The Society for the Promotion of Initiatives in Sustainable Development and Welfare (SOPISDEW) is a non-profit created to empower local and indigenous communities. It was created in 2010 and registered as a charity in Cameroon in 2012 with registration number 08/AR/E.26/A2/PS/118.
Our vision is a rural society where the gap between the urban and rural disadvantages are narrowed down and streamlined through the spirit of volunteerism and participation.
Our mission is to collaborate with national and international organizations, institutions, communities, and individuals in the process of poverty alleviation, through the provision of health facilities and services, development of sustainable agricultural income-generating activities, education and training, and environmental development programmes, which will lead to a sustainable and stable improvement on the living standard of individuals and communities.
Key areas of strategic planning and intervention:
• Water, Sanitation and Health (WASH)
• Agriculture, Environment, Energy and Nature Conservation (AEENC)
• Tourism: Cultural and Ecotourism (TCE)
• Human Rights, Good Governance and Conflict Management (HRGGCM)
• Education and Capacity Building (ECB)
• Youth Empowerment and Volunteering (YEV)
• Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
Objectives:
• Designing an enabling volunteering environment in view of tackling community development challenges
• Promoting local initiatives through direction of strategic humanitarian resources for community development
• Promoting and protecting the cultural and natural heritage of rural and indigenous communities
• Promoting human rights, peace, justice and the rule of law in local communities
Projects/Activities:
- Sustainable Apiculture and Agriculture Extension Service
- Sustainable Livelihood for Indigenous Communities
- Community Paralegal Practice
- Biodiversity Conservation and Environmental Restoration
- Youth, Leadership and Entrepreneurship
- Education for the Vulnerable and Underprivileged Groups
- Sustainable Tourism and Voluntourism
- Information and Communication Technology Empowerment
- Community Health
- People First Impact Method (P-FiM)
Tah Kennette Konsum is the Executive Coordinator and Co-Founder of the Society for the Promotion of Initiatives in Sustainable Development and Welfare (SOPISDEW).
For other net participants we can offer an expert guidance through trained staff, give an expert opinion, procure expert information and establish new contacts in the field of our work.
We have identified over 300 vulnerable children and carried out need assessment in Oku. The key issues are that
1. The need for qualitative educational development in Oku children for their integration into the society based on the challenges of globalization vis-à-vis an emerging Cameroon.
2. The fact that most children in rural communities lack proper psycho-social and educational development.
3. The need to rehabilitate and integrate vulnerable children into the society.
4. Other common problems faced by children such as violation of children’s rights and child trafficking
Our Plan of Action is:
1. The creation of a community children welfare and empowerment unit to offer solutions to the community problems related to children education and welfare.
2. The centre shall operate as a Bilingual Nursery and Primary School under the Cameroon Ministry of Basic Education.
3. The centre shall be known as Children Education and Welfare Empowerment Centre Bilingual Nursery and Primary School ( CEWEC-BNPS) Oku
4. The centre is located in Elak Oku Subdivision of Bui division of the North West Region of Cameroon.
5. The centre shall be a non-profit inclusive community-based child education and development centre operating through the technical and management support of the Society for the Promotion of Initiatives in Sustainable Development and Welfare (SOPISDEW) in partnership with the community guardians or caregivers of the children who will receive educational training and empowerment through the centre represented by the Parents Teachers Association (PTA)
6. SOPISDEW Cameroon shall mobilize volunteers to offer services for the centre in return for motivation as will be decided by the management.
7. The mission of the centre shall be “Reaching out to Promote the Educational and Social Empowerment of Children”
8. The vision is ‘Empowering Children for a Better World”
9. For a start SOPISDEW shall put in place all the necessary logistics for the effective kickoff of the centre to be synchronized with the 2015-2016 Academic Year
10. SOPISDEW and the elected pioneer PTA Chairperson should engage the necessary administrative procedures required obtaining an authorization to operate the centre from August, 2015.
The key objectives of the centre shall be:
1. The promotion of the sustainable and equitable inclusion of vulnerable children in the society
2. To promote education, solidarity and the respect of the rights of children.
3. Promote capacity building initiatives for community members in the domains of childcare and child education.
4. Creating a partnership with the local administration, the state and other like-minded organizations to empower children.
How can you be a part of this:
-Volunteer for the project
-Donate didactic materials for the project
-Provide basic school needs for children benefiting from the project
Be a part of this...change the world your way by giving a chance to orphans and vulnerable children through education!
Women are empowered when they develop skills in the use of ICTs. Join us make this action a continuous event by supporting the training of women and girls on ICTs. Our objective is to empower at least 50 women and girls every six months. Between July and August 2014, thirty women received ICT empowerment through our project...be a part of it by volunteering or providing training materials.Children singing and dancing traditional music in celebration of the proposed opening of school in the communityworking with indigenous community for identification of their needsPeople First Impact Method (p-fim):P-FIM is a tool and an approach that gives communities a voice. It identifies the causes of positive, negative and neutral change in their lives. It emphasises active listening, understanding context; shared ownership and responsibility for improved response. The exercise doubles as a personal and professional learning experience. P-FIM supports two- way accountability processes, assessment, evaluation, programme design, monitoring and evaluation, policy, strategy development and it operates to scale.
P-FIM exercise reports ensure the community voice is widely heard. Reports inform:
• What is working and is not working. • Whether we are doing things right and doing the right things. • What should be in community development plans? • What should be in local government development plans? • What should be in supporting agency plans • What and who donors should fund? • Important trends and issues that require urgent action.
For the exercise, 5 full days consisting of 2 days training; 1 morning for field work; 1 half day to work on field work findings and; 1 day for group presentations of results.
We evaluated development within the community over the last five years. We equally evaluated CDVTA Project for the Elderly in Oku over the last 5 year. Twenty Four leaders of CBOs including SOPISDEW Cameroon took part in the method, first of its kind in Cameroon.Young people presenting a dramatic scene on ICTs and social protection of vulnerable young peopleCommunity workshop participants listening SOPISDEW animator. Focus was on engaging community members to monitor local government action
