Norman — Former Norman resident Andrew Nelson has found his calling assisting Cameroon as part of Developing Opportunities for Orphans and Residents.
Since starting the nonprofit, Nelson has been collecting unwanted bicycles and computers to ship to Cameroon in May.
In fall 2009, Nelson, who now lives in Boulder, Colo., ran into a professor and friend, Ajume Wingo, whom Nelson knew from his time at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
As the two started talking, Wingo spoke of his home country Cameroon, inviting Nelson to join him on his next trip to Kumbo, Cameroon. The two started brainstorming ways they could reach out and help the city on their summer trip.
Nelson’s wife, Leah Feazel, got involved and the three settled on the bicycle and computer campaign. Their plan is to clean and sell the bicycles at a steeply discounted price to working professionals in rural areas and small cities of Cameroon. While there, the team also will teach Cameroonians to be bicycle mechanics.
“It’s more skills for the town,” said Nelson.
The donated computers will be marketed to small businesses and Internet cafes of Cameroon. The money from the sales will go to provide scholarships to orphans in the area.
“One year of tuition, books and uniforms costs roughly $70, which is simply too expensive for most orphaned children,” Nelson said in a news release about the campaign.
Part of the items will be set aside as donations for Cameroonian teachers, orphanage directors and medical workers.
So far, Nelson said DOORS has collected about 75 bicycles and about a dozen computers. The group’s goal is to collect 300 bicycles; spare tires, inner tubes and tools; and more than 200 computers by April 1. Nelson will be in Norman Monday through Wednesday to collect items from his family and First Presbyterian Church.
Donations to DOORS also are accepted. Nelson said the team has estimated shipping costs for these items to run about $6,000. Any money raised in excess of shipping costs will go to scholarships, Nelson said. Everyone involved in DOORS participates on a volunteer basis and no salaries are paid, he said.
While the bicycle and computer collections are a one-time campaign, Nelson said he and his wife plan to continue outreach to the African country.
“We think we’ll be involved in this part of Cameroon for years to come,” he said.
Nelson, who studied biochemistry at the University of Colorado, wants to work with Feazel, who studied evolutionary biology and molecular/cellular biology, on environmental issues such as water treatment in Cameroon.
Aaron Wright 366-3533 pop@normantranscript.com
