In Cameroon, Loïc Oum founded an association four years ago: Low-tech Yaoundé. A structure that allows used materials to be recycled in order to limit their environmental impact while benefiting certain Cameroonians whose resources are limited.
« In Cameroon and in Africa in general, tons and tons of electrical and electronic waste are dumped every year. » Loïc Oum has been making this observation for years. This thirty-year-old engineer in the Ekoumdoum district of Yaoundé has one goal in life: to reduce the mass of electronic waste that accumulates in landfills and warehouses across the country. Reduce and, at the same time, provide everyone with the minimum comfort for daily life. With his association Low Tech Yaoundéhe implemented simple and accessible technological solutions for Cameroonians with limited resources.
« In other countries, there are small associations that are created where people repair instead of throwing things away. And I think that this is the philosophy that we want to bring to our home of not overconsuming because in many villages, people buy devices that are polluting and that are not suitable or that cannot be repaired. , here locally. And when these devices become damaged, they go into the water and the waste pollutes. And for us, that was the goal, to show people that they are capable of repairing waste themselves instead of continually throwing it away. And secondly, being able to make them autonomous. Why not also empower local youth and even create emulation in terms of the profession of the future? This would help young people locally to escape poverty, to emerge from local lethargy and to be able to dream of a better tomorrow. ».
With the help of associations likeTechnological Solidarity etLow Tech LabLoïc Oum and his ten volunteers have multiplied practical solutions using batteries, solar panels or used bulbs which they recycle into solar lamps, village street lamps or even individual lighting.
« Sometimes, explains Loïcin certain villages, according to the needs of the communities, we make ovens, low-tech solar dehydrators, that is to say small ovens for drying cassava, corn, seasonal vegetables. The goal is also to set up tutorials to allow other communities to be able to replicate and copy these devices. We want to allow, with workshops, as many people as possible to be able to take ownership of it and replicate it further. ».
Loïc Oum’s association shares its techniques widely and free of charge for manufacturing these inexpensive and eco-responsible solutions. Because in a world overloaded with waste, there is truly an outlet to preserve the environment by providing an activity for those who do not have one.
In Goma in RDCFrédéric Famba is a researcher and member of the World Resources Institutean organization specializing in environmental issues.
« Recycling firstly allows a form of treatment to avoid the harmful effects of lithium pollution for example which results from this waste and then on the other hand the reuse or recycling of panels also allows better management, very good management of natural resources. From an economic point of view, this first creates local employment where young people take advantage of this dynamism to acquire new skills in the recycling of these different materials, but also in these transfers of technology. This transfer of know-how also makes it possible to revive the local economy in the African context. ».
And know-how. Low tech Yaoundé has no shortage of it. On the other hand, these activities are carried out with own funds or with a few donations. We understood that a financial partner concerned with environmental issues would not be too much on Ekoumdoum’s side.
