LocationsHow a Small Farming Club in Mongu Is Turning Solar Energy into Hope, Jobs and Justice
What If the Sun Could Power Dignity?
November 6, 2025
Ndowana Farming Club members posing for a group photo
UNDP Zambia/ Jabbes Banda
What if the sun could do more than light our homes?
What if it could power dignity, restore livelihoods, and stitch broken dreams back together?
In Mongu District, Western Zambia, that vision is being realized by the Ndowana Farming Club, a 45-member community group harnessing solar energy to create livelihoods and drive inclusive growth.
They are women. They are youth. They are persons with disabilities. And they are proving that renewable energy is not just about technology. It’s about transformation.
Supported under UNDP’s Climate Promise, the Productive Uses of Electricity (PUE) project is helping communities across Zambia harness renewable energy to build livelihoods, strengthen resilience, and power inclusive development.
From Chicken Feathers to Climate Champions
It started with a question: What can we do with waste?
Bernadette Namposya, the club’s secretary, remembers the early days. “We looked at chicken feathers, something everyone throws away, and saw potential. We researched, experimented, and started making duvets, jackets, and cool bags.”
But without electricity, their dreams were stitched by hand, slowly and painfully. Machines sat idle, and orders went unfulfilled.
That changed with the arrival of grants from the PUE project. With new solar installations - 20 panels, 2 geysers, 4 freezing machines, and 9 fridges, Ndowana’s dream finally had power behind it.
The lights stayed on. Sewing machines hummed. Fridges froze. And for the first time, the community’s ambitions began to truly thrive.
Ice Blocks, Not Broken Dreams
As Ndowana’s solar-powered innovations multiplied, so did their impact across Mongu.
At Kapulanga Market, fish traders used to wake up early, only to find melted ice and spoiled fish. Their businesses were melting away, literally.
“Before Ndowana bought the fridges, we’d find the ice blocks had dissolved,” said one woman trader. “Now, they’re always there. We buy in bulk. Our fish stays fresh. We sell more. We earn more.”
A male trader added, “We used to go in groups of seven or more and still return empty-handed. Now, even ten of us can go and all return with ice blocks. Our fish doesn’t rot anymore. We’re back in business.”
Waste Is the New Wealth
At Mukoko Primary School, students are learning that plastic waste isn’t trash, it’s a resource.
“We collect snack packs, bottles, and containers,” said Head Teacher Mr. Oliver. “Ndowana turns them into pavers. Soon, our school grounds will be paved with what others throw away.”
The club’s paver samples are now being tested by the Zambia Bureau of Standards. If approved, they could pave roads, schools, and futures across the country.
Banana Fibers, Biocharcoal, and Big Dreams
Ndowana’s innovation doesn’t stop there. They’re weaving banana bark into baskets and hair accessories. They’re making bio charcoal from fallen leaves, no trees cut, no forests harmed.
And they’re dreaming bigger.
“We want to expand to other districts,” Bernadette says. “We want to open outlets. We want to train more women and youth. We want to show that climate action can be local, inclusive, and life-changing.”
Powering Peace, One Panel at a Time
This isn’t just about business. It’s about healing.
“When women earn, there’s less violence at home,” Bernadette explains. “When youth are busy, there’s less drinking, fewer early marriages, fewer junkies. Solar power is giving us more than electricity. It’s giving us peace.”
A Model for Zambia and the World
Ndowana’s story is a blueprint for what’s possible when climate finance meets community leadership.
Supported by UNDP Zambia’s efforts to advance inclusive renewable energy solutions, the initiative is showing how solar power can fuel livelihoods, create jobs, and strengthen resilience to climate change, all while promoting gender equality and social inclusion.
It aligns with Zambia’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Rural Electrification Master Plan, contributing to national goals for clean energy access and sustainable development.
But more than that, it speaks to a universal truth:
When you give people power, real power, they don’t just survive. They shine.
So the next time someone asks what solar energy can do, tell them about Mongu. Tell them about feathers, fish, and freezers. Tell them about Ndowana.
And ask them this:
What if the sun could power dignity?
UNDP staffer Chimuka Chuulu flanked by club members while processing Banana fiber
UNDP Zambia/Jabbes Banda
