Project: Coaching the Global Village will work to integrate the Coaching Essentials Toolkit (developed in collaboration with the Center for Creative Leadership) and coach training with The Integrated Development Foundation (IDF) located in the in the North West region of the Republic of Cameroon, Africa. IDF is a development organization dedicated to improving the lives of the marginalised in this area.
Lead Coach: Caroline Spira, MPA, CEC
Program Updates: [2/16/2011 or Final Report 09/2011]
Project Background:
IDF’s main activities fall within the areas of:
- Local Economic Development (LED)
- Community Health
- Women Empowerment
- Child Rights
- Capacity Building with Grassroots Organizations
IDF’s full background can be found online at www.idfbamenda.wordpress.com
Work and Programs
Of all of IDF’s activities it is most active in its LED and Health activities. In terms of LED, IDF has been working with 3 local quarters who are undergoing a process with support from the government of Cameroon and the World Bank, known as PDUE project. It’s work in this area involves building the capacity of the local development associations and their community volunteers, attending meetings (with the community development associations, boards, councils, community hall managers, and quarter members), and writing reports on the progress of the LED projects. Capacity building with the development associations and community volunteers include topics such as the environment, health, managing development, and the electoral process.
In terms of health programs, IDF currently runs a home-based care program and an orphans and vulnerable children’s program. The home based care program involves providing care to people living with HIV and AIDS as well as with chronic illnesses in their homes. The home visits are carried out by community volunteers and involve counselling, assisting families and caregivers, educating clients on other health topics, spiritual and psychosocial support. In addition to home visits, these community volunteers known as CVs also raise awareness in their communities to important issues (HIV, malaria, sanitation & hygiene, etc). The orphans and vulnerable children program also involves services being carried out by community volunteers. Home visits involve counselling, psychosocial support, educational support and health support.
IDF’s programs in the other areas include:
- SIDACOOP, which is a program empowering women living with HIV AIDS with entrepreneurial skills in cooperation with credit union cooperatives. SIDACOOP is carried out with the support of the International Labor Organization
- Awareness campaigns on commemorative days such as world aids day and women’s day
- Vocational training centre for young single mothers, which gives young girls the life and vocational skills to become autonomous
