Centre for Appropriate Technology
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Labels: Appropriate Technology, Prof. Dr. Norbert Pintsch
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 3:08 PM,
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Farmers Seeking Renewable Energy in Cameroon
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Bio gas technology increases food crop production and income security
Introduction
Some livestock farmers in Cameroon with animal dung are now adopting
bio gas technology facilities in a bid to improve sustainable natural
resource management by improving soil fertility and to reduce
deforestation for fuel wood. The project which is supported by a
development organization working in the area of poverty alleviation
and care for the earth is helping these rural resource limited Farmers to increase crop and animal production from using the full potentials of digester affluent as organic fertilizer and crop waste from harvest to feed animals.
At the bamendakwe community in the NW-Region of Cameroon some farmers
share the benefits there are deriving from this technology which they
say is cheap and affordable.
Labels: Appropriate Technology, Cameroon, CAT, Farmers, Njini Victor, Renewable Energy
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 12:44 PM,
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Traditional Culture and Future Development
Monday, October 1, 2012
More than 10 years of project work have not been completely documented, and described in an introduction by Koumpa Isa / Governeur NWR and a prologue is written by Prof Dr Mathew Basung Gwangfogbe.
Part 1: By program director of CAT, Mr Njini Victor Ndu
Part 2: By Aaron Kaah Yancho with articles about the region. He is also the publisher
Part 3: With articles on the topic Development and Practical Work, by Dr Senta Siller, the project initiator and Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch, who also organized the picture material and the epilogue comes from Prof Dr Anthony Ndi.
Download the pdf file here.
Labels: Aaron Kaah Yancho, Appropriate Technology, CAT, Dr Senta Siller, Handicraft, Koumpa Isa, Njini Victor Ndu, Prof Dr Anthony Ndi, Prof Dr Mathew Basung Gwangfogbe, Prof Dr Pintsch
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 12:55 PM,
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Inauguration of Royal University Centre, RUC, Alahkie
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Edited by PSA, LHE
Prof. Dr. Norbert Pintsch / IPC (pvt) LTD
and; Njini King Caro / CAT (NGO)
© DGFK e.V., 201218
This movie is part of the collection: Community Video
Producer: Dr. Norbert Pintsch, Audio/Visual: sound, color
Labels: Appropriate Technology, DGFK, IPC, King Simon Leshey I, Lutz Fluegge, Njini King Caro, Njini Victor Ndu, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch, RDC, Royal University Centre, Traditional Medicine
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 10:02 PM,
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Mini Solar Hydro Electrical Power in the Akwaya
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
CAT Cameroon installs a Mini Solar Hydro Electrical Power in the Akwaya Municipality in the South West Region of Cameroon
Aaron Kaah Y
The Center for Appropriate Technology CAT Cameroon under the 2012 Cameroon government investment budget will installed a mini solar hydro electric power in the Akwaya council area of the south west region of Cameroon. The electrical power will generate low cost energy for the council area tele center and other government structures in the divisional head quarters. The Project piloted by the Akwaya council is executed with funds from the 2012 investment budget. The low cost energy will boast life and economic activities in Akwaya sub division which faces a plethora of challenges brought in by lack of a good road infrastructure and communication net work.
Travelers to Akwaya from other parts of Cameroon must go through Nigeria before getting there. The very bad nature of the roads and the many multiple notorious police checks points give passenger’s headache, some times leading to the exchange of hot air and street fights. Akwaya sub division may also enter the Guinness book of record as the place in the world today which has a total black out in communication net work. Some reports say residence have to climb a tree a certain top before access communication net work. The municipality is the bread basket of the south west region of Cameroon and other parts of Nigeria but the lack of a road to connect to these places leaves the locals very misery and poor. Illiteracy and ignorance is also high in the area because of basic well equipped learning institutions. Letters from there to the outside world are done by hand and sent by mail. People in the Akwaya area have never seen an electronic money transfer agency. Residence of the municipality throng a lone tele center communication to send messages out of the land locked area. Even government structures are non functional in the municipality due to lack of power and energy to run their reports. A lot of professional work is still done manually with type writers and by hand making effectiveness and efficiency lost. The tussle between the SDF and the CPDM to host the council in this area has brought in more frustrations. The people because of their plight have vowed never to vote for the ruling party but their choice of the SDF has brought no changes yet.
The teaching of ICT’s in school out there has never been thought of. Most students and residence of the area see ICT’s gadgets only when they travel to other areas of the country or on papers. The construction of this mini hydro solar energy plate will also provide energy for the revitalization of the government services often empty for lack of workers who take pretext that there is no energy to run the equipment. The excitement in the Akwaya sub division is high ahead of the proper inauguration of the solar energy plate. The director of CAT Cameroon Njini Victor has mobilized a crack team of technicians to see this dream came true.
Labels: Appropriate Technology, Hydro Electric Power, Njini Victor, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 8:10 AM,
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Knowledge on Appropriate Technology
Monday, May 14, 2012
CAT-Cameroon and its volunteers bring knowledge on Appropriate Technology to the Staff and Students of the Baptist Comprehensive College Nkwen Bamenda
The learning community of the Baptist comprehensive college Nkwen Bamenda has pledged to continuously keep their environment neat and to manage waste in a sustainable manner. The principal of the institution Mr Bominang Eugene made the recommendation last Feb,14th 2012 on behalf of his students and colleagues on the occasion of an open door day organized by CAT Cameroon in collaboration with two German visiting volunteers Lutz and Renate from the German Senior Expert Service under the theme youths for a better environment.
In a brief lecture to the students during the event, the director of the Center for Appropriate Technology NjiniVictor thanked the BCC student community for accepting to share with them the benefits of sustaining and protecting the environment. Victor appreciated the staff for embracing their wish to talk to the students about renewable forms of energy that was a solution to the needs of people in the rural areas. He further explained to the students that the role of CAT Cameroon was to promote and provide solar energy plates and low cost building material so as to maximize the protection of the environment and nature. In a question and answer session on what could be done to protect the environment the students said tree planting, pollution control and proper waste disposal were the solutions. Talking on the advantages of solar energy victor told the students that it was cheap and affordable as well as efficient for house lighting and cooking. The CAT director laid the students through a demonstrative exhibition on how solar plates trap energy for storage and usage.
In response to the lectures and demonstration the principal of the school Mr Bomingang Eugene said that they were over whelmed with joy and excitement to be part of the CAT open door project. Mr Eugene thanked the CAT director and his volunteers for thinking about them for the second time running in the knowledge sharing campaign on appropriate technology. The school boss called on his students to keep the knowledge and to be custodians of environmental protection in school and off the classroom. He pledged to make appropriate technology lesson a compulsory course for those students of the technical department of his institution.
The CAT volunteers from Germany Lutz and Renate animated the event with musical drills and comic displays to the excitement of the students. The gift of a football to the students by the volunteers brought thunderous applauds in the hall. In appreciation to the gift and sketches, the student’s senior prefect said the lessons as well as the sketches and ball were very significant not only for their entertainment but learning process. The senior student thanked CAT and the volunteers for thinking about them every year and for working to improve the lives of people in the semi urban centers and in the rural communities.
The Baptist Comprehensive College Nkwen Bamenda has some 176 students enrolled in to the three learning departments of the school. (Commercial, Grammar and Technical.)
Labels: Appropriate Technology, CAT, Prof. Dr. Norbert Pintsch
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 8:04 AM,
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CAT Cameroon Blossoms at 10
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Aaron Kaah
The year 2011 marked ten years of existence for the Center for appropriate technology CAT¬ Cameroon. The center and the wish to provide handicrafts and low cost energy alternative sources to the rural people in Cameroon saw the light of day in 2001 in Bamenda Cameroon under the diadem of the present Director Njini Victor. This dream shifted gear when the center came in contact with the Prof Norbert Pintsch and Dr Senta Siller of the German Senior Expert Service SES and the German Society for the Advancement of Culture DGFK in those early days. This partnership has delivered capacity building, mentoring and material support to the CAT Staff through Prof Pintsch over the years. The need to create awareness on its activities saw CAT negotiating unprecedented cooperation with many institutions of learning in the North West region of Cameroon to expand the knowledge and was able to make alliances with an array of people across the society to markets its goods and services.
Ten years down the line the untold success story of CAT in the domain of affordable renewable energy has been unparallel. The center is a proud owner of more than ten awards and prizes won through competitions and workshops organized by the Cameroon government as a befitting tribute to his achievement and hard work. The center for appropriate technology prides itself with a vast rich digital equipment laboratory, computers, books and workshops and exhibition stands reason why the institution is the best option to research students and local community members interested in improving their knowledge and skills on renewable energy sources and handmade dolls. A team of volunteers from the German Senior Expert Service are annually visiting CAT to create awareness in schools and colleges on environmental protection and sustainability, climate change, holistic approach to housing construction and handicrafts. Hand made dolls produced in CAT have not only sourced cash for low income young girls and women in some community in Cameroon but have helped to market the cultures traditions of the Grass field of Cameroon across the boarders.
As the months roll in to more years the Center for Appropriate Technology CAT Cameroon intends to expand its existing scope to other regions of Cameroon.
Labels: Appropriate Technology, CAT, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 8:06 AM,
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Institute for Alternative Methods IAM@BUST
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
The idea for the establishment of the IAM originated out of inquiries from students of local universities, who received information on various occasions at the CAT (NGO) about Appropriate Technology.
Objects mentioned in the literature can be seen at CAT and their working is explained.
Apart from NGOs, companies and private persons, there are CAT clubs in 7 Sub-Divisions and a Youngster-Club since 2009. Future students learn here in a playful manner among others handling devices, which are friendly to the nature.
The basic concept of IAM was initiated due the excellent relationship with BUST.
Of course one finds reference to Appropriate Technology in the brochures of universities, these are however understood as an extension of the regular study programs.
But Appropriate Technology is lot more !
It is a complete way of thinking and therefore to be placed equally along with disciplines like economy, trade, society and politics etc.
It is important here to differentiate between the rather holistic approach with elements from traditional culture, like visible in rural life, and the rather open resource depleting system, a it can be seen in urban and semi-urban regions and the closed independent system.
The holistic system is however not to be understood as an escape into the past, but on the contrary, it carries forward the futuristic approach by building upon the existing open system.
One can understand it well from the following example: the low-tech method of faeces-disposal on one side and the high tech recycling method as used in the europeon space lab.
Brainstorming about new concepts also finds its place at the IAM: The Organization of Climate Conserving Nations (OCCN) as an alternative to OPEC...
We can see, AT is more than only a technical aid.
Labels: Appropriate Technology, IAM at BUST, IAM-BUST, Prof. Dr. Norbert Pintsch
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 2:01 PM,
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Institute for Alternative Methods at BUST
Saturday, April 21, 2012
The idea for the establishment of the IAM originated out of inquiries from students of local universities, who received information on various occasions at the CAT (NGO) about Appropriate Technology.Objects mentioned in the literature can be seen at CAT and their working is explained.
Apart from NGOs, companies and private persons, there are CAT clubs in 7 Sub-Divisions and a Youngster-Club since 2009. Future students learn here in a playful manner among others handling devices, which are friendly to the nature.
The basic concept of IAM was initiated due the excellent relationship with BUST.
Of course one finds reference to Appropriate Technology in the brochures of universities, these are however understood as an extension of the regular study programs.
But Appropriate Technology is lot more !
It is a complete way of thinking and therefore to be placed equally along with disciplines like economy, trade, society and politics etc.
It is important here to differentiate between the rather holistic approach with elements from traditional culture, like visible in rural life, and the rather open resource depleting system, a it can be seen in urban and semi-urban regions and the closed independent system.
The holistic system is however not to be understood as an escape into the past, but on the contrary, it carries forward the futuristic approach by building upon the existing open system.
One can understand it well from the following example: the low-tech method of faeces-disposal on one side and the high tech recycling method as used in the europeon space lab.
Brainstorming about new concepts also finds its place at the IAM: The Organization of Climate Conserving Nations (OCCN) as an alternative to OPEC...
Labels: Appropriate Technology
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 8:18 AM,
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Snail farming
Friday, September 23, 2011
Guardian post international
Recently, snail farming has become affordable for the thousands of poor farm families living in the fringes of cities in Cameroon. Snail rearing involves cheap labors and a fresh opportunity is enabling farmers to save these endangered animal species from extinction. Eating snails for meals had long been associated with certain tribes in Cameroon. Consumers prefer snail meat to beef, pork and other regular sources of protein because they are, very nutritious, lean meat, low cholesterol, [provide] a lot of energy and will be prescribed to nursing mothers and malnourished children as affordable source of protein. Snails which were once scavenged in the bushes for food and incomes are now reared in homes. The use of pesticides in many plantation farms across Cameroon is blamed on the decrease in snail production reason why Heifer Cameroon initiated a home base production scheme for the farm families. Today a scarcity in production has precipitated a need to match supply with demand. The development organization Heifer Cameroon has been working with some communities across the south west, littoral and western regions of Cameroon to support the rearing and marketing of snails as part of its efforts to end hunger and unsustainable land use systems in Cameroon.
Dr. Henry Njakoi, a Veterinary doctor and Heifer’s Country Director in Cameroon, says it’s thanks to existing Snail farming technology in neighboring countries, the farmers already have some knowledge of their own to contribute to the effort. So his organization is concentrating on other aspects of training farm families to produce snails, how to create a conducive habitat, provide nutrition, and promote good health and reproduction. “When you provide the right conditions, they actually do multiply and get ready for the market,”Dr, Njakoi explains. Since village farmers lack refrigeration facilities, Heifer International Cameroon teaches other methods of preservation.
Read more »Labels: Appropriate Technology, Snail Farming
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 2:19 PM,
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Technic and Culture?
Monday, August 30, 2010
Labels: Appropriate Technology, CAT, Culture, Prof. Dr. Norbert Pintsch
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11:36 AM,
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