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ºÙºÙÊÓƵ Helps Empower Those Tackling Africa's Energy Challenges

Sarah Mulwah of Botswana has been an environmental consultant and a marketing manager for a nature reserve where she helped track white rhinos for a conservation project.

But a six-week energy institute at ºÙºÙÊÓƵ is helping her blaze a trail for a new endeavor — setting up a lending library of solar lanterns for rural schoolchildren whose families are too poor to connect to the power grid.

She is among who have been leveraging the energy expertise of ºÙºÙÊÓƵ — and beyond — as part of the , the flagship of President Obama's .

"I have to find a way to make it work — to make it a long-term project," said the 32-year-old.

A zumba class
Sarah Mulwa, front right, of Botswana participates with other fellows in a zumba class at the International House. (Jennie Konsella-Norene/ºÙºÙÊÓƵ photo)

The institute is helping empower the fellows to bring energy to sub-Saharan Africa where, according to the U.S. Agency for International Development, two out of three people lack access to electricity.

Mulwah and the other fellows — including entrepreneurs, leaders in non-governmental organizations and government employees — have gained knowledge and skills in academic and leadership sessions, gleaned insights from tours of leading facilities in the energy field and developed support networks.

She said Kurt Kornbluth, associate director of the Energy Efficiency Center at ºÙºÙÊÓƵ and founding director of the Program for International Energy Technology, has taken apart a solar lantern to show her the technology and help her get the best value for her project.

On a tour of the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and its Cyclotron Road, she saw "small projects that have a big impact" like a biomass stove, a solar lantern and a baby incubator made with the heading pad and blanket. "It was interesting to see how they've mastered technology that can quickly change the life of a child or mother," Mulwah said.

She's also benefited from the experience and inspiration of the other fellows. "A lot of fellows have taken the risk to pursue something," she said. "They're giving me that strength to not depend on a paycheck but to go forward and fulfill my dreams."

Flashlight at fan
Beatrice Muthoni Mgugi of Kenya uses a strobe tachometer to measure the rotational speed of a household fan and the correlated energy used by its motor as Tshegofatso Neeuwfan of South Africa, center, and instructor Ryan Stroupe of the Building Performance Program at the PG&E Pacific Energy Center look on. (Gregory Urquiaga/ºÙºÙÊÓƵ photo)

 

A cameraman stands on a ladder at a solar farm
Richard Knee of ºÙºÙÊÓƵ Facilities Management steadies a ladder for cameraman Richard Neill as he shoots video for a Voice of America profile on fellow Adele Boadzo of South Africa at the ºÙºÙÊÓƵ solar farm. Producer Beth Mendelson watches. (Julia Ann Easley/ºÙºÙÊÓƵ photo)

 

Groups stands around tree
Hugh Safford Ph.D. '99, a regional ecologist with the U.S. Forest Service and a research associate at ºÙºÙÊÓƵ, demonstrates one of the steps for measuring carbon in a tree during the fellows' two-day visit to Lake Tahoe, including ºÙºÙÊÓƵ' Tahoe Environmental Research Center. (Julia Ann Easley/ºÙºÙÊÓƵ photo)   
A man and woman at table with computers
Yves Tuyishime of Rwanda talks with Fatima Oyiza Ademoh of Nigeria during an academic session at the energy institute. (Greg Urquiaga/ºÙºÙÊÓƵ photo)
A tractor pulls a wagon at Russell Ranch
The fellows tour Russell Ranch of the Agriculture Sustainability Institute at ºÙºÙÊÓƵ.(jennie Knosella-Norene/ºÙºÙÊÓƵ photo)

 

Five people smile at the camera
From left: Beatrice Muthoni Ngugi of Kenya, Fatima Oyiza Ademoh of Nigeria, Miyir Mohamed Abdillahi of Djibouti, Eder Shamir Borges Lopes Semedo of Cabo Verde and Mizan Welderufael Massa of Ethiopia. (Jennie Konsella-Norene/ºÙºÙÊÓƵ photo) 

ºÙºÙÊÓƵ is one of 36 universities hosting the summer programs for about 1,000 fellows selected through a competitive process from among 40,000 applicants. Serving as academic director was Professor Kate Scow of the Department of Land Air and Water Resources and director of the Russell Ranch of the Agriculture Sustainability Institute at ºÙºÙÊÓƵ.

The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative and is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the U.S. Department of State and administered by IREX, an international nonprofit.

Media Resources

Julia Ann Easley, 530-752-8248, jaeasley@ucdavis.edu

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