As the co-founder of a non-governmental organisation (NGO) Cameroon Catalyst, a student-led international development charity, Patrick leads a team of volunteers who travel annually to the country to deliver water and sanitation projects to improve villagers’ wellbeing.
His latest trip enabled a bore well to be built in a village called Petit Bello providing drinking water for around 1,150 people. The well is managed by a small committee with every family paying a token every month to maintain it long term.
Speaking about the work, Patrick said: “The construction of this much needed well forms part of my charity’s pioneering development work across the North East of Cameroon, a region that is about the size of Hampshire.
“All the volunteers pay for their own expenses, so the money fundraised goes directly into each project to benefit the communities we work with.
“We are also planning to build a communal latrine later this year in the village centre of Tongo as a pilot project to improve sanitation across the region. Families will be trained to dig their own latrines and how to avoid contaminating the water table.
“Next year, we are hoping to deliver two bore wells in the villages of Deoule & Grand Mboulaye for a combined population of around 2,700 people.”
Improving education, healthcare, water and sanitation, the projects delivered by Cameroon Catalyst have to date, helped 10 villages. In addition to bore wells, the team has built a new health centre for more than 5,000 people, a training centre for local businesses, a solar hub, primary school, and a sustainable and affordable housing scheme.
Patrick continued: “We are the only NGO in the sub-region that revisits its projects every year to make sure they meet the needs of the communities and to help us improve future design and delivery.
“With the full support of LST and generous sponsorship from many parties, it is a real privilege to facilitate these life transforming works and be part of a hugely successful humanitarian mission.”
