Travel

On Tuesday the 14^th of July 2009, Johannes Hertlein and Njonguo Edwin of GREEN STEP e.V. were joined by Kristen (a United States Peace Corps Volunteer working with Nkong Hill Top-Buea), Folefac Vincent Anu (Delegate of Nkong Hill Top) and Sylvester Fondu the driver, for a field trip to Lebialem from the 14^th to the 17^th of July. Johannes parked all the stuff needed for the trip in the vehicle on the eve of the trip to ensure timely departure at 7:00 am on Tuesday 14^th. This worked out until 7:00 am when Johannes and Vincent met Edwin and Kristen at the Nkong Hill Top office at Buea from their Great Soppo Street 8 residences. At the office, Vincent remembered that he forgot his laptop at home so there was need to go back to Vincent’s house. Kristen and Edwin therefore packed their stuff in the boot of the vehicle (Toyota Hilux) haphazardly because Sylvester was still waiting at his Bonduma residence where he was supposed to pack his lots in the vehicle and seal the boot for the trip. Driving from Street 3 junction to Street 8 junction to collect Vincent’s laptop, Edwin’s bag (brief-case) containing documents and a digital camera dropped. This was only noticed when the team joined Sylvester at Bonduma. Johannes told Edwin of the missing bag, but Eddwin though Johannes was joking until Edwin alighted to cofirm for himself. “What if the bag is missing?” Johannes asked. “Then it is missing”, Edwin replied, adding that luckily, there was no laptop inside. The team made a u-turn to go in search of the bag between Bonduma and Street 8. Just then did Atemnkeng Claudia of Nkong Hill Top call Vincent saying that the bag was found at Street 7, Great Soppo. It could never have fallen in a better place than in front of the house of a former Nkong Hill Top staff, Forcha Angeline, fondly called Madam Angeline. The bag was therefore collected from there and the team hit the road at exactly 7:45 am. Without any stop, not even at Melong for the usual snacks and drinks, it was a very smooth 4hour-ride till ACREST at Baleveng, a small village beside Mbouda in the Western Region of Cameroon.

ACREST

Momanyi the Kenyan, Ghislain and Arsene who had just returned to ACREST from a wind turbine training workshop organised at Buea by GREEN STEP e.V. and Nkong Hill Top were very fascinated to see and welcome the team of 5. They could however, recognise just Vincent, Johannes and Edwin. Kristen and Sylvester were then introduced to the ACREST staff. The latter showed the visiting team around ACREST, especially for Vincent, Kristen and Sylvester who were all visiting for the very first time. About 45 minutes later, the Managing Director/Proprietor of ACREST in the person of Vincent Kitio, arrived from the market where he went shopping. A complete introduction was made, with Vincent (Nkong Hill Top) and Vincent (ACREST) gladly meeting each other. It was now time for GREEN STEP e.V. (represented by Johannes) to agree on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ACREST (represented by Vincent Kitio and Simon) in the presence of Nkong Hill Top, represented by Vincent Anu and Edwin who doubles as GREEN STEP e.V. staff.

Johannes could not print the MoU because his laptop broke down just before he could back up his files on Sunday 12^th. Therefore, Simon needed some 1hr to download and print the MoU sent to ACREST by Johannes via internet. Very few, if not no questions or objections, came from ACREST regarding the draft MoU presented them by GREEN STEP e.V. Both organisations signed 4 copies of the MoU with each organisation retaining 2 copies. Immediately after the signing, the team from Buea again hit the road for M’muock through Dschang where Alemnkeng Francis of GREEN STEP e.V. joined the team.  

M’muock

It took some few minutes short of 2 hours to arrive M’muock Fosimondi from Dschang, although the state of the road is getting worse by the day. There was no need for any announcement prior to everybody dressing warm as the cold of the area said “Welcome” especially to Vincent and Kristen who were visiting for their very first time. To Sylvester, his second visit seemed colder than the first. “Everybody may have to be evacuated from this village”, he said in humour. A relaxation night at the market-square over a few bottles of beer was characterised by some general discussions on the village and its people. Johannes and Kristen were later taken to the Nkweteyim’s beside the Nkongle Market, where GREEN STEP staff usually lodge, while Vincent, Francis, Sylvester and Edwin lodged at Foh-Zeshung’s palace at Mbelenka, some 150m away from the market square. This was just for Tuesday night though, as the team was to descend to Fon Fozao’s residence beside Molah Palace on Wednesday morning to start work.

Trip to Fon’s Private Residence/Molah Palace

On the way down to Molah Palace, the team got stuck at the middle of nowhere when Sylvester announced that the vehicle clutch was finished. This was about mid-way Mbelenka and Molah Palace. How could this have been sensed so that a spare clutch was taken along. There was no choice than pushing the vehicle off the narrow road and attempting to rely on mechanics of the area who were also not available. There was now need for Edwin to call Fonang Jacob (owner of a similar Toyota Hilux) and get the contact number of his mechanic at Dschang to rush and salvage the situation.

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In order to save time and cost, Edwin further called the Nkong Hill Top mechanic in Buea, obtained the exact description of the clutch-plate type which David Tanjong gave as ASCO 106, and provided the mechanic from Dschang with. Meanwhile, Johannes, Francis and Kristen were already trekking to Fon Fozao’s residence. Dr. Kennedy, who just arrived the palace Wednesday morning on special assignment from MUDECA and the Fon sent some 3 boys to transport the few portable materials that the hired motor-bike could not take along.  Vincent, Sylvester and Edwin later trekked down also. After trekking for over 45 minutes instead of the 20 minutes estimated by Johannes, Vincent said “Johannes estimated the distance as a typical BANGWA-MAN would do”.

With all the necessary working materials and tools available at the Fon’s residence, work proceeded smoothly for the installation of the water turbine to generate electricity. In a bid to test Francis’ ability after his training by Johannes since late February, Johannes left most of the work to Francis which he successfully did, that is, construction of the dam, piping and fixing the turbine to the ground. Meanwhile, the rest of the team from Buea, accompanied by Dr. Kennedy (also from Buea) and Ajamah (Teacher from Yaounde) visited the GREEN STEP constructed water turbine at Folepai water-fall which powers Molah palace. A few irregularities such as water getting into the altenator casing were identified as the possible cause of the turbine not working for about a week. It was not even possible to measure the electricity output from the turbine because the volt/ahm metre battery got broken. Johannes promised to work on it on Thursday morning. By 4:00 pm, all converged at Molah palace for a hectic lunch prepared by the wives of the palace. Francis and the boys who assisted him, as well as the mechanics from Dschang who had also completed their job and drove the repaired vehicle down to the palace all joined the hectic lunch. The mechanics were however, in a hurry since it was getting dark hence departed for Dschang. It was another relaxation evening over a few bottles of drinks at the 3-corners market square where there were interesting discussions on politics, education, development, etc. The cold and the rains were however irresistible, so by 9:30 pm, all headed home where supper was already set: next was sleeping time.

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Connection and Completion at Fon’s Residence

            On Thursday morning, Johannes and Francis connected the Fon’s residence directly from the turbine through a battery bank and a 1000w inverter. The residence was and is presently powered through this renewable energy technology. All present shouted in joy as it lighted: there was no doubt if it will work yet there is always joy when it works. Epessa and Peter were guided and given strict instructions on how to manage the system. Edwin put the instructions in writing and designed tables in an exercise book to ease data collection for the two. The two were provided with Francis’ contact number to always call in case of any fault.

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Coronation of Nkem at Palace

Little did the GREEN STEP/NKONG HILL TOP team know that Dr. Kennedy’s special assignment extended beyond witnessing the installation of the water turbine at the Fon’s residence. By noon on Thursday, a more hectic lunch was prepared at the palace for their guests. To some of the guests, it seemed like celebrating the newly lighted house, but it was more to this. After eating and drinking, Dr. Kennedy and some notables ceremoniously marched into the palace community hall with two sets of beautiful regalia. The wives of the Fon craved the indulgence of all and expressed their ‘thank you message’ to GREEN STEP/NKONG HILL TOP for all they had done to the palace and to M’muock Fosmondi, making mention of the renewable energy and environmental education benefits. Particularly, they declared to Johannes and Cornelia (in absencia) that they have now become son/daughter of M’muock Fosimondi, and should therefore feel at home any time they are at M’muock Fosimondi.

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It was at this juncture that Dr. Kennedy spoke on behalf of MUDECA and the Fon, sending words of thanks across and re-assuring collaboration between M’muock Fosimondi and GREEN STEP/NKONG HILL TOP. The highest-ranking notables then rose, invited Johannes to stand before all present, coronated him with the rank of NKEM, decorated him with traditional regalia, and automatically changed his sitting position. “Welcome to the trail of NKEMs”, he was told. Onwards, he will always sit to the right of any building in case of any traditional occasion. Kristen did the great ‘photography job’ in and out of the hall as well as in front f the palace. Although absent, Cornelia Ehlers was raised to the same ranks. Her absence was really regretted as she had to cut-short her stay in Cameroon for some very important call back in Germany. Her set of traditional regalia and good-will messages were sent through Johannes who will be travelling to Germany at the end of the month.

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Departure to Mbelenka

The coronation of the NKEMs was great but the team was again thinking of how to arrive Mbelenka again, considering the bad state of the road and the great hills. With this fear of being stuck, the team trekked for about an hour to the point of the vehicle which went ahead. The vehicle was full beyond capacity and Edwin had to make it up to Mbelenka sitting on the luggage. The trip was far better than was expected as we were not stuck at any point. After the team visited the rain-water harvest tank constructed by GREEN STEP, Dr. Kennedy and Ajamah continued their journey to Buea and Yaoundé respectively.

Departure through Dschang to Menji and back to Buea.

On Friday 17^th, the GREEN STEP/NKONG HILL TOP team departed M’muock at 7:00 am. Hendrieck, a German volunteer working at Bamenda-Cameroon, joined the team at Dschang where Edwin transited for some 5 hours as they headed for Menji. The plan was to pick Edwin up at Dschang upon return from Menji for the return trip to Buea, while Kristen and Hendrieck travel to Bamenda. On the to Dschang from Menji, Johannes called to tell Edwin that they mistakenly forgot to pick him up and were already at Santchou. Both Edwin and Johannes bursted into laughter over the interesting joke, then Johannes told Edwin they were to arrive Dschang in about 15 minutes which they did. The team was again at Buea by 9:30 pm for Vincent to have a rest and prepare for the NKONG HILL TOP General Assembly meeting which was slated for Saturday 18^th July 2009.