From Neuruppin to Cameroon
How Mary's Volunteer Year Sparked an Entire Network
Brandenburg: Where It All Began
Mary's face lights up when she talks about her time in Germany. In 2014, she arrived in Neuruppin through Brot für die Welt and moved in with a host family who made her feel completely at home from day one. Her host father was a pastor, her host mother a social worker — an environment that felt like a natural fit for someone with Mary's passion for community work.
Mornings she spent at a kindergarten, afternoons at the adventure playground run by the local initiative ESTARuppin. It wasn't her first time working with young people — back in Cameroon, she'd already been involved in youth and children's work through her church and community. In Neuruppin, she brought that experience with her, teaching kids how to cook Cameroonian food over an open fire and introducing them to Cameroonian storytelling — but her work went beyond cultural exchange. She also did valuable awareness and education work: "So many people had no idea about Cameroon — for them, Africa was just one big country," she recalls. Through photos, storytelling and hands-on activities, she built bridges between cultures for children and parents alike.
Coming Home: Challenges and New Beginnings
Returning to Cameroon in 2015 was an emotional rollercoaster. Some friends and family had high expectations of her — and a few even saw coming back from Europe as a failure ("fallen bush," as the saying goes). But her connections to Germany stayed strong.
Three young friends from the Café Hinterhof in Neuruppin came to visit her in Cameroon. Her house quickly became known in the town as the "White Man's House." Those encounters planted the seeds for something bigger — but then the armed conflict in Cameroon changed everything. Visits became too dangerous, yet the network held. "The relationships are still there. We call each other and stay in regular contact," Mary says with pride.
The Birth of the Shalom Initiative
Out of that deep bond with her German friends came the first project: "Mary for Her" — a fundraising initiative using short videos to raise money and support young, vulnerable women in starting their own small businesses, including pig farming projects.
In 2017, the Shalom Initiative was officially registered. Through connections with German supporters, Mission21 from Basel came on board as a key partner. Today, the network is a real force on the ground:
-
Empowerment: Over 70 women and girls have been trained in vocational skills like baking and some received start up capitals for their businesses.
-
Inclusion: Young people with disabilities are supported too — through poultry farming projects where they receive everything they need to get started: chicks, feed, and training.
-
WASH & Dignity: The network builds toilets, distributes menstrual hygiene kits, and runs awareness campaigns — including for boys.
-
Back to School: Since last year, Shalom has been helping children who dropped out of school due to the conflict cover school fees and learning materials.
The weltwärts Alumni Network: No Borders, No Stopping
Mary isn't just active through Shalom — she's also the coordinator of the Cameroon weltwärts Network (CWN), which brings together 26 former volunteers.
Even after official funding from Brot für die Welt ended two years ago, the alumni simply kept going. They formally registered as an association and fund their work through small personal contributions.
"We want young people to understand what volunteering really means — it's about empowerment, intercultural exchange, and working towards the SDGs," Mary explains.
From campaigns on Menstrual Hygiene Day to self-funded agricultural projects, the alumni stay active and connected. In regular online meetings, they share ideas, plan projects, and strengthen the bonds of a community united by a shared experience that none of them will ever forget.
Mary's story is a powerful reminder that a weltwärts year is never just a closed chapter. It's the spark for a lifelong mission to make the world a little more just — whether that's in Neuruppin or in Cameroon.