Volunteers to build school in Cameroon

Volunteers from the UAE will spend two months in Cameroon to help build a school on a remote island in the West African country.

DUBAI // Volunteers from the UAE have arrived in Cameroon to help build a school on a remote island in the West African country. Three members of the American University of Dubai International Aid group (AIA) are in the northwest of the country, where they expect to be joined by another six volunteers from the UAE. They will help build a school, designed by university students in the UAE, for 240 children in the village of Umbissa.

Sareh Ameri-Mills, the president of AIA, said the group expected to spend two months in Cameroon. They will work alongside residents, using traditional building methods and materials sourced from the area. "It's an adventure," said Ms Ameri-Mills, a 31-year-old from Iran. A group from the AIA that visited Umbissa last year realised it needed a better school. Back in Dubai, they raised Dh86,000 for a new building. Open Source Arc, an architectural group, became involved and organised a competition to find the best design for the school. The winner was chosen last month.

Tony Archibold, an associate director at the architects RMJM, which lent expertise and support to the project, said: "The winning scheme was delightful."
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