In northern Cameroon, young people are learning to bring solar light to the clinics that need it most

Many health centres in northern Cameroon run without dependable power — vaccine fridges, maternity wards and night-time care all at the mercy of generators and kerosene. The Solar Bright initiative, backed by UNDP with the Cameroonian government, attacks the problem from both ends: it installs solar power in off-grid clinics, and it trains young people — many of them displaced by hardship from their home communities — to become the technicians who install and maintain it. The three-month training, during which trainees work on real health facilities, ends with a certificate recognised by Cameroon's Ministry of Vocational Training. 'At least 60% of our graduates have already found a job,' says the programme's Lifogha, 'and 20% have started their own businesses.' Kudus Sony Kangimi, 31, a former security guard, puts it simply: 'From guarding gates to leading green solutions that bring light and cleanliness to my community, I have found purpose.'

SDG 7 · Affordable and clean energy — Mechanism: institutional program