I am raising funds for BERUDA www.beruda.org to help two groups, namely the elderly and widows in NW Cameroon.

Cameroon, in sub-Saharan West Africa, is a very poor nation and the people of the North West Highlands are amongst the poorest in the country. To alleviate poverty and to help the people of the region to help themselves, BERUDA was set up by a visionary local man in 1990 and since its inception has assisted many people to attain a level sustainable living.

The elderly are often neglected and are in dire need of our assistance. They are often cold, wet, hungry and unwell. We can provide blankets for warmth; we fix their houses so that they do not leak; we bring them food and look after their medical needs. Perhaps most importantly, we show them that we care. We have been successfully helping them for some time but now need more funds. We wish to have rolling program by helping ten people each month and we estimate the cost to be £200 per month; that is to say £2,400 for the next year.

There are many women in the region who are widowed, either by disease or desertion. Traditionally the husband's family takes in the widow but, more often than not, they and their children are not well treated, being seen as a burden on the family's already limited resources. If the widow can start a small business - perhaps selling palm oil or dressmaking - then she can provide money for herself and her children's upkeep and education. More importantly she regains her self-respect and a sense of value. He wish to continue an existing program and are looking for £2,250 to support 30 widows. After two years the widows will repay the loans and we will able to help others in the same situation.

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