Get to know Dr. Erick Tambo, a Cameroonian computer scientist and dedicated community leader based in Germany. With over 20 years of experience in IT and a strong commitment to pan-African cooperation, Dr. Tambo has channeled his expertise into impactful educational initiatives in his home country. Through WIDU, he helped establish a tech and innovation lab at a school in Cameroon—empowering young minds and promoting digital literacy.
Could you briefly introduce yourself please?
My name is Dr Erick TAMBO and I'm a computer scientist from Cameroon. I came to Germany in 1999, and I've been working in IT for 20 years now. Besides, I'm very active in the Cameroonian community.
I also run a department at the United Nations University, a division that works on pan-African cooperation and educational technologies.
Can you tell us a bit more about your experience with WIDU?
I met WIDU through my wife, who runs an international German school in Cameroon. It was through her that I learned about the technical and practical aspects of WIDU, but I had already heard about the program through the African diaspora in Germany. As I've already mentioned, I'm very active in the African community, and keeping in touch with associations, friends from Cameroon and other people connected to the community means, I know about the initiatives available to support projects in our countries.
It's thanks to them that I knew this project was going to be launched. Then, as part of the support and in a practical way, I got to know WIDU through the initiative that my wife had developed, the German International School. I thought I could support some of its activities.
Think of a project you supported in your home country and what skills or knowledge did you contribute and how?
The project I supported this year was a technology and innovation laboratory at the German International School. Basically, I'm a computer scientist, so I was thinking about how to improve the computer system in schools, so that children have a slightly more practical approach to computers and science. So the idea was to help my wife set up a technology laboratory. That's where WIDU came in, to help with the purchase of new equipment to set up the laboratory and create practical experiments in computing and microelectronics.
The laboratory consists of several projects: We're currently working on a digital competition concept. We've set up digital clubs in the schools, and each school has developed its own project. A final will be held this Saturday in the laboratory.
From June to August, the laboratory will be creating a bootcamp, a 6-week programming camp on different technologies and innovations linked to technology and art. Children will study 3D printing, electronic circuits and artificial intelligence. These activities will be carried out using the laboratory's equipment.
After this program, the competition will continue for a whole year, every Saturday. The lab will also be open to all local children to come and experiment and learn a little about technology. In the long term, WIDU's equipment and this competition in the schools will be of great help in reshaping the computer science curriculum, highlighting the contribution of children, how they appropriate technologies and the solutions they develop.
WIDU has been instrumental in making all these activities possible.
What motivates you to continue investing in the development of your home country, and what advice would you give to other members of the diaspora?
With the experience we have today, we would like to contribute to the development of our country. In a way, we have a duty to contribute, to pass on, because we come from this country, which has given us so much. All our education, right up to the high school diploma, we got there. That's where the family lives, and that's where my motivation comes from. To help, not just financially, but also with ideas, for example.
The WIDU project is not just about equipment, I coach children myself, I also bring my expertise to the activities, and it's this contribution that also motivates me.
I would tell all members of the diaspora that we have a duty to contribute to our country and that we need to seize opportunities like WIDU to amplify the support we can provide to our community.
And that it's not just about transferring money, but also skills and ideas.