To volunteer or not....that is the question

Perhaps volunteers are the modern day missionaries. Some say misguided, patronising and misinformed. What gives them the right to impose their culture on others? Yet communities and organisations clamour for their own volunteer.

As a volunteer I was advised - "don't try to change them. You can't. Just relax and enjoy yourself".

But my experience was different. I made many mistakes along the way. I despaired of finding my way. But I could not give up, because the people around me did not give up.

Bamunka in Cameroon. Where a new Fon has taken the throne.

As I gained the villagers trust, they invited me amongst their innermost groups. They showed me the development plans initiated by the Fon and his advisers. I was invited by the women's group to their meetings and they explained their problems to me.

This is a community where life expectancy is less than 50 years of age. Where children may not go to school but spend their days on the streets selling fruit or other wares. Where women may sell their bodies for 1 US$.

I want to help them, but my time is almost finished and I cannot extend my stay. So we initiated a scheme whereby we would invite other volunteers to the kingdom.

This is not an international organisation asking for volunteers. This is about the community inviting volunteers to help them achieve their goal.

For more information look at our page on squidoo (www.squidoo.com/pcdi-cameroon.)

---

---