CAT Bamenda and its Partners Secure a Bright Future for Development Projects in Cameroon
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Njini King Caro
The Center for Appropriate Technology Bamenda (CAT) Cameroon is one of Cameroon’s people oriented institution with a long time experience in the field of alternative and renewable energies in the country. CAT was created in 2001 to demonstrate, build and influence people and rural communities on how to change their lives and livelihoods through sustainable ways of environmental protection and the development and usage of appropriate technologies. Over the years there has not been any limits to the success story of this organization. CAT under its managing director Njini Victor has renewed the hopes of people living in the rural communities by creating sufficient awareness on renewable energy sources, and environmental protection.
Lately the Center took it’s know how to the Akwaya community where lighting had been a long time cry of the people for centuries. This area was one of Cameroon’s landlocked villages in the South West region without a passable road. The lack of communication with the outside world either with a cell of fixed phone compounded its woes. Equipment in gov.t offices were still manualy run. Schools and colleges only dreamed on science and ICT studies. All this resulted to low levels of live. Poverty was taking it tall on the community.
Through the Akwaya council with funds from the Cameroon gov.t the Center for Appropriate Technology successfully installed a hydro mini dam for the provision of electricity for that community in 2012. This has not only rejuvenated some development projects in that municipality like the proper functioning of the lone gov.t run hospital in that remote community, the tele-center center which saves as the link between that community and the out side world but has improved life for the locals of the area. Energy has promoted the economy of the area as the villages saved their hard earned money that was once used to afford kerosene and bush lamps. CAT has also designed and constructed a solar PV system for the Bamungo integrated mental health care offices in the Ngokentujia division as well as solar driers and cookers in other areas of the NW Region in a bid to improve rural life and to reduce their dependence on natural resources like fuel wood and forest.
CAT under the mentorship of Prof. Norbert Pintsch, its annual volunteer from the Senior Expert Service SES Bonn now boast of an Institute for Alternative Methods. This project which has been going annually for over ten years today is aimed at empowering kids and students from environmental clubs in schools across the region to eradicate poverty and sake environmental protection methods through the use of appropriate technologist. These youngster clubs meet every year in Feb. in daily workshops and rallies animated by CAT volunteers from Germany. CAT Cameroon has plans to shift these youngster workshops to camp joy at Sabga hills this summer of 2013 where these mixed kids and students will have ample time to study the benefits of Appropriate Technology, Renewable Energy and Climate Change.
CAT under the mentorship of Prof. Norbert Pintsch, its annual volunteer from the Senior Expert Service SES Bonn now boast of an Institute for Alternative Methods. This project which has been going annually for over ten years today is aimed at empowering kids and students from environmental clubs in schools across the region to eradicate poverty and sake environmental protection methods through the use of appropriate technologist. These youngster clubs meet every year in Feb. in daily workshops and rallies animated by CAT volunteers from Germany. CAT Cameroon has plans to shift these youngster workshops to camp joy at Sabga hills this summer of 2013 where these mixed kids and students will have ample time to study the benefits of Appropriate Technology, Renewable Energy and Climate Change.
CAT Cameroon has also linked up with the Rural Development Cooperation (RDC) of Bamenda with head office at the Alankie village in the Mankon Fondom of Mezam division for the training and mentoring of Cameroon in various aspect of life. This partnership will assist RDC to host a department of Appropriate Technology with CAT boss Njini Victor as the head of department.
In 2011 CAT Cameroon led a public rallies at the Alankie village to officially open the doors of the project. While more paper work is going on at the national and the international levels to secure funds, and teaching aid for this institution, the feasibility studies for the RDC project have been concluded. CAT Cameroon will construct a mini hydro dam at the Bafmeng –Menn community that will generate energy for the running of the project and its workshops and will also provide visiting lecturers from the German Society for the Advancement of Culture (DGFK). Before the idea conceiving the RDC came to light the founder ambassador Simon has planted a broad base botanic garden at the Bafmeng village to save as a teaching aid for the students at the department of natural and traditional medicine.
The Menn Cultural and Development Organization (MECUDA)had since taken up the registration of students at that community in to the two main departments of the Rural Development Cooperation (RDC). CAT and its partners Senior Expert Service Bonn, Germany and the German Society for the Advancement of Culture (DGFK) have already donated equipment learning and teaching equipment worth millions of FCFA to help advance the smooth take off of the project in 2014. Lecturers and head of departmental heads for the school have also been appointed to see in to it that work begins effectively in 2014.
As an added impetus to the school project CAT and its foreign partners are turning full cycle to secure a brick moulding machine for the department of appropriate technology so that its students will benefit from the installation from that practical information and technology. The chairman of the board of governors for this RDC project Prof. Norbert Pintsch founder of the Foundation for the Promotion of Academic Collaboration (FPAC) that’s supports projects in Pakistan, Cameroon and Colombia has pledged to secure more aid and learning networking in these foreign countries that will see this dream come to fruition. The RDC was authorized by Cameroon minister of higher education on the 5th of October 2011 under the decision no.11/0513/MINSUP/SG/DDES as a non profit making and non political organization to train Cameroonians on natural and traditional medicine and appropriate technology and housing.
To solve the housing need of the country , a CAT department code named Society for the Promotion of Appropriate Technology and Housing (SPATH) which is headed by Mme Mercy is providing practical knowledge and technical expertise in the fields of designing town planning modules and masters plans for rural councils. This department has also been in to the construction and designing of affordable low cost building material for semi urban settlers in Cameroon. To help demonstrate this effort sample of this low cost building material have since been displayed at the CAT head office site for the public by this department. These accessible and cheap building material to say the least are alternative to cement, high cost roofing , walling, flooring, ceiling, and painting. SPATH is also geared at providing manpower solutions not only to the students of the RDC but to the general public considering the fact that high low levels of man power have serious effects on poverty. In the North West Region as elsewhere in Cameroon they is a yearning need to link this man power vocational knowledge or training to industrial needs so as to curb poverty and jobless especially among the youth.
It is on this tenet that CAT Cameroon conceived this SPATH project which is now providing an opportunity for the youth to build their skills in this domain. Some CAT graduates under this project are now earning a good living and are happily able to sustain their lives and families. CAT Cameroon in 2002 and 2005 was awarded a certificate of meritocracy for its achievements in the areas of appropriate technology development in Cameroon by the Cameroon post news paper. The Center is also proud holder of a certificate of recognition from the head of state of Cameroon president Paul Biya.
In March of 2013 the watch dog news paper declared and donated a certificate of recognition to CAT volunteer director and mentor Prof. Norbert Pintsch “ Best Foreign Expatriate of 2012” in Cameroon. The news papers described the work of the laureate under CAT as exemplary and life changing especially in the areas of man power development, appropriate technology and housing.
As an icing on all CAT activities the Cameroon gov.t under the ministry labor and social security last May 20th 2013 gave Prof. Norbert Pintsch two labor medals for CAT contributions to the socio –economic and human development of Cameroonians.
Prof. Norbert Pintsch is one of the rare few foreigners expatriate to have been accorded such a favor.
From the above projects CAT Cameroon and its partners are better prepared to provide practical solutions to the needs and dreams of the people living in the rural areas of Cameroon.
Labels: Appropriate Technology, Cameroon, CAT Bamenda, DGFK Berlin, Dr. Norbert Pintsch, Volunteers
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 5:04 PM,
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