»Intercultural exchange builds bridges between people and opens up new perspectives for shared growth.«
Claudia Jäggi Talary
We believe in a future where orphans and disadvantaged children in Cameroon can grow up in safety, security, and dignity. Every child should be able to experience a free, happy, and healthy childhood – supported by the structures that are natural in Cameroonian families.
Afiti Bongô creates spaces where children receive love, education, food, and care, thus developing the tools for an independent and fulfilling life. Our vision is a community that fosters trust, belonging, and hope – people helping people, hope for children.
Living in the orphanage
At Afiti Bongô's home, we structure the children's daily lives in a loving and organised way. We cook and eat together – often learning to prepare simple dishes themselves. Tidying up and cleaning are as much a part of the daily routine as doing homework, with tutors providing support. Leisure time and play are also important: outdoors or indoors, the children can release their energy, be creative, and cultivate friendships. In this way, they experience a structured daily life where learning, responsibility, and joy go hand in hand.
»Afiti Bongô replaces the family during the children's time in the home and once they have left the home. This creates trust and provides support.«
Philippe Linscheid
Projects
Our hearts beat for the children in our home: their care and the well-being of our team and their families are at the heart of our work. In addition, we support projects that sustainably improve the lives of orphans and disadvantaged children in Cameroon. We also promote small business ideas from local people that benefit our home – creating opportunities, hope, and a future in which children and the community can grow together.
Afiti Bongô supports orphans in Africa with education, safety, and love – so that they can start life strengthened and full of confidence.
Kumba
At Kumba, we support girls in Africa, strengthen their rights and open pathways to education, freedom and a better future.
We support the Fondation des Aveugles to enable blind children to gain knowledge, receive support and participate in society.
Our project »En bonne santé« aims to help children achieve greater strength, health and joy in life through preventative care, support and education.
The Afiti Bongô school bus reliably transports the children to school, which is located several kilometers from the home. A real luxury that makes many things easier.
Cameroon
Cameroon, »Africa in miniature« impresses with its dense rainforests, vast savannas, majestic mountains, and stunning coastal landscapes. Its cultural diversity, with over 250 ethnic groups and numerous languages, makes the country unique.
But the economic and social reality is harsh: Around a third of the population of 28 million people lives below the poverty line. Approximately 50% of the population are children. Nearly half of the children grow up in precarious circumstances. Only about 70% of children complete primary school, and many lack even basic reading and writing skills. The infant mortality rate is over 40 per 1,000 live births, and the under-five mortality rate is 67 per 1,000. Diseases such as malaria, polio, and measles threaten children's lives daily, and about 23% of primary school-aged children live with a disability. Furthermore, the Anglophone conflicts have impacted the education of over 1.4 million children, as schools have been closed or destroyed. Unemployment, unequal opportunities, and a lack of social structures further complicate matters for a safe upbringing.
Cameroon shows how closely beauty and challenges exist side by side. Children, in particular, deserve protection, care, and opportunities – so that despite all adversity, they have the chance to grow up healthy, educated, and happy.
