Volunteer in the ARCH (Associated Rehabilitation Center for the Handicapped)

  Cameroon

• Other Cities in Cameroon: 
Buea

Duration of Program: 1-2 years
Typical Duration of Program: 1-2 years
Dates: none in particular

Description: Nest of Hope has recently partnered with the Associated Rehabilitation Center for the Handicapped (ARCH). ARCH was once owned and operated by the Catholic church. It was later taken over by the government who has since abandoned the facility. ARCH is quite large and has over 200 patients, most of which are orphaned and abandoned children with disabilities.

The ARCH has three distinct sections:

A workshop that is responsible for making prosthesis and walking aids that the center needs. This section helps enormously because our patients do not have enough money to buy imported materials, so we buy imported second handed ones and more often, adjust them to local use.

A school for remedial and special education. This section is aimed at integrating the handicap person in the family and secondly into the society, educate slow learners, and trained these disabled children to meet the intellectual level of their counterparts.

And lastly, a physiotherapy section made up of children and adult physiotherapy room. Free consultations are done here and open to the public for counselling.

Other auxiliary services exists like the kitchen to feed those hospitalized.

The working staff is always overworked, to this effect, there is no doubt that volunteers are always appreciated. The entire operating budget of the Center is generated by donations... and we are constantly in need of more! Your help researching potential founders and volunteers will be tremendous gift to us. We have a funding proposal ready to go. After we receive a database from you, we will make contact, submit the proposals, and handle the rest.

So people of goodwill willing and able to help those disabled people, to give them a new self-esteem, are welcome.

Highlights: From the above statement, it is understood that the handicapped is seen in a particular way by our community thus "curse from God". Many patients cannot afford to pay for the services so most rehabilitation is done for free or for little or no amount. So volunteers are welcomed to give help to the abandoned orphaned and handicapped children with disabilities in the ARCH.

Qualifications: Nido di Speranza is currently seeking volunteers for its projects in Cameroon or you may know someone who is interested in volunteering in the ARCH (Associated Rehabilitation Center for the Handicapped). We are in urgent need of human support (Volunteers) such as physiotherapists, nurses, students, prosthetists, etc... which are more pertinent to create databases of persons/organisations that may be interested in donating to our cause, especially on a recurring basis.

Cost in US$: 350 Euros

Experience Required: yes

none in Particular

Age Range: 18+

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Cameroon Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 3+

Application Process Involves:

• Essay
• Resume
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad

Nido di Speranza (Nest of Hope) Cameroon's Mission Statement: The name Nido di Speranza is an Italian phrase which means "Nest of Hope". We are a registered non profit organization (NPO) and Voluntary Organization (VO) committed to change, grow, love and aspire for the poor and marginalized communities and especially hope of our children. Our vision is to impact the lives of a poor and marginalized community whose future is being threatened by HIV/AIDS, abandonment and poverty. Our desire is to see the poor and underprivileged find a home where they can experience loving relationships and be part of a secure family environment. Nido di Speranza is working to create a more just and equitable global society in which all individuals, families and communities have a meaningful opportunity to improve the quality of their lives for themselves and future generations.

Year Founded: 2009