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(Author: Edwin Njonguo) A training workshop on Wind Turbine construction was held from Saturday May 30^th to Sunday June 14^th, 2009 at the National Advanced School of Public Works – Buea Annex (NASPW-AB). Organised by GREEN STEP e.V. GERMANY and NKONG HILL TOP-BUEA, the training workshop was aimed at representatives of Schools, Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and individual craftsmen in order to create a Renewable Energy multiplier effect in Cameroon. The workshop had as objectives to train participants on how to construct whole wind turbines, maintain broken wind turbines, create renewable energy multiplier effects, and to promote renewable energy businesses in Cameroon.

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 There were thirty two (32) participants split into two groups, working for six full days each. The first group began training on the 30^th of May and was only having sessions over the week-ends (staggered training), that is, Saturdays and Sundays for three consecutive weekends, ending on June 14th. This group was made up of 20 participants, 15 of whom came from the NASPW-AB (2 teachers and 13 students), and the rest 5 were individual craftsmen from within Buea.

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The second group was made up of 12 participants most of whom came from outside Buea, representing organisations/institutions such as ACREST of Bangang (beside Mbouda in the Western Region), Government School Fosimondi of M’muock Fosimondi village in Lebialem Division, Strategic Humanitarian Services (SHUMAS) of Kumbo in the North Western Region, Ecole Nationale Supérieur Polytechnique (ENSP-UYI) of Yaoundé, International Centre for Norms and Values (ICNV) of Buea, Dav Furnitures (DAVF) of Buea, GREEN STEP e.V. and Nkong Hill Top CIG of Buea. The session for the second group ran from the 9^th to the 14^th of June (block training), with both groups working together on the last two days (13^th and 14^th) of the whole workshop.

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The workshop trainer was Johannes Hertlein who worked from May till June 14^th without any weekend, alongside Njonguo Edwin, the workshop coordinator, and Bambot Lynda who was in charge of catering and always ensured that participants had their meal, and in time.

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Johannes took the participants from scratch, beginning with some theory for about an hour, followed by actual hands-on training. All these included training on identifying a favourable site for wind and the quantity that could be harvested; the size of the turbine; where the materials can be found and their prices; carving the blades; making the coil winder and moulds; winding the coils; placing magnets; fabricating the stator; explaining the rectifier, cable and battery system; constructing the tail; vanishing and painting; turbine assembly and wiring; fabricating the tower; erecting the tower and finally erecting the turbine. Basically, it involved metal, wood and electrical work.

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The training was, at least, gender sensitive with 2 of the 32 participants being able ladies (Odelia and Vanessa), both from the NASPW-AB. Generally, all participants were always punctual and very pro-active.

In the course of the training, both groups worked with the trainer in producing two turbines, one with blades made out of wood, and the other with blades made out of pressure pipe. The former was offered to M’muock Fosimondi (Lebialem Division), where the GREEN STEP e.V. (GS) project pilot phase is implemented, and the latter to NASPW-AB, received by the Director (Mr. Kouontchou) on behalf of the school.

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In the course of the training, two members of “Engineers without Boarders”  British chapter came visiting at the workshop venue where they were briefed on the GREEN STEP e.V. technology by Edwin. The two were very fascinated and appreciated the technology as well as the GS approach to disseminate knowledge.

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At the end of the training, the participants were instructed by Cornelia and Claudia Atemnkeng on how to now start a business on the acquired knowledge. GS motivated the participants by establishing a loan scheme through which the participants can obtain loans to start renewable energy businesses. The participants, in filling out evaluation forms provided them by GS, gave their appreciation of the training.

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To mark the end of the training workshop, the donated turbine was erected at the NASPW-AB on the 14^th of June 2009 at about 2:00 pm where the Director was invited to receive and switch on the turbine on behalf of the school. All participants were then accorded each, a certificate of participation and successful completion. Just before the award of certificates, and coinciding with the closing date of the workshop (14^th June), Cornelia made to Edwin an amazing surprise, presenting a pleasant birthday gift and congratulating him for coordinating a wonderful training workshop. The award of certificates was followed by group photographs of organisers, participants, the hosts, guests, as well as individual photographs.

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At the end of it all, journalists were very interested in the news making event and granted interviews to the trainer, Johannes, Cornelia, Edwin, Vincent Anu, and a few others. Most interesting during the interviews was the fact that journalists kept moving cameras and recorders up and down, and very close to Cornelia’s face. This she admitted was amusing and distracting her from concentrating on what to say. The movie can be seen at: [15] http://www.africanews.com/site/Communitybased_green_energy_in_Cameroon/list_messages/25662

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Immediately after the closing, the Director of the NASPW-AB in his joy invited all who were there present for a drink at Pavilion Hotel, in celebration of the wonderful event.

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GREEN STEP e.V. and NKONG HILL TOP in this way joined the rest of the world in advance to celebrate the first ever Global Wind Day which was June 15^th 2009.

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