ABOUT US.....
Our Objectives
We want to make an indelible mark to improve lives, reduce poverty and empower people, without exerting too much pressure on our environment and enabling each and everyone to meet their fullest potential, irrespective of gender, social status or tribe.
Our Vision:
- is to....
- break down social barriers
- alleviate poverty
- empower rural people
- grow potential without regard for social status or gender
Our Philosophy
We want to achieve our vision through:
- -participatory, sustainable and integrated schemes
- -providing more of a 'push' rather than imposing a solution, helping communities to identify their own solutions to their own needs
- -avoiding dependency approaches, so often used in the past, and offering the means through training and other schemes, for communities to achieve their own goals.
Our Strategy
To respond to appeals from target communities with a participatory approach alongside situational analysis so that we understand the problems and their manifestations.
We want to promote:
- Subsistence agricultural activities:
- Organic and integrated farming
- Pasture improvement (see our Eucalyptus Projects)
- Agro forestry
- Farm produce Marketing Strategies and post harvest techniques
- Farming techniques for irrigation and off-season farming
- Environmental protection for rural communities:
- protect village water catchments using indigenous tree plantings
- replace non-friendly species that are heavy feeders, such as Eucalyptus trees
- Enhancement of rural basic education through:
- construction & equipment of learning infrastructure
- human resources
- didactic and recreational facilities
- Support of disadvantaged physically and mentally handicapped
people by:
- income generating schemes and life skills training to enable gains in self esteem and exploitation of fullest potential for societal interest
- The support and mainstreaming of adult literacy projects to enhance target groups, identify their needs and begin seeking solutions
- Facilitating the formation and management of self-help groups, women's farming co-operatives, and village development organisations as viable partners in the SHUMAS integrated rural development strategy.
Our target groups are....
rural communities and urban shanty areas in Cameroon. We focus on rural poor peasant farmers practicing subsistence agriculture with special focus on women, youth and disadvantaged people.
Our Own Need for Capacity Building
Most of our 35 staff, though very committed, have never had a chance
to receive any formal training. 
We still
need to do more in the area of staff development and training in
order to train more of our staff so that they can deliver
appropriate, effective and efficient support to our needy
communities. Staff are indeed very aware of duty and only a little
training to improve their capabilities will go a long way towards the
achievement of our desired goals and objectives.
The Challenges we face........
SHUMAS still faces many problems in the execution of its
projects:
Obsolete Transport:
All SHUMAS projects are located in areas where roads are 'seasonal'.
The all-season Hilux pick-up we acquired in 2000 is obsolete now due
to over use on atrocious roads. It is used for transporting most of
the building materials for the schools, etc. It has lost its engine
twice.
Presently, the chassis is bent and this wears the back tyres far too
often. Its visits to the garage are very regular now. The cost of
maintenance is thus very high for the organisation. There is
therefore an imperative need for a replacement vehicle.
Ideally, a second 4 x 4 vehicle would make us so much more effective
and efficient.
Absolutely no running costs:
SHUMAS still depends on project money to support its staff. Actually,
our staff serve like volunteers because they do not have
salaries.
They live on compensations or allowances, which are very inadequate
to support especially those with families or dependants. This also
slows down the pace of work. The few staff, though determined, are
much overloaded.
If you would like to help us with funding or training with any of our endeavours, please email our Director, Stephen Ndzerem.
Timeline continued....key achievements:
- 2008/9:
- 6 schools built - teacher's salaries supported with income generating schemes
-
Sponsorships for:
20 primary & 20 secondary poor pupils
4 students for further education
3 year training courses for 6 student nurses
4 disabled groups established with life & occupational training for users
Rehabilition Center constructed & in use
170 water projects surveyed - 70 needed urgently - 6 already in construction
Bio Farm & Clinic for training farming groups in organic sustainable agriculture
21 Micro-Credit schemes launched after group training
