Solar Energy for a Refugee Camp
Solar energy for improved living conditions
More than 200,000 people live in the Kakuma refugee camp in north-western Kenya – most of them without access to a reliable power supply for years. The Solar Energy for a Refugee Camp project supplies solar power to a school, a clinic, a water pump and 60 families living in particularly precarious conditions. At the same time, 20 young people in the camp receive training in solar technology, help with the installation of the systems and take over their maintenance and any repairs.
Initial situation and challenges
The Kakuma refugee camp is located in north-western Kenya – one of the largest camps in Africa with over 200,000 residents. The living conditions are extremely challenging: a lack of electricity makes health care, education and water supply difficult. At the same time, young people face a shortage job opportunities.
A needs analysis by our partner organization Solar Mtaani showed that energy poverty increases many of the existing challenges and makes progress in everyday life more difficult. Where there is a lack of electricity, there is also a lack of light – for learning, for walking safely in the dark or for medical treatment at night. Everyday life remains restricted and simple activities become a daily challenge.
Our approach
With the Solar Energy for a Refugee Camp project, Solafrica is equipping central facilities with solar power – including a school for children with and without disabilities, a health station and a water pump. In addition, 60 families living in particularly precarious conditions will receive small solar systems with several lamps. Young people from the camp are being trained in solar technology. They help to install the solar systems, maintain them and train the families. This also gives them career prospects and income opportunities for the future.
Project start with secured partial financing
Annual budget
Current project phase
Implementation partner
- Solar Mtaani
- Faulu Foundation
- Umoja ni Nguyu
Targets 2025-2026
- Improved access to education, health care and water supply in the Kakuma refugee camp (Kenya)
- Ensuring the professional maintenance of solar systems and creating career prospects
- Improving the living conditions of families in particularly precarious circumstances
Effect
In a school for children with and without disabilities, the new solar system makes teaching easier: light in the classrooms creates better learning conditions – and for many children, the opportunity to do their homework after dark. In a health station, the reliable power supply enables the safe storage of medicines and reliable treatment – even at night or during power cuts. And a solar-powered water pump makes access to clean water easier for around 60 households.
At the same time, young people in the camp are trained as solar specialists. They help to install the solar systems, maintain them and train the families – gaining practical skills that open up new avenues for them, because with knowledge and responsibility they can contribute to change themselves.
The project shows: even under difficult conditions, solar energy can bring concrete improvements. Together with local partners, we are committed to ensuring that the knowledge remains in the community and that the positive impact is felt in the long term.
Would you like to find out more about this project?
2700 persons
