Missions et objectifs

REACH is a non-profit organization located in Wum, a rural town in the Northwest region of Cameroon. The tenets of the Baha' faith form its guiding principles, but are not propagated as part of its mission; Christianity, Islam, and atheism are all represented in the personal choices of its members and beneficiaries. Baha'i is a religion promoting tolerance, volunteerism, and civic responsibility:"Man is one, God is one, all religions are one; the world is but one country, mankind its citizens" is a slogan popular within the faith. REACH started in March of 2001 with three members. Its first objective was to assess the orphan population in Wum; the results were tragic. Many had been affected by the Lake Nyos gas disaster of 1986, and many more were the direct or indirect victims of AIDS. REACH identified 3.000 orphans in Wum sub-division, and their numbers swelled constantly as AIDS and other diseases continued to ravage the population. The survey also assessed living conditions for the target population, which were similarly disturbing. One household consisted of a handicapped elderly woman in the care of eight orphans, one of whom was crippled.

REACH's first response was to launch a nursery school for these disadvantaged children. With virtually no resources, the school nurtured and educated up to thirty children at a time between 2001 and 2003. Teachers were paid a mere $4/month, but they performed their responsibilities with love and enthusiasm. The results speak for themselves. Students at the school learned how to read in just nine months, and its graduates were admitted directly into class 2 at any government primary school. In 2003, however, the government demanded a devastating sum of money for our continued operation – in excess of $1.000 – and the program was discontinued.

REACH went to the international NGO PLAN Cameroon and begged for assistance. Getting support was slow going, but in 2005 REACH and PLAN launched an expansive birth certificate campaign to help remove one of the many obstacles orphans face to continuing their educations. While these birth certificates are nearly free for the first month after birth, many mothers lack access or initiative to go to the hospital. After one month the cost rises steeply, and exceeds the budgets of many families who are already struggling to pay for school fees and food. After primary school, students cannot continue without them. More than seven hundred birth certificates were issued.

Since then, REACH has conducted a number of seminars and trainings, including; HIV/AIDS, nutrition, income-generating activities such as soap production, and agricultural techniques. In 2006 we organized free voluntary HIV testing in secondary schools, which benefited more than 500 students. We have developed close relationships with hospital personnel and have since obtained free birth certificates for more than 2.500 newborns. In 2010 we collaborated with Mme. Chantal Biya Foundation to distribute basic household necessities to more than 500 orphans.

Now, REACH is working with Peace Corps Volunteers to expand the services it offers to Wum's disadvantaged youth. The small NGO is still struggling for funds, and has difficulty financing larger projects like the ones planned in the Future Projects section. Currently, all funds are coming from member contributions and a small farm operated by two of the members, Ibrahim and Winnerd, the profits of which are channeled exclusively into REACH. Please consider helping REACH do more for Wum's youth!