Three young African talents awarded for their innovative ideas

The electrification of a health centre through renewables, a solar-powered fridge to support the cold chain of farmers, and a platform to empower women through renewable energy: these are the three projects that won the 2020 Micro-Grid Academy Young Talent of the Year Award. The three winners are Norah Magero and Elly Kevin Oriko, both from Kenya, and Eileen Phoebe Lara from Uganda, and their achievement was announced by Salvatore Bernabei, President of the RES4Africa Foundation.

The Award was launched last summer by the RES4Africa Foundation, the promoter of the Micro-Grid Academy, thanks to the support of Enel Green Power: the main aim of the initiative was to reward young African talents who, thanks to particular projects and initiatives, seek to address the major environmental and social challenges that hamper the full development of African countries.

“These Micro-Grid Academy students were able to make the most of the training they received, they demonstrated to be able to return and amplify the knowledge they acquired by creating a real project to bring a concrete impact in their communities” states Salvatore Bernabei, “They demonstrated their ability to think out of the box, to be the change that is needed, and I’m glad today to announce the winners of the first edition. Congratulations Eileen, Elly and Norah: you have demonstrated that empowering the youth means empowering the development of entire communities”.

The Award was open to young African innovators from the Micro-Grid Academy network who had launched RE-related innovative ideas in their community. Among the projects received, the three winning ones were selected for their ingenuity and their potential positive impact.

Through the Micro-Grid Academy, the RES4Africa Foundation aims to play its part in the achievement of access to energy (SDG 7), quality education (SDG 4) and gender equality (SDG 5) by ensuring quality training opportunities. The Award was launched in order for particularly forward-thinking participants to scale up their projects and activities; as it has proven to be a appreciated initiative, it will be replicated in 2021.
 

Meet the winners

19 February 2021

RES4 AFRICA