The lady (based in Luwero District) operating the LOG`EL SOLAR solution. Apart from providing an alternative energy source, she generates continuous revenue hence, realizing her entrepreneurial dream
In a typical Ugandan setting, women play the roles of digging, fetching water, doing household work, cooking, hosting visitors and, above all, bearing children i.e. they are movers of the “caring economy” which however, carries no definite rewards except that they benefit from occasional “thank you” expressions from their husbands, children, visiting neighbours, relatives, and community members. To-date however, these roles are shifting very fast, thanks to the onset of Information Communication Technologies and technology in general.
As can be attested by the attached photograph, the lady seen operating this solution is rural based and apart from providing an alternative energy source, she generates continuous revenue hence, realizing her entrepreneurial dream; with this revenue she is empowered to pay school fees for her children, supplement the budget to support food and other key needs for her household,
She also plays the role of providing the rural farming communities with a constant energy source that enables them to use their phones uninterrupted thus, leading them to access and benefit from information that addresses their personal, farming and community needs. Furthermore, the photograph is a testimony of the combined role of women and youth in developing, producing and applying ICTs for transforming especially rural communities i.e. the LOG`EL Commercial, solar phone-charger is produced and disseminated by the LOG`EL team (mainly comprising the youth) and it is being commercially utilized by a female operator.
This technology solution has the potential for replication in other countries for, apart from being an alternative source of affordable energy, it has viable prospects for reducing poverty, managing climate change, reducing environmental degradation and uplifting the convenience for humanity in general.
5 Phone solar charger
YOUTH DESIGNED SOLAR PHONE CHARGER
To-date, Uganda faces a barrage of disasters (natural and man-made) like many other countries worldwide; apparently, these include persistent challenges of poverty and climate change hazards. For poverty, high unemployment rates especially among the youth (comprising over 60% of Uganda’s population) while Climate change hazards result from widespread deforestation, destruction of wetlands, charcoal burning, unsustainable brick-making and, use of wood fuel without replacing of trees utilized for these activities.
Furthermore, the situation is compounded by the challenge of unstable supply of hydro energy electricity in most rural and a good number of urban areas in Uganda. Consequently, citizens in these areas and the environs, are vulnerable to unmanageable budgets, interrupted information flow, unstable energy-flow and, environmental degradation, resulting into, unreliable weather patterns, draughts, food insecurity, floods, recurrent mental and general ill-health and, low productivity.
Fortunately, Ugandans are a resilient society, with a booming informal sector rated at about 90% of non-agricultural businesses. As a result, the LOG`EL Commercial, Solar Phone-Charger (produced and disseminated by the LOG`EL team) which has attracted many youth (female and male alike) to acquire and use it either for starting new phone-charging businesses or simply adding such services to their existing businesses.
Apparently, this solar solution has been developed and activated by the youth through LOG`EL‘s Entrepreneurship programme which aims at inculcating the culture of entrepreneurship into the mind-sets of young people, leading to the creation of a rich combination of young peoples’ capacities in creative, business, scientific, technological, agricultural and production operations.
10 Phone Solar Charger
INVITATION
The LOG`EL team gladly invites all parties who access this article and photos to share their response in the form of enriching knowledge, experiences, lessons, good practices, linkage to likeminded opportunities and equally important, expression of interest to collaborate – in promoting such alternative energy solutions for community empowerment through reducing climate change challenges.
Once again, enquiries for collaboration and any key, relevant interactions are most welcome.
Prepared and Shared by:
Wanakwakwa Job – Research & Innovations Counsellor LOG`EL PROJECT, Email: wjob@logelproject.org
LOG`EL PROJECT youth Member aligning the solar panels
