Illuminating Kakuma one solar light at a time.
Illuminating Kakuma one solar light at a time.
For many families in Kakuma Refugee Camp, the day ends when the sun sets. Nights are dark and still, with little to no electricity to light the way. But thanks to a pilot solar light project, refugee students have received tools and knowledge to change that themselves.
The project, launched by Take Action Global (TAG), a nonprofit based in the USA and Belgium, set off a string of activities at the Maggie Innovation School in Kakuma. Over the course of a week, students took coding and climate hub classes, explored a new school garden, learned about briquette production, and saw the workings of a solar irrigation system and water tank - all part of initiatives launched in 2024. But the highlight of the week came when students learned to carry the sun home by building their own solar-powered lights.
Student sits next to solar-powered lights he made with his classmates in Kakuma
Building brighter nights
In just three hours, nearly 60 students had built their own lights from scratch. They soldered wires, connected batteries, attached tiny solar panels, and repurposed plastic bottles, learning how water inside amplifies the glow. When they set their lights outside to charge, their pride was as bright as the bulbs themselves.
Concurrently, students in Belgium were working on similar projects - though for many of them, it was their first encounter with the realities of climate change and the potential of solar energy. At midday, screens lit up for a virtual exchange between the Kenyan and Belgian students. They asked questions about each other’s lives and cultures before presenting their solar light projects. The differences were striking.
Belgian students had used cardboard boxes for their designs, while the Kakuma students relied on plastic bottles and added a working switch to create more advanced lights despite having fewer materials.
Then, the mood lightened as both groups shared music and danced together online. The celebration was capped with a special message from Her Royal Highness Princess Esmeralda of Belgium, who applauded the students’ creativity and encouraged them to keep innovating.
Live class sessions in Kakuma between students in Kakuma and students in Belgium during TAG's session in Kakuma.
From classroom to home
To see the lights’ impact up close, TAG visited two students’ homes. One boy shared how he’d been stung by a scorpion in the dark the night before. With no light to see it, and no proper medical supplies, he treated the wound with toothpaste and shoe polish. The next day, he showed up to class - determined to build a light to prevent such dangers in the future.
Each student also received a glow-in-the-dark t-shirt and bracelet, small symbols of a much larger achievement.
UNHCR, in collaboration with the Government of Kenya, works with partners such as Take Action Global (TAG) to expand access to education and innovation among young refugees and their hosts in refugee-hosting areas in Kenya. Through this collaboration, UNHCR helps create opportunities for learners to connect with global classrooms, build digital literacy, and explore creative solutions to challenges in their communities. These efforts are part of a broader move to strengthen education systems and equip young people, including refugee youth, with skills and experiences that prepare them for the future.
Students learning how to make solar lamps in Kakuma
More than light
This project was about more than illuminating rooms. It was about giving students the skills to think critically, solve problems, and take action - qualities that empower them far beyond the classroom.
By upcycling plastic bottles, they also learned to address plastic pollution, turning discarded materials into something useful.
For the Belgian students, the exchange challenged assumptions. They saw that refugee youth are not defined by need, but by resilience, creativity, and determination and that even with less, they can do more.
“We are more than our circumstances,” one student said, holding up his glowing bottle. “We can change things, starting here.”
