Solar Learning for a Refugee Camp

Solar power for a school, a clinic, a water pump, and families in vulnerable situations – the Solar Energy for a Refugee Camp project brings sustainable energy to the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya. In addition, local volunteers are trained in solar technology, opening up new opportunities for young people.

The situation in the Kakuma refugee camp in northwestern Kenya is extremely challenging for its residents. In particular, the lack of stable electricity poses major problems in key areas such as healthcare, education, and water supply. Most residents have been living in the camp for many years, with little to no realistic prospect of returning to their home countries.

The Solar Energy for a Refugee Camp project equips community institutions with solar technology to provide reliable and affordable electricity, thereby improving the living conditions of the camp’s population. To ensure the smooth operation and maintenance of the solar systems, local volunteers are trained—offering them new professional opportunities in the process.

The first phase of the project is a pilot designed to demonstrate that energy poverty can be effectively addressed with solar power, even under difficult humanitarian conditions.

Since

2025

Current project phase

2025–2026

Annual budget

CHF 142’000

Implementing partner organizations

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Goals

The Solar Learning for a Refugee Camp project pursues the following goals:

  1. Improved access to education, healthcare, and water supply in the refugee camp:
    By installing solar systems at a school, a clinic, and a water pump, the camp’s population benefits from more reliable and effective services.
  2. Ensuring proper maintenance and creating job prospects:
    Young volunteers from the camp are trained in the basics of solar technology to ensure the long-term functionality of the installed systems and to open up sustainable career opportunities.
  3. Improving living conditions for vulnerable families:
    Installation of solar lighting systems to provide 60 households with access to clean and reliable light.

Activities

Starting in September 2025, 20 young people from the Kakuma refugee camp will receive training in the basics of solar technology. Over the course of several months, they will acquire the knowledge needed to support a team of solar technicians in the installation and maintenance of larger solar systems.

After completing the training, they will help equip a clinic, a school for children with and without disabilities, and a water pump with solar installations. The young trainees will not only assist in the setup but also take on responsibility for the long-term maintenance of the systems.

In addition, 60 families in vulnerable situations will receive so-called pico solar systems—small solar lighting kits consisting of a solar panel, a battery, and three lamps. The trained volunteers will install these systems, train the families in their use, and provide ongoing maintenance and troubleshooting support.

Would you like to support us?

Do you want to know more about this project?

Please contact us. We are happy to advise you personally.

Project management

Martin Wanner

+41 31 511 93 55

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