Staff &
trainees outside the Rehabilitation Centre
First Biofarm
Graduates
Welcome to the SHUMAS website: We are an African NGO based in Bamenda, North West Province of Cameroon
SHUMAS promotes integrated sustainable rural development and our aim
is to improve the overall living standards of poor disadvantaged
people, in particular women and children. Currently we work mainly in
the North West, Far North and littoral Regions though gradually, we
are extending operations throughout the country.
We are active in primary schooling, social welfare, agriculture,
health care, women's issues, forestry and organic farming, adult
literacy and many other areas.........
We work to reduce poverty and empower vulnerable groups irrespective of gender, status or tribe. We want to achieve these goals without exerting stress on the environment.
Additionally, we value support
from over 50 volunteers, both in Cameroon and abroad who give
services and technical expertise free of charge, We also work with
partner NGOs and the Cameroon Government.
One of our earliest and most important projects was the improvement
of rural school buildings many of which were in an appalling state of
repair.
In 2009, over 3000 pupils in 12 schools benefitted from 66 rebuilt or
new classrooms. In 2010 we continued the project re-furbishing 13
more schools, building class and staff rooms, toilets and where
neccessary, getting potable & washing water on site to improve
hygiene habits.
Many schools lack simple basic furniture, so last year we continued
to meet the need for benches and even teacher's chairs and
tables.
We value the help and
support we get from overseas charities like the UK's Building Schools
for Africa and Aidcamps International. Over many years now they give
support and organise volunteer workcamps working with and alongside
local people on our building projects.
Our Social Welfare programmes cover projects with physically and
mentally disabled people as well as leprosy victims who are often
shunned by society, 
and are left fending for themselves with
little or no support from the wider community.
In 2008 we opened a Vocational Rehabilitation Centre in our
Headquarter Building with practical workshop training in a variety of
life supporting skills for the disabled. 27 disabled people are
currently in the 2nd year of their training at the Centre.
Poor rural health is a serious issue in Cameroon - many areas rarely see doctors and there is a shortage of trained nursing staff. In collaboration with UK charity Spreading Health, SHUMAS is training medical staff committed to returning to work in their local areas. In 2010/11 3 student nurses graduated and 13 started studying at various medical institutes. After training they undertake to return to work in their local communities.
Subsistence farmers are mainly women in our poor rural communities. SHUMAS has many projects to empower women, helping them with literacy and improving their farming and marketing methods. 27 Women's Cooperatives are now engaged in income generating activities with our Micro Credit schemes.
Our Integrated Organic Farming Demonstration Centre continues to
expand. This exciting project offers long and short courses on all
aspects of farming using sustainable environmentally friendly
methodology. 
The first batch of 31 trainee organic farmers
graduated from their 10 month course and returned to their
communities.
In 2010 we installed on-site manufactured solar panels which, in
conjunction with wind energy, increases the provision of our
electricity supply. However, more capacity is needed to keep up with
our expansion and we continue to test and apply renewables
technologies.
In 2010 the Centre received the 3rd batch of 32 farmer-students from
poor rural villages. During the year further staff and student
accommodation was built allowing us to host various events and
official tours promoting our work.
The road leading to the Centre is poor and seriously needs upgrading.
Getting supplies to and from the Centre, especially in the rainy
season, is very difficult. We hope to engage with partners and the
local community to resolve this.
The Eucalyptus Replacement Programme which ran from 2000 to 2009
has helped to free land for cultivation,
regenerate soil and increase portable water supply to poor rural
communities.
We continue to work with schools and local communities creating tree
nurseries to bring on appropriate replanting of indigenous species.
Please now go to our Project pages to learn more about our work.
