My name is Cathy and I am from Scotland. I am interested in conservation and I have a heard a lot about Cameroon and so I wanted to come and see it for myself.

With this desire, I went searching when I came across the Environment and Rural Development Foundation (ERuDeF). I read about the organisation and what they do and it was quite interesting. So, I wrote to the organisation and the prompt response I got from them is what also motivated me to choose their volunteering programme.

In Cameroon, I was warmly welcome by the ERuDeF University Institute of Biodiversity and Non-Profit Studies, the institution coordinating this programme. The staff gave me proper orientation, which prepared me for the trip. My interest was in butterfly. Mount Nlonako was the chosen site for the expedition.

My trip to Mt Nlonako under the ERuDeF International Volunteering programme (IVP) is one of the best I have had so far. I am very interested in butterflies and I must say I was quite impressed with the different species and variety of Butterflies I saw. I am very glad there are people and an organisation like ERuDeF which is working very hard to conserve Butterflies given the speedy rate of decline. I really commend ERuDeF on their efforts in conserving these butterflies.

I was also very glad with the team that took me to the field; they have a strong passion for the environment and the people around them. The ERuDeF made me feel quite safe. They were also very knowledgeable about the field, the different species found there and the people in the community were very welcoming and peaceful too.

I am a member of the British Butterfly conservation organisation and believe me, I would be telling them of my experience here and hopefully, may inspire somebody to develop interest for this lovely initiative.

By Cathy