Cameroon Government Honors German Volunteer With a Labour Medal
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Aaron Kaah - for the Time Scape Journal/News Paper
On the occasion of Cameroon 20th May national day celebrations, the honorable Prof. Norbert Pintsch from Germany was awarded a medal of order of valor by the Cameroon head of state president Paul Biya for his long years of volunteer work in the fields of Appropriate Technology and Housing solutions in the North West Regions of the country.
Prof. Norbert Pintsch was decorated with the award by the Divisional Officer for Santa Sub Division Mr. Diyan Djam Lawrence who represented the Minister of Social Affairs on the occasion.
Prof. Dr. Norbert Pintsch is a volunteering director and mentor of the Center of Appropriate Technology (CAT) Bamenda, an honoring professor, Dr. h.c. of the Bamenda University of Science and Technology ( BUST).
In recognition of his contributions in the areas of low cost and affordable technology in the North West Region of Cameroon the Watch Dog group of News papers in Cameroon under its Managing Director Dotta Ezekiel voted and awarded Prof. Pintsch the “Best foreign Expatriate of 2012 in Cameroon”.
In 2011 the people of the Mankon Royal Home at Alankie had also bestowed upon him the title of “Ndifor Alankie” in sure respect for his loyalty and contributions to their heritage and development vision.
On this occasion Prof. Norbert Pintsch was remembered as the founder of the IAM@BUST in Bamenda, Cameroon, the Royal University Center (RUC) in Alankie Mankon and the Center for the Promotion of Appropriate Technology and Housing (SPATH) and is actively engaged on similar projects in Pakistan and Columbia where small stakeholder farmers and residents in semi urban settlement have been taught ways of improving their lives and household incomes with low cost affordable material.
Prof. Norbert is a Senior Research Fellow at the Foundation for the Promotion of Academic Collaboration (FPAC) where he supports the activities in Cameroon, Pakistan and Colombia.
In his native country his was one of the few Germans to be awarded a special permission to put up a restoration project at the age of 20 in Berlin and later on taught as one of the youngest lecturers at the age of 26 at the Berlin University of Applied Science. This teaching career has seen Prof. Norbert Pintsch lecturing in several countries across the globe. To day noted as a architect civil engineer and economist Prof. Norbert believes that Appropriate Technology drives the world of low income earners in the developing world reasons why he had piloted several projects in most of these countries across the world.
Through an NGO named DGFK (Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Kultur) which was created in 1972, Prof, Norbert has supported cultural projects in many countries that have positively impacted on the lives of the people.
For over 10 years running that Prof. Norbert Pintsch has been working with CAT Cameroon a lot has been achieved by the establishment in rural areas in Cameroon where low cost energy and environment protection had being a big challenge. Of recent the Center for Appropriate Technology under the mentorship of the German Expatriate constructed a mini hydro electricity dam at the remote Akwaya community at Manyu division where energy supply had been a long time difficulty both for the people and the government. The Center for Appropriate Technology also boast of projects in schools across the region on ways of empowering the youth to on sustainable ways of protecting the environment and how to better up their lives with the knowledge of appropriate technology.
In the field of publishing Prof. Norbert has written extensively on several topics and has published book and articles both for his local German and foreign readers on issues around social and economic development.
He has often received the support of the German Senior Expert Service (SES) Bonn, where his been an active member for years. On the occasion of the medal awards in Bamenda the people wished the professor well and long life in all his endevours.
The 20th May day is one of Cameroon official national events where the country celebrates its national unity and military might. In the nations capital Yoaunde President Paul Biya presided over the event which was commemorated under the theme: The Army, The Nation working together towards meeting security challenges for an emerging Cameroon.
Highlights of the event in Cameroon included long hours of civil and military parades in all rank and files. A military match past of a mixed contingent of the Nigerian and Cameroon forces in honor of their determination to fight terrorism within their common boarders gave the event pomp and pageantry in Yaounde. Choral and traditional musical displays by schools highlighted the theme of the event. Some Cameroonians who received medals at this occasion included senior citizens, politicians, civil society members and development experts.
Labels: CAT Bamenda, DGFK Berlin, RUC Alahkie, SES Bonn, SPATHcameroon
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:20 AM,
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