Volunteering

Goodness and Mercy Missions (GMM) was founded on the 14th of November 2007 by Teh Francis  as a not for profit organization.
It was legally registered as a Common Initiative Group in 2008, with registration number NW/GP/N0 01/08/11739. 

We are working really hard to improve the lives of people in different communities and are working with local NGO to build long lasting synergies to reach more people and have an impact their lives.

OUR AIMS
1. We aim to provide the needed life line to help people improve their lives in Cameroon especially in rural communities. We identify their problems and seek possible ways to address them.

2. We aim to support people who are marginalized in the communities, be it due to physically handicapped, the elderly, people with mental illness, people with albinism and needy children.
3. We aim to create awareness and educate the community on issues affecting the well-being of their communities which includes communal hygiene, HIV/AIDS pandemic, recycling and climate change

   As a faith based organization, GMM most important task has been propagating the word of God and distributing Christian literature. We cater for both the physical and spiritual needs of the people.

With these objectives in mind GMM concentrates on issues it can best tackle while seeking ways to address the others when occasion comes.

Mission of GMM

To empower the rural poor by providing the community with tools which they can develop to sustain their livelihood.

Vision of GMM

Our greatest desire is to see rural communities have the needed tools and means for a sustainable livelihood.

Volunteering with Goodness and Mercy Missions

You can volunteer with Goodness and Mercy Missions, no matter your sex, age, or skills.  You can just be the help someone needs in the community. Your interaction with rural people will be a wonderful blessing. Living among a people will help you identify their basic needs and possible ways of tackling them.

We accept volunteers from all nationalities. Coming to know each other will help us tap resources from our different backgrounds for good. Goodness and Mercy Missions allow volunteers ample opportunities in the development of their own skills.
Although Goodness and Mercy Missions cannot pay the salaries of international volunteers, we make all the necessary arrangements for the safe stay of the volunteer all the while in Cameroon. We provide necessary information and support.

GMM Volunteer Positions

1. Teach at the Baptist college in Acha, Belo. GMM partners with  ABCD Cameroon and helps in most  of her institutions. Other colleges are requesting GMM to place volunteer teachers in them.


2. Teach at the GMM Elementary school Jinkfuin. GMM has founded an elementary school Jinkfuin for needy and orphan children. This is to provide them a sound nursery and primary education.


3. Work out more sponsorship and scholarship for needy children, some the primary level, some at the secondary.


4. Vocational Training for Young boys and girls. Training in IT skills.


5. Work with several GMM Women Groups towards a sustainable livelihood for women.


6. Youth Mentorship and community health Education. 


7. Administration and office work.


8. Work with people with Albinism.

Goodness and Mercy Missions accept International volunteering. The volunteers come and work on the existing projects or introduce new ones that can benefit the community. We also have volunteers who work online with us. A volunteer does not necessary need to come to Cameroon.

Terms and Conditions: 
The requirements for volunteers will be to work with the existing projects and develop ways on which they can benefit the communities. Volunteers are also free to initiate new projects as far as they will benefit the community. Provide feedback and a summary of your experience.

Offer Letter: Provided once we are familiar with the level of your commitment. 

Housing

A good house with electricity and a very conducive environment is 25000 FRS monthly. There are other low quality houses at 5000 FRS and 10 000 FRS respectively but they lack some basic comforts.

Cost of Living: Below is an estimated sketch of the cost involving volunteering in Boyo Division, Cameroon. 1. Cost of food per week. It is estimated that an international volunteer could spend 5500 Frs. CFA per week, which is about 13 US dollars. This is the highest amount each volunteer could spend on food per week.

Cooking

A volunteer could decide to cook for him or herself. He or she has to buy the kitchen utensils worth 30 000 FRS, gas, gas plate etc, that is about 71 US dollars. If he or she has to employ a cook the payment per month will be 25000 FRS, if it is couple it will be 30000 FRS. 25000 FRS is about 59 US dollars.

Cleaner 
A volunteer, if he or she so wills can employ a cleaner, who cleans the house and surrounding twice a week, washes his or her clothes twice a week at 10 000frs per month.

Transportation 
Weekly transportation’s are worth 3000 FRS, about 7 US dollars. It can also go up to 5000 FRS to 10 000 FRS if the volunteer visits the main town Bamenda, or other towns like Fundong. The transport fare from Belo to Bamenda and back is about 4000 FRS including food money and taxi money. It should be noted that the value of a dollar now with the CFA francs is 420 FRS to one dollar.

Trips and Excursions 
A GMM field worker will always take the volunteer around to spectacular sites the volunteer will want to visit. There is the Ijim Mountain Forest just a view miles from Belo, the famous lake Oku, Caves, Traditional compounds that still retain traditional houses made of bamboo, The Laikom palace with wonderful things of antiquity, the hilly country of Kom, etc.

Warmth and hospitality of the Kom people in Cameroon

The Kom people in Cameroon are noted for their hospitality and high regard of strangers. It is very common to hear someone say, “My foreigner”. It is a pleasure for the Kom man to be identified with one who has come from a distant land. Volunteers who had been here can better testify. You have to be here in order to appreciate this.

     - Talks with the prospective volunteer. One opting to volunteer with GMM will have a wonderful time chatting and communicating with the GMM office in order to set things in order. Most of the information above can be bettered explained when the said prospective volunteer starts communicating with the office.

*GMM will provide a volunteer assistant to be available to you during your stay if you have question, concerns or any difficulties with adjusting. We will arrange for all these things related to accommodation above.

* Goodness and Mercy Missions will also have to send someone to pick up the volunteer at that airport in Douala or whichever way the volunteer is coming.

Terms, Conditions, and Cost

Terms and Conditions: The requirements for volunteers will be to work with the existing projects and develop ways on which they can benefit the communities. Volunteers are also free to initiate new projects as far as they will benefit the community. Provide feedback and a summary of your experience.

Honorarium: Not available at the time

Offer Letter: Provided once we are familiar with the level of your commitment.

Family Accommodations: Housing. A good house with electricity with a very conducive environment is 25000 FRS monthly. There are other low quality houses.

Cost of Living: Below is an estimated sketch of the cost involving volunteering in Boyo Division, Cameroon.

• Cost of food per week. It is estimated that an international volunteer could spend 5500 Frs. CFA per week, which is about 13 US dollars. This is the highest amount each volunteer could spend on food per week. Sometimes GMM will subsidize with foodstuff.
• Cooking. A volunteer could decide to cook for him or herself. He or she has to buy the kitchen utensils worth 30 000 FRS, gas, gas plate etc, that is about 71 US dollars. If he or she has to employ a cook the payment per month will be 25000 FRS, if it is couple it will be 30000 FRS. 25000 FRS is about 59 US dollars.
• Cleaner. A volunteer, if he or she so wills can employ a cleaner, who cleans the house and surrounding twice a week, washes his or her clothes twice a week at 10 000frs per month.
• Transportation. Weekly transportation’s are worth 3000 FRS, about 7 US dollars. It can also go up to 5000 FRS to 10 000 FRS if the volunteer visits the main town Bamenda, or other towns like Fundong. The transport fare from Belo to Bamenda and back is about 4000 FRS including food money and taxi money. It should be noted that the value of a dollar now with the CFA francs is 420 frs to one dollar.
• Trips, Excursions. A GMM field worker will always take the volunteer around to spectacular sites the volunteer will want to visit. There is the Ijim Mountain Forest just a few miles from Belo, the famous lake Oku, Caves, Traditional compounds that still retain traditional houses made of bamboo, The Laikom palace with wonderful things of antiquity, the hilly country of Kom, etc.
• Warmth and hospitality of the Kom people in Cameroon. The Kom people in Cameroon are noted for their hospitality and high regard of strangers. It is very common to hear someone say, “My foreigner”. It is a pleasure for the Kom man to be identified with one who has come from a distant land. Volunteers who had been here can better testify. You have to be here in order to appreciate this.
• Talks with the prospective volunteer. One opting to volunteer with GMM will have a wonderful time chatting and communicating with the GMM office in order to set things in order. Most of the information above can be better explained when the said prospective volunteer starts communicating with the office.

*GMM will provide a volunteer assistant to be available to you during your stay if you have question, concerns or any difficulties with adjusting.

For more information contact us!

Another way to volunteer is online through www.unv.org

Vacancies

Teach at the Baptist college in Acha, Belo Administration and office work Teaching positions available at several schools Assistance in development of women’s initiative Teach computer classes Orphan visitations, mentor youth. We can arrange something else according to your skills. Contact us for more details.