Better World Cameroon – a self-help project in northwest Cameroon – needs help rebuilding its learning center, which focuses on permaculture education, peacebuilding and food security.
On January 12, 2021, soldiers raided and completely burned down the Bafut Ecovillage, located in the heart of Africa, which had won the 2015 Gaia Excellence Award as Africa’s most inspiring project.
The permaculture learning center was built by girls and women to improve lives in poor communities by running permaculture gardens and regenerating the ecosystem.
The Bafut Ecovillage was launched in 2012 by Joshua Konkankoh, founder of the NGO Better World Cameroon (BWC). BWC had been working with unemployed youth on sustainable environmental and agricultural practices for more than 15 years at that time.
The ecovillage supported the local population with sustainable farming methods and also provided free clean drinking water for 4,000 people. Stoves were made for women and over 10,000 trees were planted. In the eco-village, a cooperative sold local products and cared for more than 20 IDPs. It also implemented the BWC concepts of small-scale gardening and the award-winning stove project that helps youth and women survive in the midst of pandemic and insecurity.
The impact of this project has been very great and the commitment of the BWC team impressive. We want to rebuild the Bafut Ecovillage with all its different projects and activities in 2021 and we need your support!
Please visit BetterPlace Fundraiser
As a sign of our gratitude we will plant a tree for each donation.
Why was the Bafut Ecovillage destroyed?
According to many eyewitnesses, the destruction of the Bafut Ecovillage is to be seen in the context of the long-standing conflict between English-speaking parts of the population and the Cameroonian government. According to the UN report, the conflict led to the death of approximately 3,000 people and the flight of 600,000+ people. 50,000+ people are in a camp in Nigeria. Sadly, the ecovillage has been caught between the fronts of this deadly conflict. On Al Jazeera, the violence was described as an escalation of conflict with the English-speaking population that Cameroon has yet to see. You can read more HERE.
More Information view the following documents:
>> Declaration of Solidarity by the international “Defend the Sacred Alliance”
>> Defend the Sacred Alliance presentation to the Cameroon working group
>> Cameroon solidarity campaign of DSA