Supporting Indigenous Communities:
Social Action Plan 2023
Overview
We have developed a robust social programme that addresses the specific requests of 40 local and indigenous communities neighbouring our Cameroon plantations. Through initial consultations led by NGOs APIFED and APED together with freely elected community representatives, we have implemented various impactful social initiatives. The resultant Plan provides support across the following areas: funding, agriculture, education, health, access to drinking water, and the preservation and promotion of the indigenous Baka culture. This includes the coverage of school tuition fees and teachers’ salaries, borehole construction for water access, donations of brick presses for housing construction, and agricultural supply.
The Programme's Initiatives Across 2023
Education
- Paying the the salaries of 40 school teachers.
- The coverage of tuition fees, exams and supplies for Baka and Bagyeli schoolchildren.
- In 2023 the company is also covering, the construction of a classroom and the refurbishment of a public primary school.
- Sudcam plantation coordinated access to birth certificates for 83 Baka children, as these are a compulsory requirement for school enrolment. This initiative included census and identification work in collaboration with the local administrative, legal and medical authorities.
- Hevecam distributed teaching materials to the heads of schools in the communities surrounding its concession in Niete. The items included reams of paper, ballpoint pens, and cartons of chalk to help teachers with their lessons.
Access to drinking water and living support
- The construction of 9 boreholes for access to clean and safe drinking water.
- The supply of brick presses for the construction of houses
- The supply of mattresses
- The construction of 6 market sheds for commerce and trade
- The provision of monthly transport to key locations
Agriculture
- Donation of 2500 kg of maize seeds and 9kg of tomato seeds
- Free distribution of rubber seedlings to smallholder farmers: chillies; maize; okra; beans; and soya
- The distribution of agricultural equipment, including 204 machettes, 200 files, 204 hoes, 50 picks, 100 planters, 50 dabas and wheelbarrows
- Donation of 500 kg of fungicides, 500l of herbicides and 500l of insecticides
- Purchase of an agricultural scale and heat foggers
- Offered support with the raising of animals, and the development of fish ponds
- Support for agro-pastoral micro-projects
- The development of roads for agricultural purposes
Healthcare
- Payment of 6 community nurses's salaries
- The provision of medical products and equipment for local health centres, as well as first aid kits
- Health care campaigns, including the distribution of vaccinations against polio, tetanus, measles and yellow fever.
Support for indigenous culture
- Supported the World Indigenous People Day celebrations in August
- Purchased 3 x 100-seat ceremony tents
- Purchased 300 chairs for community ceremonies
