Solar Backpacks Helping The Children Of Africa

James Innocent, a native of Arusha, in northern Tanzania, faced significant challenges during his childhood due to a lack of electricity. His family relied on kerosene lamps for nighttime lighting, which resulted in high costs and health risks. Determined to change this reality, James, now 33 years old, developed an innovative solution: backpacks equipped with solar panels that charge a reading light, allowing children to study without depending on expensive and polluting light sources.

The project began modestly, using repurposed cement sacks, a sewing machine, and a solar panel. Over time, the initiative evolved into the social impact company Soma Bags (“Reading Backpacks” in Swahili), which sold 36,000 solar backpacks last year, benefiting families across Africa. After a day of exposure to the sun during the school commute, the backpack stores enough energy to power the lamp for up to eight hours.

James drew inspiration from noticing that many children borrowed books but could not read them due to a lack of lighting at home. In rural areas of Tanzania, less than half of families have access to electricity, and many still depend on kerosene lamps, which are expensive, polluting, and hazardous. With the solar backpack, the cost is equivalent to just a few days of kerosene use, making it a more viable alternative for many families.

Soma Bags expanded rapidly, and in 2019, James founded his own factory. In addition to solar backpacks, the company now produces travel, sports, and cosmetic bags made from recycled materials. The idea caught the attention of NGOs and fashion brands worldwide, and today, the backpacks have already been distributed to children in countries such as Nigeria, Madagascar, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The need for solutions like this remains enormous, as approximately 600 million Africans still live without electricity.

James Innocent’s initiative stands out as a practical and sustainable solution to a critical problem faced by many African communities. By providing an accessible and eco-friendly light source, he not only improves educational opportunities for children but also contributes to public health and environmental conservation by reducing dependence on polluting fossil fuels.