Volunteering Opp: Find Physiotherapy Equipment for a Rehab Centre, and Sewing Machines for a Vocational Program in Buea, Cameroon

Nest of Hope, an NGO located in Cameroon, has partnered with the Associated Rehabilitation Center for the Handicapped (ARCH). The ARCH is quite large and has well over 200 patients, most of which are orphaned or abandoned children with disabilities. ARCH is made up of 3 distinct sections:

1. Physiotherapy/Rehabilitation

2. ARCH Nursery and Primary School
3. Vocational Workshop-St. Therese Vocational Center

The center was once owned and operated by the Catholic Church and later taken over by the Government who has since abandoned the facility. As a result, the center has fallen into a terrible state of disrepair and neglect. Nest of Hope would like to change that and help the children receive the quality of care, skills and education they deserve.

There are two ways that you can help!

1. Improving the Physiotherapy/Rehab Centre

This project focuses on improving the Associated Rehabilitation Center for the Handicapped and helping the children with disabilities it serves to thrive.

A very important part of the ARCH is a workshop responsible for making prostheses and walking aids needed by the patients. They also repair broken down aids. This section helps enormously because many patients do not have enough money to buy the necessary materials from the developed world like wheelchairs, so when necessary, they buy imported parts and make the walking aids. Youth are trained here on how to make these assistive devices for themselves. Physiotherapy services are also provided, but therapists lack equipment.

For this task, we are requesting volunteers RESEARCH organizations who provide assistance in equipping the workshop both for therapy and training purposes.

For a list of equipment that is needed, click here.

2. Looking to acquire Sewing Machines to Expand the Vocational Training Program

Nest of Hope believes that unless those affected are provided with vocational skills, the number of vulnerable children in our community will continue to grow. Our vision is to expand the existing workshop located at the ARCH center, creating St. Therese Vocational Center.

The center will focus on teaching youth (boys and girls between the ages of 14 to 28 years of age) from low income households in the Buea subdivision and peripheries to sew a wide variety of clothing from local patterns. They will also be able to make clothing for themselves and their families.

So far, 16 youths have been identified during the survey to be the first batch of beneficiaries. This group is comprised of 11 girls and 5 boys. The training program will center on sewing, household decoration and African design as well as needle work.

If you can help in researching organizations that donate sewing machines and other equipment for the vocational program, please click here.