Here at the Turing Trust, we are committed to providing technology solutions that empower educational institutions while minimising environmental impact, so when the opportunity to support the University of Bertoua’s Higher Institute of Agriculture, Wood, Water and Environment arose, we were thrilled.
Where it all began
Back in December 2023, we received an email from Dr. Tofel Haman Katamssadan, a Cameroonian scientist, expressing his commitment to improving education in his home village in the Far North of Cameroon, which had been affected by Boko Haram attacks and faced significant educational challenges.
Tofel had learned of our organisation from his administrator at the University of Edinburgh’s Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems (where he had previously served as a visiting scientist), and was keen to partner with us to drive meaningful change in his country.
Our first project involved delivering 10 laptops to the Government Technical High School Meskine. Having the school in his home village, Tofel was aware of the challenges they faced and how to tackle them. With continued support from the Turing Trust, he hopes to equip 50% of the school’s 700 students and 30 staff with basic computer skills, helping to enhance lessons and improve students’ socio-professional opportunities.
The devices have already made a big impact, with the school being chosen as the centre for the written final exams for Economics students, and pupils from other schools also using the devices for practicals.
The Perfect Partnership
Having made significant progress in his hometown in the North, Tofel was now eager to further his impact and support students studying at the Higher Institute of Agriculture, Wood, Water and Environment (the University of Bertoua), where he currently works as the Chair of Department Phytosanitary Protection and Head of Division of Distance Learning and Training.
The programme focuses on the environmental impact of IT in the forest zone, equipping students with the knowledge and skills to manage and interpret data collected from different forest areas. With various modules relying on the use of computers, including GIS and remote sensing, it became clear additional devices were needed to effectively deliver these sessions.
Recognising this need, we worked with Tofel to supply 20 refurbished computers to support both students and staff at the university.
“The IT equipment will play a crucial role in training the students who have poor resources. It will allow us to build data storage systems, maximise the potential of existing hardware and reduce resource consumption.”
From storing students’ data to supporting practical lessons, the computers have already proven to be invaluable for students and staff. Dr Katamssadan Tofel Haman adds: “We envision that collaboration with the Turing Trust will be continued in the future – not only at the level of our institute, but across the entire University of Bertoua. The President of the University wants to see this collaboration grow and impact different schools and establishments.”
Our partnership with the University of Bertoua has allowed us to enhance education and research in climate-focused fields while contributing to a reduction in carbon emissions through our sustainable IT reuse model.
A big thank you to all our donors, staff, partners and volunteers for making this possible. Your support is helping us to drive meaningful change across the globe, bringing vital tools for learning to thousands of new students.
Want to help us make a difference in 2025? From volunteering to computer donation, there are loads of ways to get involved and support our work! Head to our ‘How To Help’ page to learn more.
