Solar-Powered Backpacks Light Up the Future for African Children
Innocent James, founder of Tanzanian startup Soma Bags, experienced firsthand the struggles of reading after dark due to lack of electricity in rural Tanzania. His solution? Solar-powered backpacks made from recycled cement bags. These innovative backpacks charge a built-in reading light while children walk to and from school, providing 6-8 hours of illumination – a cheaper and cleaner alternative to kerosene lamps. Soma Bags has sold 36,000 backpacks and is supported by the UNDP, demonstrating a sustainable and impactful solution to energy poverty and improving access to education for children in rural Africa.
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