Clean drinking water is a scarce commodity for many people in our world.
1.2 billion people have no access to this most important of life's commodities, whilst over 2 billion are not connected to a waste water system. 80% of disease in developing countries can be attributed to contaminated water. In many African nations the water supply, use of water and purification are a vital focus in improving the living conditions of the population.
Droughts are particularly prevalent in rural areas, with the route to the nearest water source often requiring hours of marching. In industrialised countries, the use of water is also an important subject.
The sparing use of water due to modern supply systems, the technological purification of contaminated water and retaining precipitation water in the natural circuit are all focuses of water management today.
Within the framework of training at the Berlin "Regional Office for the Promotion of Industrial Occupations in Developing Countries", the subject of water management is a focus of the training program for specialist and management personnel from developing countries. The training course for state-certification as a specialist majoring in horticulture and agriculture essentially examines the subject of rainwater management and the economic output of water onto horticultural and agricultural areas.
To date, the examination of water management in African countries was not a subject included in the school's lessons because all projects in the Berlin area were related to its special climatic conditions. Within the framework of the work of the regional office and the healthy contact with stipendiaries from Cameroon, the Negropolis Foundation, represented by Dr. Mouafo, contacted our school asking that we support them in the planning of a school media centre in Cameroon, in the field of water management and the supply of renewable energy. Dr. Mouafo introduced the project to the technical class FT 71 L in September 2008. The students were enthusiastic about the idea and the new challenges. In November 2008, the class started working on this water concept, which – together with the future-orientated energy supply concept - could constitute a decisive step towards improving living conditions in the community of Bassossa / Bansoa.
Documentation (in German only): Projekt Mediathek Kamerun.pdf (4.1 MB)
