Honey is an important product in Cameroon. It’s used as a medicine, a sweetener and as a wound healer.

The honey in Boyo is pure and very tasty.

Beefarming is also an important additional source of income for some small farmers. Berudep buys all the honey for a fair price, bottles it and then sells it throughout Cameroon. The demand for honey is increasing so more farmers (especially women) should be trained.

This project contains the training of 180 farmers, training in environmental care (including at schools), the construction of several pits on schools in order to have a cleaner environment and conscience people of the importance of waste regulation as well as the planting of more than 5.000 seedlings.

Amount required: EUR 15.855,62

Thanks to members of KIRABO, and private donations, Edwin can start studying his carreer as from October next. Edwin has promised (in written) to keep on working with the nuns during his holidays as well as once finalized his carreer.

Investment 2011/2012: EUR 2.000,- (the rest has been brought together by his family).

Investment needed 2012 / 2013 : EUR 2.500,-

Home to children with special needs (disabled, sick etc) 

Phase II - construction of a water well

Now the construction has been finalized its time to move on to Phase II of the project. Presently a water well is being constructed in order to provide the inhabitants of the house, as well a small health clinic next door and the local population of safe and drinkable water. The same should be finished around the end of 2010.

Furniture and equipment is being bought in order to dress the house and get one another ready. Even though a bit delayed the idea is to open the doors at the end of 2011.

Together with Berudep we are working on a sustainibility program so that the project will be able to generate its own income. Kirabo’s promise is to take care of all the costs for the first two years. 

People involved with KIRABO consider we need to teach “how to catch the fish” rather than presenting it cooked.

Apart from a change in attitude from the governing administrations in countries under development this is the only way people can prosper and become economically independent. It’s important to stimulate the mind, develop capacities and give opportunities to local entrepreneurs to start a small business.

We also believe in the strength of African women and their capacity of working hard and wanting change to happen. In Boyo, as in Cameroon and many other sub-Saharan countries, associations run by women are all over. Together they take action and team work in order to generate income via different small business projects in order to be able and send their kids to school, pay for the medical bills and creating a social network helping each other when, and where, needed.

Large part of the first funds we received in 2008 went to different lady groups through Berudep.  

Main businesses: bulk buying and retails sales, manufacturing and sales of soap, manufacturing and sales of canned veggies and similar.

Each lady will get a MC amounting to EUR 33,- (as they work in groups this will mean around EUR 250,- / 700,- per group). The project is ongoing, nevertheless, every year interests will need to be paid.

So far we have been able to give out grants for 6 groups, thanks to former volunteer Scott and his friends and the guys from Espartanos in Spain. Thanks to our benefit party and other donations we presently have funds for 254 micro-credits. We are busy finding the resting EUR + 14.718,- + transfer costs  (donations are welcome).

Elisabeths’ dream was to share her knowlegde and capacities with other blind persons in the area.

The center exists since several years and the same has improved thanks to the economic aid provided by different International Berudep volunteers. There are over a 100 members. Every morning a group of them meets in order to pray, discuss their challenges and sing and dance as this brings them great joy. They also produce beautiful crafts which are sold in order to raise funds for their center, material needed or the doctor. Each of them lives a normal life, being married and having kids while farming their land. The enthusiasm and joy this group reflects is amazingly contagious and a visit to their center will surely impress you.

They manufacture ropes, necklaces, chairs and other crafts in order to sell the same on the market or to visiting tourists. Raw material is expensive and sales are not yet up to the expected level. The group members hardly survive  on this income and the food they obtain from the cultivation of their plot.

A next step is to become economically independent through the set up of a food store in the village and a small poultry farm.

Budget: EUR 11.500,- thanks to Fundación CyO. The implementation of the projects will start in Autumn 2011.

What is Responsible Tourism?

In only a few words, we can describe Responsible Tourism as a trip where we provide something positive directly to the local population, we learn new customs and traditions and we share their house, daily chores, experiences and incidents, always respecting their natural habitat and traditions. It is as simple as this but it can be very rewarding for both parties. This is what travelers look for nowadays and this is the model we should work towards so as to preserve and give value to those who live in a different way than we do, let alone appreciate what surrounds us and learn new things. Furthermore, our contribution with our experiences and economic help will also give them the possibility of covering their needs of a healthy diet, a decent home, schooling for their children and the access to a regular health network.

This kind of tourism is thought for any person who is able to renounce our western comforts and way of thinking and wishes to enter a different world, meet people and their culture closely; people who are open to foreigners, welcome them and are interesting; people with whom you can share their daily life and establish a bond between the two worlds.

Joining forces is what this is about. In case you are interested in collaborating somehow, just let us know.

- placing a banner or a link to www.kirabo.eu on your website.

- informing on organisations with eventual interest in funding one of our projects, please contact us at

- organize a fundraising event (sponsor walk / marathon, Africa Day, benefit concert, flee market etc)

- if you are a former volunteer and you would like your story to get published on our website or in the newsletter

…………. just let us know via: info@kirabo.eu

Especially lovely are the aprons handmade by our friend Titus, his wife and a young boy in practice. The fabrics are produced in Cameroon and the aprons are exellent quality. For EUR 20,- (+ sending costs) you can get yourself an original, solidary and usefull present.

If you are interested in handwoven baskets or bags (made by Titus as well), just drop us a note at: info@kirabo.eu

Volunteering is an excellent opportunity to get to know a country, a region, other cultures, at the same time as you are carrying out a job with a very high added value for the local inhabitants. Living together with people of different cultures and opinions, sharing experiences as volunteers in other countries is a unique experience which will never be forgotten.

The first international volunteer arrived in Belo in 2003. Since then, there have been many more, some have even repeated. Amongst other things, volunteers have helped create educational extra-curricular programmes for orphans, as well as the building of a school, the set up of a sales network for the delicious honey produced in Boyo together with medicinal plants, the start up of an eye hospital, the project of sponsoring orphans, the programme of Responsible Tourism and much more.

In case you are interested in volunteering in Belo, take a look at the website of Berudep: www.berudep.org or www.afri-link.orgwhere you can find all needed information.

In case you have any doubts you can always contact us at: info@kirabo.eu

In order to make sure your stay makes sense, for yourself and the project you are working on, KIRABO considers important to take into account the following:

-minimum recommended stay: 3 months

-capacity of adaptation and emphaty

-manage your own agenda and time

-be open-minded and have a good sense of humor

-some theoretical knowledge of international cooperation

It must be taken into account that things here work differently and the more time you stay, the better you will understand their culture and way of life. It is important that you have a fluent level of English since this part of the country is English speaking and most important of all is that you don’t mind rolling up your sleeves and help where needed. For additional – general – information please request our FAQ list.