My name is Aichetou Babou, and I live in a region of Senegal called Tambacounda. I’m going to tell you what I’ve learnt about how to produce clean and affordable energy.

In the area where I live, we have strong sunlight all year round, yet the power of the sun is not being used to change how we generate electricity. Many people are forced to manage without electricity simply because they can’t afford it.

To bring electricity to those people who don’t currently have access to it, we decided to transform solar energy into electrical power. With the support of the power stations and in collaboration with Senelec (the national electricity company of Senegal) and also with the support of the government, we equipped families with solar panels. These panels can be used to generate electricity in isolated areas without creating carbon dioxide.

To make it happen, technicians, alongside young people like me from the local community and the surrounding areas, were first given training on the installation of solar panels and then set to work.

It wasn’t always easy to assemble the panels or to install them, because we sometimes lacked the right equipment or encountered technical problems. However,  with the help of the technicians, we were able to install the panels in several areas, for example, on the SOGAS road and in the villages nearby.

As a result, many families have become self-sufficient, and this will make it easier for them to access electricity and will also reduce their electricity bills. We made this happen, thanks to a reduction in the price of the solar panels, thanks to government aid and with the help of the NGOs.

This English translation has been possible thanks to the PerMondo project: Free translation of website and documents for non-profit organisations. A project managed by Mondo Agit. Translators: Rachel Holland, Paul Fisher. Proofreaders: Paul Fisher, Rachel Holland.