As we mentioned in the previous report from Shisong, Cameroon, paying volunteers through BTCV were able to join the Trees for Water for Life tree planting festival in Cameroon. This was hugely successful with UK volunteers joining local Green Care volunteers and hundreds of local people planting out the trees grown in the Green Care nursery.

Green Care director Gilbert Njodzeka reports:

Global Giving Funds for 2011, provided Green Care Association and its grass roots communities the opportunity to plant 2500 trees this year in water catchment sources from May 15th to 29th 2011. The sites included Tiymenkan/Shisong water catchment, Kitiwum Water Catchment and Kumbo Water Authority.

In Tiymenkan/Shisong water catchment a total of 66 persons turned out for the planting of 500 trees. Trees planted included Prunus africana, Polysia fulva, Voacanga, Croton, and Ilexmetics. After planting there was time for group picture, local drinks (palm wine and corn beer), local food stuff, lots of appreciative speeches from local leaders and dancing animated by Kibanteh dance group.

A thousand trees were also planted at the Kitiwum water catchment. A total of 46 persons were happily present to plant Polysia fulva, Prunus africana, Voacanga, Croton macrostahyus, Pitosporum and Ilexmetics. Conspicuously present for the planting were the ‘Salama’ Muslim women group who help in distribution of tree samplings to planting spots. It was total joy after the planting exercise, as all the participants including BTCV and Green Care volunteers resulted in dancing at planting site and later at the reception site. There was local food and drinks to the satisfaction of all. The village head of Kitiwum, in the person of Fai Ngang Kidzeefor, was very happy to appreciate the trees donated and planted on behalf of his dear people. The president of Kitiwum Development Association also forwarded words of appreciation and the president to the Water Management Committee. The day ended with community launch at Kitiwum community hall, dancing and group photo.

Some one thousand (1000) trees were also donated to Kumbo Water Authority. It was not possible for Green Care and BTCV volunteers to be part of the planting exercise because the schedule was too tight for Kumbo Water Authority, as its coincidentally happened when there was lots of repair works caused by road maintenance around the town. Kumbo Water Authority however happily carried the trees to the appropriate planting site after extending serious apology for altering the planting schedule.

It may be worth noting that because of Global Giving, the participation of BTCV and Green Care volunteers, all the communities visited have appreciated the donations and have all been requesting for more help. Seven (7) BTCV and nine (9) Green Care volunteers participated in the whole of the tree planting festival, a situation that gave both leaders the opportunity to appreciate the various communities and their hospitality.

Shisong, Kumbo, Cameroon. 17th June 2011

Following the success of the volunteering project, we're working on making the opportunity possible in 2012 - keep an eye on our volunteering pages for more information. And if you can't join us in Cameroon, you can still continue your generous support through globalgiving.org and by passing on this link to anyone interested.