A busy start to 2025!

Busy, meaningful and making a difference!

Warm greetings from the Belo Rural Development Association (BERUDA)! As we look back on the first quarter of 2025, we’re excited to share the progress we’ve made in the first few months of the year in empowering vulnerable communities. It’s been a busy and meaningful time, full of programs that are making a real difference in communities across the Boyo Division and beyond.
Thanks to the generous support of our donors, volunteers, and partners, BERUDA has been able to touch the lives of countless individuals, particularly children, women, and marginalized communities.
Your support makes all of this possible. Thank you for helping us build stronger, healthier communities where people can live with dignity, independence, and hope.
We welcome and encourage you to please read on to learn more about the work we are passionate about.

Recognition for commitment to beekeeping

The first quarter of 2025 has been a rewarding period for BERUDA’s apiculture efforts. In January, we were honored to receive a prestigious award from the Cameroon Climate Journalism Network (CCJN) in recognition of our long-standing commitment to sustainable beekeeping practices. Our Director, Ngwainmbi Chia Simon, proudly received the award on behalf of the organization—an inspiring milestone that reflects decades of grassroots impact and innovation.

As we move forward, BERUDA is preparing to host regional training sessions with beekeepers across the North West Region. These sessions will focus on modern techniques, hive management, and sustainable practices, equipping local farmers with the skills to improve productivity and resilience in the face of climate and socio-political challenges. Informal trainings in areas like Mbueni, Mbingo, Wum, and Bamenda have empowered farmers with practical skills, boosting household income and food security.

Creating brighter futures

This quarter, we celebrated the graduation of 10 young people from vocational programs in tailoring, ICT, graphic design, hairdressing, and more—giving them valuable skills for a brighter future. Others are excelling in secondary school and university, propelled by their own hard work and the continued sponsorship and guidance of many.
We continued our home and school visits over this period to provide counselling, educational support, and basic needs—especially for children living in remote or high-risk areas.
This is a programme that can always benefit from sponsors for the children so please be in touch if you'd like to contribute to this programme.

Women's programmes

As we continue with weekly education sessions with our widows groups in the local areas, we have focused on topics such as maintaining good health through healthy eating habits and through the use of natural medicines that are abundantly available in the local environment. The meetings also provide a support forum where the widows come together to encourage one another as they navigate their common challenges.
Additionally, the widows are engaged in a “Tontine” arrangement where they save small amounts of money throughout the year, which they can later collect to purchase essential items like salt and cooking oil.
These weekly sessions not only focus on physical health but also provide mental health support, helping the widows cope with the trauma and emotional challenges they face due to the socio-political crisis. These education sessions teach coping strategies, stress management, and provide a supportive environment where the widows can share their experiences and feel empowered.

New Project Launch: Mental Health Project

We are excited to announce the launch of BERUDA’s first Mental Health Project, a timely and impactful initiative aimed at building capacity in clinical psychology and counselling across Cameroon. This project is made possible through our valued partnership with Global Support Link (GSL) and Ana Pinto, a highly respected psychology lecturer and supervisor at Cambridge University and director of the Cambridge eLearning Institute.
Ana brings a wealth of experience, having contributed to similar mental health initiatives in India and The Gambia. Ana will lead two exclusive “Train the Trainer” online courses: one for medical professionals, nurses, and academics, and the second for community leaders and influencers. Each course will host 20 participants, who will receive certification upon completion. These trainees will later share their knowledge within their communities, creating a ripple effect of mental health awareness and support.
The executive director, Ngwainmbi Chia Simon and Blessing Shelle, who is currently coordinating the project, has already met with Ana and John of GSL via Zoom. Together, they are actively preparing for the first round of training. The selection process is underway, and candidates will be chosen based on a questionnaire and a written commitment to complete the course.
We are grateful to GSL and Ana for their commitment and look forward to the positive impact this project will bring.

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As we look toward 2025, our resolve remains strong. With your continued support, we are confident in our ability to expand our outreach, strengthen our agricultural and empowerment programs, and continue creating opportunities for women, children, and marginalized communities to thrive.
Thank you for standing with us. You are an essential part of the BERUDA family, and together, we are transforming lives and building a more sustainable and just future