In Bamenda just like similar cities across Cameroon, , access to electricity is no longer just a luxury but a lifeline. For thousands of young girls and women in this conflict-affected region, frequent blackouts are not only an inconvenience; they are a barrier to education, communication, and economic opportunity.
Launched in response to the region’s energy poverty and growing electronic waste, HER SOLAR CHARGER is an innovative, community-powered initiative empowering 30 vulnerable, under-resourced girls and women between the ages of 15 and 25 to take control of their futures by using the power of the sun and ever increasing amount of electronic waste.
For over seven years, the Anglophone crisis has plunged communities into chaos. More than 6,000 civilians have lost their lives, 5 million have been affected, and nearly 4,000 schools have been destroyed. With over 850,000 children out of school, access to even basic educational resources let alone electricity has become a struggle.
Girls and women are hit the hardest as many rely on mobile phones for research and learning, but with no steady power supply, even this is a challenge. Generators are expensive and polluting, and e-waste continues to pile up in homes and communities.
HER SOLAR CHARGER as a solution provides practical, hands-on training in solar technology, teaching participants how to build solar chargers from recycled electronics. These chargers can power devices ranging from 5 to 12 volts which is perfect for phones, lamps, and tablets.
This isn’t just about electricity. It’s about equipping young women with technical skills, entrepreneurial knowledge, and environmental awareness to create sustainable change in their communities.
HER SOLAR CHARGER has empowered 30 girls and women by equipping them with technical skills in solar energy and charger assembly contributing to sustainability by reducing electronic waste and cutting reliance on fossil fuel-powered generators. This project is also challenging gender inequality and promoting a circular economy by transforming e-waste into opportunities.
Over 30 girls and women have been trained, producing more than 30 functioning solar chargers. Five workshops were led by two expert trainers. This project was supported by the Chatham Sustainability Acceleration program.
