As with many rural Cameroonian areas, Belo suffers from a large number of orphaned children whose parents have died prematurely due to illnesses such as malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS. In addition, many children do not have full support of parents who suffer from disabilities or mental illness.

Accordingly to local Kom tradition, these children are cared for by relatives, who often cannot afford to meet their educational and health care needs. As their guardians are often elderly grandparents, surviving by subsistence farming, the costs involved are rarely achievable.

It is RUDEC's goal to provide educational and medical support to these families. The aim of the program is to give children a basic level of support thoughout whichever educational route they chose, whether this be school, technical college, or an apprenticeship, enabling them to fulfill their personal aspirations. Where a child is supported through an apprenticeship to learn a trade they will be able to reciprocate and pass on their skills to other children in the program. Children graduate from the programme when they leave full-time education.

Specifically, RUDEC hopes to provide all our children with:

• School and exam fees;
• Essential textbooks;
• Uniform and shoes if required;
• An After-School Club to build on children's education;
• HIV tests: one before the age of three, every four years from age 4-12 and annual tests above age 12;
• Medical costs when required, including transport, hospital costs and medication;
• Annual tape worm test and treatment if necessary for children of primary school age.

Our children also benefit from material donations from volunteers. Recent donations include clothes, art materials, toys, adjustable eye glasses and children's laptops. Home visits are made as often as possible to assess the children's needs and immediate health concerns.
The programme started in 2008, and since then we have paid school fees and provided educational materials, as well as distributing clothes and toys for all those in the program. This is thanks to the generosity of volunteers and donors.

In January 2010 we now have 52 children in the program, an increase from last year, which is why your donations are more important than ever. Supporting these requires constant funding, and donations are vital to keep the program running and the children in school and healthy.

For the Education and Health Program to run successfully, we need 3147€ for the 2010-2011 academic year. This will be used for:

• 1924€ for education;
• 568€ for health;
• 369€ to provide a field worker salary;
• 286€ for a 10% contingency fund.

HOW YOU CAN ACT:

• Give a monthly donation of your choice. Regular donations allow RUDEC to plan for the future and fulfill our commitment to our children.
• Give a one-off donation.
• Fundraise in your community through collections, car boot / yard sales or sponsored events.
• Send books, toys, clothes or school materials to further help our disadvantaged children.
• Come to volunteer to help this program to grow.
• Raise awareness about this program to people and organisations who may be interested in helping these children. You can sign up to our newsletter by emailing joshua@rudec.org.

WHAT YOUR MONEY CAN BUY:

• 110€: To provide all education costs for a secondary school child for one year.
• 30€: To provide all education costs for a primary school child for one year.
• 6€: school fees for a child for one year of primary school.
• 12€: school fees for a child for one year of secondary school.
• 18€: primary school leaving certificate for one child.
• 35€: HIV/AIDS test and medical check-up for 5 children.
• 52€: textbooks for two children in technical college.
• 157€: average miscellaneous health costs for all children for a year.
• 230€: a three year welding apprenticeship.
• 490€: one year's school fees for all children (for academic year 2010/11).
• 850€: all textbooks for 52 children (for academic year 2010/11).

Meet some of our orphans by reading the attached document below.