IDA Sanaga Yong Sanctuary, Cameroon
Liz's Notes History Support Activities Future
While I was doing some volunteer work with dog and cat neutering in Greece (through the Worldwide Veterinary Services, I met up with another nurse who was scouring the net for places to volunteer. She showed me IDA Africa's site and I read it in awe. The volunteer programme looked really tough. It said, 'previous experience of a third world country desired' and 'french speaking required'. I didn't have any of these but wrote to them anyway. I said if they took me, I would start learning French right away. While doing the marketing for CSWCT in Uganda, they contacted me and asked 'when can you come?' I was so excited. I had committed to 6 months of marketing in Uganda, but it was the perfect opportunity to learn French.
I can't make many remarks about Cameroon as a country as I didn't get to travel much during my work there. Sanaga Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Centre is situated north of Yaounde on a never ending train trip. The Centre is deep in the forest and surrounded by small villages. Life as a volunteer is pretty tough there. Africa is not for sissy's though. We gave up the luxuries of refrigerated foods and decent red wine, but waking up every morning in such a beautiful setting and spending the day doing physical work made my time there worth every second.Sanaga Yong is run by an American organisation called In Defence of Animals - Africa. It was founded in by veterinarian Sheri Speede. SYCRC is located in the Mbargue forest of the Central Province of Cameroon near the confluence of the Sanaga and Yong rivers and remains the only primate rescue and rehabilitation facility in Cameroon. Some of the first chimps at Sanaga were seized from a hotel where they had been kept tied up for decades. Sheri told me once of how, when they pulled in there with government officials and uniforms and vehicles, Nama (one of the adult females) jumped into the transport cage as if to say 'I'm ready to blow this joint, what took you guys so long?'
Sheri was fortunate to have good contacts in Cameroon and was able to secure a remote section of forest for the sanctuary. There are enclosed forest areas for the chimps to use in the day and overnight enclosures where they feed and sleep.IDA-Africa offices are in the USA where they do fundraising. They have an adoption programme for their chimps. Sheri often goes back to US to give talks and special fundraising events. Due to the lack of funding from tourism, the IDA-Africa office has to work twice as hard to raise funds for the ongoing costs of the sanctuary. Check out their website for membership and brilliant photo gallery.
SYCRC accepts volunteers. Unlike a lot of other organisations these days, you don't have to pay them to work for them! Volunteer placement is for 6 months. There are some basic requirements but motivation and dedication are good qualities to have. Volunteering at SYCRC is an experience of a lifetime!
SYCRC has over 50 chimpanzees now. Because of it's remote situation, tourism from international visitors is minimal. Local people often visit the centre without charge. Sheri knows how vital it is not only to operate a sanctuary for chimps, but to aid the surrounding communities. She has selflessly opened her centre to the local communities for matters of health and treatment. Often, there are volunteers who have medical backgrounds and basic primary health care is offered to members of local villages. If there are donated drugs, they are given free along with health checks and medical advice.
The Education Officers often go to Belabo (nearest town) and surrounding village schools to educate the children about great apes and the need for conservation. IDA-Africa also pays the salary of a school teacher at Myene Village School. Apart from job creation, SYCRC also supports the surrounding communities through the purchase of their produce for the chimps.Please visit IDA-Africa's webpage: www.ida-africa.org for more information
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