. He noted in particular the sense of family and care towards each other which the children display. A new wing has been built to house the increasing numbers of children coming into care and we have contributed another supply of building materials to complete work on a further extension to the dormitory. We would like to take books and play materials on the next visit, as Beatrice says there is a lack of books and stories to read, particularly to the younger children.

35 families received mosquito nets in the townships of Ekondo Titi and Lobe town and we would like to provide more next time, as this is such an important factor in the prevention of malaria. A number of individuals were also helped with medical care to treat basic infections needing anti-biotics.

Worrying news is that much of the rainforest north-west along the coast and towards the Mt Cameroon Conservation project and the Kirop project is ear-marked for exploitation by american and other multi-national companies. The reason for this lies in the oil-rich seam running along the Gulf of Guinea which is attracting a high level of interest from powerful companies and individuals and has meant that land issues have become highly political.

This year's Cameroon Meal fund-raiser was a great success. We raised £900 from the  meal tickets and raffle. Ifa, Frankie, Rosie, Heather and an enthusiastic team worked hard to produce an array of traditional dishes and there was a real buzz in the beautifully decorated Dartington village hall as people met up and chatted with new and old friends. Thank you to all who came and contributed; Jan and Luke from Wellington, Fembe, Babs, Evie, Ben in particular who helped with preparingand serving food and clearing up afterwards.  Also, thanks to all who donated gifts and art works for the raffle.

This is an invitation to eat and party with friends and family at Dartington Village Hall on the 16th July from 7p.m.onwards. Tickets for a meal with dessert and non-alcoholic drink are £7.50. There will be a raffle and music. Please come along and help people and forest in Cameroon.
R.S.V.P. to Rosie and Ifa on 01803 868384 if you are interested and book your meal.

Our fund-raising effort in May was very successful, raising £700 towards this year's visit to Ekondo Nene.
Thank you to all those who helped on the day and to those who contributed jumble and cakes. It was fun too!!

Spring is here and it's time to start fund-raising for Ekondo Nene Rainforest projects!
This year we need to raise £4,000 for maintenance of boundaries of conserved forest land, support of Hotpec Orphanage, distribution of mosquito nets and provision of ongoing education support and maintenance for a number of children.
Ideas so far include: A jumble sale at the Methodist Church Hall, date to be confirmed , a fund-raising breakfast, a ceilidh, a salsa evening, an african meal with entertainment, a musical cabaret, and a talk by Ifa. All to be arranged and dates confirmed . Please get in touch if you can help in any way!
Rosie-01803868384

We made it!!!£5000 target reached!!!
Thanks to donations and support from family,friends and Totnes community the land registration project in Ekondo Nene has been completed successfully and children in our care assisted in schooling.
Ifa returned on 18th August from another challenging 4 week visit to Ekondo Nene during the rainy season during which he assisted in sinking concrete pillars in the rainforest to mark boundaries for land for registration and completed the required legal processes. It is now illegal to cut down any timber or exploit the land in any way and villagers, particularly the women were delighted that they will still be able to collect nuts, fruits, roots and kindling from the area. Other villages also offered land for registration for the same purposes and we will be looking into sources of funding which may be available for this.
Mary is doing very well at school and reports highlight what a resourceful, cheerful and popular child she is. She seems to know everyone at the Baptist boarding school of 800 by name and has a range of friends who have become her family. Eyo is recovering from malaria and typhoid and has worked the land in Mbonge formerly worked by his grandmother and is making a living from growing plantains and doing small mechanic jobs around the area. Misha has recovered movement in his arm and grown a lot taller. Arrey has become a christian and is hoping to become a minister one day. Emamanuelle is still teaching, Nawa is preparing for her 3rd year at secondary school, Levis is still crafting pots and Hugo still needs care as he suffers from the after effects of cerebral malaria. A number of other children were helped with small donations towards schooling, medicine or clothing and Ifa contributed a number of sacks of sand for building an extension at Hotpec Orphanage. Grace Mesembe and the Catholic Women's League were delighted to receive another contribution towards their essential work  providing food and cleaning for for prisoners in Kumba Prison.
Thank you again for the fantastic support we have received. It has all made a big difference to individuals in South West Cameroon.

Another enjoyable Cameroon Meal  at Dartington Hall raised over £500 this year. Ifa, Ray, Roseanna, Frankie, Heather, Ben, Fembe, Jan, Luke, Evie, Barabara, Philip and a number of last minute volunteers for washing up contributed to a relaxed and fun evening. Thank you everyone who came along. Every effort is appreciated.

This year's fund-raising  has focused on raising £5000 to enable Ifa to register a 6 mile square area of rainforest land traditionally belonging to the village of Ekondo Nene so that it remains in trust for the village as a conservation area.
Following a deal, signed in 2009, more than 3,000 hectares of Ekondo Nene forest land has already been ‘handed over’ to Pamol by the village chief acting ‘on behalf’ of the villagers. Pamol, now a national company, have been operating in Cameroon since the 60's and their extensive palm oil plantations are replacing the last remaining forest lands in this area and changing livelihoods forever. The villagers, formerly hunter gatherers and traders, have been promised a school and a medical centre as part of the agreement. Logging of 1,000 hectares has already taken place and so far no medical centre or school has been built. In 2001 when we visited Ekondo Nene the elders and village regent chief agreed to set aside 1,300 hectares (5 sq. miles aprox.) for conservation. However, land must be registered legally if we are to help protect it from the 'land grab'. Surveying of the conservation has already started and Ifa will complete the registration process during  his visit this August. We will continue to support Mary, Arrey, Eyo, Nawa, Emanuelle, Misha, Levis, Ellisha and Hugo in training and eduaction as well as contributing to Hotpec Orphanage's efforts in improving buidings and facilities.

The  jumble sale for Cameroon held at the Methodist Church Hall, Fore Street,Totnes on Sturday 24th was really successful. Thank you for your donations of jumble. Thank you everyone who supported on the day  and made it such an enjoyable event. We made £490!!!
All profits will go to children in need in Cameroon and the Land registration appeal.nanjirowe@ukonline.co.uk Donations to : Money for Cameroon (Ekondo Nene Project)
                 We operate as a small local charity following the Charity Comission guidelines.