AIESEC IN CAMEROONRECEPTION BOOKLET

Message from AIESEC in Cameroon

Thank you for choosing AIESEC in Cameroon as your destination. Wehope to give you a memorable life changing experience.

This booklet is aimed at providing you a broad overview of Cameroonand useful information to aid in planning your trip.

Do anticipate to experience a rich cultural and geological diversity.

We on the other hand look forward to hosting you.

AIESEC in Cameroon.

AIESEC IN CAMEROON LCs

University of Buea

University of Douala

University of Dschang

University of Yaoundè

The Republic of Cameroon is divided into 10 regions each headed by a presidentially appointed governor. They include: Extreme North, North, Adamawa, Centre, East, West, Northwest, Southwest, Littoral and South.

The major cities within the regions are:

Yaoundé: capital city

Douala: major seaport and commercial capital

Buea

Bamenda

Bafoussam

Bertoua

Ebolowa

Ngaoundéré

Garoua

Maroua

GEOGRAPHYThe Republic of Cameroon is a central African country located north of the Gulf ofGuinea. It is bordered by Nigeria, Chad, the Central African Republic, the Republic ofCongo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon.Cameroon covers a total area of 475,440 sq. km making it the 53rd largest country in theworld.The terrain is diverse with coastal plain in the southwest, dissected plateau in the centre,mountains in the west and plains in the north.The climate varies with terrain, from tropical along the coast to semiarid and hot in thenorth. The central and western highlands are cooler with a shorter dry season; thesouthern tropical forest is warm with a 4-month dry season; the coastal tropical forest iswarm and humid year-round.The lowest point is in the Atlantic Ocean at 0m and the highest point is Mt. Cameroon at4,095m.Natural resources include oil, timber, hydroelectric power, natural gas, cobalt, nickel,petroleum, bauxite, iron ore.Agriculture products include timber, coffee, tea, bananas, cocoa, rubber, palm oil,pineapples, cotton.

8000 BC Cameroon is mainly inhabited by Pygmies, a collection of many ethnic groups of people of "short" stature.

500 BC Hanno from Carthage (Tunisia) reports sighting Mount Cameroon, christened the "Chariot of the Gods". Immediately following this is a trade of slaves and goods developing from northern Cameroon to North Africa.

200 - 100 BC First Bantu-tribes immigrates to Cameroon from Nigeria. The "Pygmies" are gradually being forced deeper into the forests by the newcomers (Bantu tribes). The Sao culture takes root in the area south of Lake Chad, as a result of the migration from Nile Valley. They bring along their pottery and bronze-work crafts. Over 150 ethnic group follow suit and settles in Cameroon.

1400 Fulani, pastoral nomads from Senegal migrate to Cameroon.

1472 The first Europeans, the Portuguese reach the coast of Cameroon. Portuguese Navigator Fernando Po arrives at the estuary of the Wouri river, and names it Rio dos Camaroes (River of Prawns) due to the large amount of shrimp (camaroes). The Portuguese name of the land “camaroes” is changed to “camarones” by the Spanish, to Kamerun by the Germans and to Cameroon by the British and Cameroun by the French.

1491 Portuguese colonizers bring the first Catholic missionaries in 1491. Portuguese missionaries baptized the continent's first Catholic convert there in 1491. Many slaves are taken to Brazil.

1500 North central Cameroon is predominantly Fulani with over 200 ethnic groups making up Cameroon's cultural diversity.

1520 Portuguese settlers scale up the sell of slaves from Cameroon intensifying the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. They also open up plantations to take advantage of the rich agricultural soil of Cameroun. Power and local control of Cameroun shifts to local Chiefs on the coastal regions of Douala. These Chiefs act as middlemen as deals are made with the Portuguese, British, French, German and Holland traders exchanging slaves and Ivory for cloth and metal works.

1600 Cameroon Trans-Atlantic slave trade industry gets a new boss, the Dutch. The Chamba Lecko ethnic, of Sudanese origin, migrate from River Faro on the on present day border with Nigeria to settle in Benue region of Cameroon adding to Cameroon's cultural diversity. This group today make up the Bali Nyonga ethnic group of the northwest region of Cameroon.

1627 British colonists colonize Barbados island. Slaves are brought from Cameroon, and other west African countries.

1630 Under Lady Ayana and Emperor Negash of the Gondarian Empire (Ethiopia), a brave knight from Cameroon acts as a Templar knight to guard the Christian churches.

HISTORY

1637 Dutch West Indies Company intensifies and scales up its slave trading business along the coast from Senegal to Cameroon.

1696 Abram Petrovich Hannibal (the great-grandfather of Russia's most celebrated poet Aleksandr Pushkin) is born in Cameroon to a Cameroonian Warlord, reigning prince of Logon in northern Cameroon. He became a slave in 1704 to Peter the great in Russia where he rose from a slave to major-general, military engineer and a governor.

1698 Cameroon Slaves are brought to South Carolina, New Netherlands, Massachusetts, New Orleans, and Virginia.

1701 The Henrietta Marie from London set sail Cameroon West Africa. Beads, weapons, and metal are exchanged for African captives who are then taken as slaves to Kingston, Jamaica.

1700 Anti-slave trade movements and protests led British Missionaries begin. The London Baptist Missionary Society creates a Christian colony in Victoria (present Limbe) where freed slaves from Jamaica, Ghana, Liberia and African Christian converts are settled.

1750 Cameroon history is further enriched by cultural diversity. The Bantus from the Upper Nile region migrate to Cameroon settling in the central plateau up to the Sanaga, Cameroon. The Makas penetrate Cameroon from the North East. The Djems from the South East. The Fan-Beti settle in the centre-south.

1772 Slave trade is abolished and British naval ships stop the traffic in slaves in Cameroon and the African coast. The King of Sennar (in Sudan) gets Dongola horses from Cameroon. Dongola breed of horses are described as being very fine in quality and were reported extinct by 1850.

1799 King Lamido Ndjidda from Mali with his Fulani warriors settle on the edge of the Mayo-Rey River in Cameroon. He builds a palace of 800 meters long and seven meters high which today shelters one of the most traditional sovereigns of Africa.

1884 All of present-day Cameroon and parts of several of its neighbours became the German colony of Kamerun, with a capital first at Buea and later at Yaoundé. After World War I, this colony was partitioned between Britain and France under a June 28, 1919 League of Nations mandate.

1955 The outlawed Union of the Peoples of Cameroon (UPC), based largely among the Bamileke and Bassa ethnic groups, began an armed struggle for independence in French Cameroon. This rebellion continued, with diminishing intensity, even after independence.

1960 French Cameroon achieved independence as the Republic of Cameroon. The following year the largely Muslim northern two-thirds of British Cameroon voted to join Nigeria; the largely Christian southern third voted to join with the Republic of Cameroon to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon.

1961 to present day

Ahmadou Ahidjo was chosen President in 1961 and relying on a pervasive internal security apparatus he outlawed all political parties but his own in 1966. He successfully suppressed the UPC rebellion, capturing the last important rebel leader in 1970. In 1972, a new constitution replaced the federation with a unitary state. He resigned as President in 1982 and was constitutionally succeeded by his Prime Minister, Paul Biya. Ahidjo later regretted his choice of successors, but his supporters failed to overthrow Biya in a 1984 coup. Biya won single-candidate elections in 1984 and 1988 and flawed multiparty elections in 1992 and 1997. His Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) party continues to hold a sizeable majority in the legislature.

PEOPLECameroon has a population of approximately 25 million people with about 250 ethnic groups.

Ethnic groups:

◊ 31% Cameroon Highlanders

◊ 19% Equatorial Bantu

◊ 11% Kirdi

◊ 10% Fulani

◊ 8% Northwestern Bantu

◊ 7% Eastern Nigritic

◊ 13% other African

◊ <1% non-African

The official languages are French and English. 77% of the population is French speaking while 23% is English speaking.

Religions:

◊ Indigenous beliefs 40%

◊ Christian 40%

◊ Muslim 20%.

SECURITYSafety

Cameroon is a safe country to live and travel in. It is a politically stable country as well. Although there have been a number ofinsecurity issues as a result of Boko Haram documented in the northern part of Cameroon, it does not affect the other regions.Business continues to run as usual with no worries.

Various safety measures have been put in place by the government to curb any potential threats. There are frequent checks androad blocks while travelling thus the need to always travel and move around with your identification documents.

After your arrival we will legalize your copy of the passport and the visa at a cost 1 000 FCFA. It is safer to travel with the legalizedcopy than with your original passport. Always make sure to walk with the legal copy of your passport as Cameroonians alwayswalk with their ID cards for security control.

In the cities, just like anywhere in the world it is a good idea not to be out alone late at night and to avoid certain areas of the cityaltogether.

Do not carry large amounts of money or expensive items around with you, especially in crowded areas. It may prove tootempting to someone who has very little.

Taking photographs

In the larger towns and throughout the Cameroon territory, photography is permitted except for presidential palaces, airfields,military zones and installations, security and defense personnel and situations liable to harm the customs and good reputation ofthe country.

During official events and for commercial photographs, it is recommended to get a special pass from the communicationministry.

Taking photographs inside national parks, zoos, and touristic sites may be subjected to taxes fixed by camera. The cost variesbased on the internal rules and regulation of each zone.

If you wish to take photographs or film people, it is recommended to ask for their consent.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONSEXTREME NORTH REGION Waza National Park, Kalamaloué National Park, Mozoko Gokoro National Park, La Dent de Mindif, Lake Chad

NORTH REGION Bouba Ndjida National Park, Benoue National Park, Faro Reserve, Lagdo Lake, Gorges de Kola, Rey Bouba, Jardin Zoologique de Garoua

EAST REGION Sanaga Yog Chimpanzee Rescue Centre, Dja Reserve, Lobéké National Park, Nki Forest Reserve, Boumba Bek Forest Reserve

ADAMAWA REGION Lamido’s Palace, Dang Lake, Lake Tison, Lake Mbalang, Beni Falls, Vina Falls, Tello Falls, Lancrennon Falls, Nyem Nyem Caves

CENTRE REGION The Cameroon Biodiversity Conservation Society, Museé Bénédictins/d’Art Camerounais, Museé National, Monument de la Reunification, Mvog-Betsi Zoo, Mefou Primate Sanctuary, Nachtigal Falls, Mbalmayo Forest Reserve, Ebogo Tourist Site, Centre Art d’Appliqué de Mbalmayo

WEST REGION Chiefdoms, Crater Lakes, Museum of Bandjoun, Baham Museum, Bamendjinda Museum, Lingam Falls, Chute de la Mamy Wata, The Royal Palace, Sultan’s Museum, The Village of Artisans, Museum of Bamoun Arts and Traditions

NORTHWEST REGION Museum Mankon, Lake Awing, Bafut-Nguemba Forest Reserve, Mt Lefo, Menchum Falls, Lake Benakuma, Lake Nyos, Kimbi River Game Reserve, Mt Oku

SOUTHWEST REGION Limbe Botanical Garden, Korup National Park, The islands, Limbe Wildlife Centre, Rainforest and Mangrove Trail, Beaches, Cape Debundscha, Bomana Falls, Idenao, Engelbert Church, Mt Etinde, Mt Cameroon, Barombi Mbo Crater Lake, Mt Kupe, Bakossi Mountains, Rumpi Hills Forest Reserve

LITTORAL REGION Lake Ossa Reserve, Douala-Edea Reserve, Ekom Falls, Manengouba Twin Crater Lakes

SOUTH REGION Campo Ma'an National Park, Kribi, Lobe Falls, Beaches on the coast north and south of Kribi, Loup Rock, Ebodje, Mbil Bekon, Ako’akas Rocks

CURRENCYThe currency of Cameroon is the Central African CFA franc (XAF). It comes indenominations of 25, 50, 100, 500 FCFA coins and 500, 1 000, 2 000, 5 000, 10 000 FCFAnotes.

Foreign currencies and traveller's cheques can easily be exchanged at major airports,hotels, restaurants, Cameroon local banks and at major ports. One can also access ATMmachines that accept Visa cards and MasterCard.

Major foreign currencies easily accepted are US dollar, Euro, Sterling Pounds andInternational traveller's cheques.

Please keep the following in mind:

Euro and US Dollar cash banknote bills are easier to exchange for CFA francs. Theexchange rate is as follows:

1 USD = 500 FCFA

1 EUR = 650 FCFA

Debit & Credit card transactions, such as purchases or ATM withdrawal are all done inlocal currency, CFA Francs.

PRICE LISTCOMMODITY UNIT PRICE (FCFA) MEALS UNIT PRICE (FCFA)

Local beer (0.65 litre) 500 – 1 000 Street food 300 – 1 000

Imported Beer (0.33 litre) 1 000 A meal at a cheap restaurant up to 2 000

Coke (0.33 litre) 500 A meal at an inexpensive restaurant 2 000 – 5 000

Pepsi 1 000 A meal at a mid-range restaurant 5 000 – 10 000

Water (1.5 litre), (10 litre) (350 – 500), (1 300 – 1 500) A meal at an above average restaurant 10 000 – 15 000

Milk (1 litre) 1 000 A meal at an expensive restaurant above 15 000

Bread (125g) 125 TRANSPORT UNIT PRICE (FCFA)

Rice (1kg) 500 BUS

Tray of eggs 1 700 – 2 000 Douala - Yaoundé 3 000 – 9 000

Toilet paper 300 Douala - Buea 1 000 – 3 000

Coffee (2g sachet) 50 Douala - Dschang 5 000 – 6 000

Minute of Cell Phone Usage 75 TAXI From 250

Unlimited Monthly Cell Phone Usage 15 000 - 25 000 MOTORBIKE From 100

Half Hour at Cyber Café 150 TRAIN

Unlimited Monthly Internet Access 25 000 - 35000 Douala - Yaoundé 3 000 – 9 000

FOODThe food in Cameroon is influenced by Cameroon colonial history but still retains a lot of Cameroon traditional foodand Cameroon cuisine. It is also influenced by the geographical location of Cameroon.

The cuisine is mostly starchy food with some stew food, peanut food and various cassava leaves and cassava recipe.

Tomatoes, corn, cassava, hot peppers where introduce to Cameroonians in 1472 with the arrival of the Portuguese.

With the arrival of the Europeans (German, French and English), Cameroonians were introduced to Omelettes,French bread (very popular) and other European style food. European Cameroon food are mostly served asbreakfast in Cameroon.

Western restaurants and cuisines are available in Douala and Yaoundé serving Chinese, French, Italian, Russian,Lebanese, Greek Parisian-style cafes, Pizza and Hamburgers along with traditional Cameroonian food.

Cameroon staple food is very seasonal. Whatever is in season is usually in abundance and sells for pennies. Onceharvest season is over the price increases drastically due to lack of preservation techniques. Corn, beans, rice are afew examples.

The Cameroon meal generally consist of starchy foods (called fufu) served with spice sauces, stew or somevegetables. Meat, fish, curries and spicy sauce are common.

In the north of staple foods consist of corn, millet, peanuts, meat and fish. In the south food consists of rootvegetables like yams, cassava and plantains served with fish or meat mixed with cassava leaves, okra, and ortomatoes. Ndolé is a very popular sauce made of bitter-leaves and prepared in countless ways.

TRANSPORTTaxis and motorbikes are used for shorter, more localised trips within towns or cities. Taxis cost from as little as 250FCFA while motorbikes cost as from 100 FCFA depending on the distance to be covered. Note that the taxis areshared, so don’t be alarmed when the taxi carries up to 5 passengers. Individual taxis cost from 1 000 FCFA if youmind sharing one.

To get a taxi or motorbike you have to stand on the roadside in the direction of your destination. You then wavesaying your destination, number of people and amount you’re going to pay. If the destination suits the driver he willgrind to a halt and indicate by hooting, if not he will ignore you and drive on by. It is taxi etiquette to say “bonjour”to the driver and other passengers. On arriving your destination, indicate to the driver exactly where you want toalight and give him your fare as you go out. It is advisable to carry exact amount or small change. In the event youdon’t have this inform the driver at the beginning of the journey so as not to be inconvenienced.

A journey to/from the airport costs 3 500-6 500 FCFA during the day and 6 500-15 000 FCFA at night (after 6pm)depending on the city where you land i.e. Douala and Yaoundé. For the other cities where AIESEC local committeesare located i.e. Buea and Dschang, travel costs range from 8 500-30 000 FCFA.

A regular minibus and bus service connects the main towns of Cameroon.

A railway called “the transcamerounais”, is more than 1,500 Km long and crosses the country from West to East. Itconnects Douala and Ngaoundéré through Yaoundé.

Connections within the country can also be done by airplanes. Air travel is generally expensive. Aerodromes exist inNgaoundéré, Bertoua, Bafoussam and Maroua.

PRE-DEPARTURE CHECKLIST Obtain Passport Obtain Visa Arrange for travel insurance Book flights Health: get medications you frequently rely on, visit your doctor to get any routine

vaccines and ask them for medication to prevent malaria, medication for headaches orstomach aches.

Compile a list of important contact information Make copies of your documents and store them in your email or in the cloud. This will

help you in case of loss or theft. Sunscreen/sunglasses/hat to protect you from the harsh sun rays. Items for country presentation and global village Country flag Toiletries: shampoo, conditioner, lotions, tampons among others that you use may be

hard to find or expensive.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTSPASSPORT:

A current passport with at least 6 months validity isrequired of foreign national visiting Cameroon.

Foreigners are required to carry their passport (or anofficially certified photocopy) with them at all times andwill be asked to produce this at various roadsidecheckpoints.

YELLOW FEVER CERTIFICATE:

All visitors require a valid yellow fever certificate.

VISA:

A visitor visa is required and should be obtained at aCameroonian High Commission or embassy for those whohave an embassy in their country. For those arriving fromcountries without Cameroonian diplomatic representation,airport visas are available.

The requirements for visitors coming from countries withCameroonian diplomatic representation are:

• Passport with at least 6 months validity.

• 2 Passport sized photograph.

• Completed visa application form.

• Confirmed Itinerary: Copy of round trip tickets.

• Vaccination: International certificate of Yellow fevervaccination.

• Letter of Invitation.

• Visa application fee

• Some embassies may request for proof of sufficientfunds to complete your trip i.e. bank statements or otherfinancial documents.

The requirements for visitors coming from countrieswithout Cameroonian diplomatic representation are:

• Passport copy with at least 6 months validity.

• Confirmed Itinerary: Copy of round trip tickets.

• Vaccination: Copy of International certificate of Yellowfever vaccination.

• Letter of Invitation.

• Visa application fee

RETURN TICKET

ARRIVAL AT THE AIRPORTBefore you leave the airplane be sure that you have your passport, your yellow fevercertificate, your baggage ticket and a pen. This will ensure that you are processed quicklyand with much ease.

Once you alight the airplane, follow the other people and you will get to a section where youhave to fill out a small white entry card. From there you move to the next section to showyour yellow fever certificate.

Before you can go to the luggage reclaim, the airport officials will check your visa, the whitecard and your passport.

For those with no visa, make sure you have a copy of the visa confirmation letter. You will bedirected to the police station where you will pay for and obtain the visa. Pick your luggagebefore heading to the police station.

At the luggage reclaim there are many people who want to offer you their help. The easiestthing to do is to ignore them, go your way or say that you don’t need their help. Before youleave the airport you have to give your baggage ticket to the airport officials.

There are no payments when leaving the airport. If anybody asks for money, move aside anddon’t talk to them.

Once you’re out of the airport your buddy or TN manager depending on the arrangementmade will be there to pick you up. They will be AIESEC branded for easy recognition andidentification. If nobody is there, please don’t leave the airport area alone, wait for us as wemight just be running a little late. However, be assured that we will be picking you up.

CULTURE SHOCK PREPARATIONBe prepared to share a room, bed or space with other interns and having less privacy.

Be prepared that the Cameroonians may not be keen on time. Buses may often not leave at the scheduled time but 2 – 3 hours later as they wait for all passengers to board and pack luggage. People may also not show up on time for meetings or events. Learn to be patient and not get frustrated at such instances.

At times there may be power outages. Some areas and roads may not have lighting as well. Bring a flashlight/torch with you which will come in handy at such times.

Internet connection may not be as fast as what you’re used to.

Most houses have no hot water and you may find water being stored in tanks or containers.

Even though it is stated that Cameroon is bilingual expect the majority of the locals to communicate in French. It is important to learn basics in French for you to be able to communicate with the locals.

If you do your internship in any small village, then it can happen that the shop is far away and only sells basic items.

You can buy items from the city with the help of your buddy.

You can always negotiate prices at the market. Talk with the seller about the price and you’ll be surprised at how cheaper it is than the first offer.

Hawkers whistle and are often insistent while selling their wares. Decline the offer and ignore them.

At times you may be left out in conversations as people converse in French or their local dialect. Don’t take it to heart they might have just forgotten you are a foreigner and assume you are part of the crowd. If it bothers you just ask them politely to keep the conversation in English or busy yourself with other things.

Electric Power is 220V running at 50Hz. The Plug types used are the round pin attachment plug or a round pin plug and receptacle with grounding pin.

BASIC FRENCH WORDS & PHRASESBonjour: Hello

Au revoir: Goodbye

Bienvenue: Welcome

Pardon: Excuse me

Non: No

Oui: Yes

D’accord: Ok

Merci: Thank you

Où: Where

Quand: When

Pourqoui: Why

S’il vous plaît: Please

Comment: How

Comment ça va? How are you?

Ça vas bien: I am fine

Je comprends: I understand

Je ne comprends pas: I don’t understand

Comment vous appelez-vous? What is your name?

Je m’appelle…: My name is….

Parlez-vous anglais? Do you speak English?

Quelle heure est-il? What time is it?

Combien: How much/many

MCVP IGCDP: NANCY SUPAKInancy.supaki@aiesec.net