Solar-Charging Backpacks Are Helping Children To Read After Dark

July 10, 2025

Innocent James, who grew up reading by kerosene lamplight in Tanzania, founded Soma Bags to help children study after dark with solar-powered backpacks. The company transforms discarded materials into backpacks with flexible solar panels that charge during students' walks to and from school, providing 6-8 hours of reading light. Since starting in 2016 with handmade products, Soma Bags sold 36,000 solar backpacks across Africa last year, offering an affordable alternative to kerosene lamps at 12,000-22,500 Tanzanian shillings ($4-8).

Who is affected

Children in rural Tanzania and across Africa who lack electricity access
Parents who previously had to choose between saving money and allowing their children to read at night
Families relying on kerosene lamps for lighting (fewer than half of Tanzanian households have electricity, dropping to just over a third in rural areas)
Students who can now read after dark without expensive, dim, and potentially hazardous kerosene lamps

What action is being taken

Soma Bags is producing and selling solar backpacks with panels that charge during children's walks to and from school
The company sold 36,000 solar backpacks to people across Africa last year
James continues running reading groups for children from his mobile cart twice a week
International organizations and the British government are recognizing Soma Bags through awards and institutional support

Why it matters

The solar backpacks provide an affordable alternative to kerosene lamps ($4-8 per bag versus the equivalent of 12-22.5 days of kerosene)
Children can read for 6-8 hours on a single charge, even during cloudy weather
Kerosene lamps produce dim light, pollute indoor air, carry burn risks, and are expensive to maintain
The technology enables education after dark without electricity infrastructure in places where the sun sets around 7pm year-round
The initiative addresses barriers to childhood literacy and education in areas with limited electricity access

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint