Projects

Location: Cameroon

COREDA is an organisation which empowers and sustainably improves the living conditions of children, women, vulnerable youths and disadvantaged rural and indigenous forest communities in the marginalised Southwest, English-speaking region of Cameroon.

COREDA has a Community Relief Bilingual Nursery and Primary School with over 280 students in Tiko, Fako Division, Cameroon. Since 2016, COREDA has been running an inclusive and holistic educational programme for orphans and vulnerable and internally-displaced children at the school. Alongside lessons, students are provided with meals and psycho-social support. Thus far, three classes of students have completed 6th grade with a performance above the national average.

NextEnergy Foundation is installing a 5kWp rooftop solar system on the school. This is the first time that the Foundation is entering into Cameroon. The system will power a water pump for the school’s borehole, which is currently regularly affected by power outages. The water pump is the only source of potable water for the students and surrounding community of 1,500 people and power outages sometimes leave the community without access to safe drinking water for weeks. The system will also power the school toilets, which is essential for student hygiene, as well as a computer laboratory with 10 desktops.

The installation will is expected to be completed at the end of June 2023 and COREDA will operate and monitor the system over its 25 year lifetime.

Thank you to our colleagues from WiseEnergy – Michael Nash, Max Moss and Jose Pascoal – who volunteered their time and expertise to assess the system’s specifications to ensure that the design was appropriate for the school’s energy needs.

June 2023 Update – Installation Completion: The installation was completed at the end of May 2023. The system is powering indoor lighting and outdoor security lighting; computers in the IT lab; a projector; and, a printer. The system is also powering the pump at the borehole which is the only source of potable water for the entire community where the school is located. It will therefore both contribute to uninterrupted learning and improved educational outcomes for the students, but also reduce illness caused by water-borne diseases which spread during lasting power outages when the community has no access to safe water from the school.

With the reductions in energy costs from access to renewable energy, COREDA plans to launch an evening adult literacy programme in the near future. The focus of the programme will be on literacy (reading and writing) and basic mathematics with three classes per week for 3 hours each. COREDA expects 15 participants to begin with.

June 2024 Update – Roll out of the Project:  The system is functioning properly and COREDA’s school has an adequate and regular power supply. The solar system is being monitored regularly and the panels have been cleaned once to ensure their maximum efficiency. A fault in the communication cable of one of the inverters developed a fault but it was promptly replaced by COREDA’s solar system expert.

Thanks to NEF’s solar project, the school computer lab is running uninterrupted, enabling children to learn basic computer skills. The teaching-learning process has greatly been enhanced through interactive computer programs, the huge digital divide in orphans and needy children is being narrowed, children are now able to use a computer to accomplish tasks such as 3D drawings.

COREDA is offering exceptional quality primary education blended with daily school meals and psychosocial support and the school performance is now far above the national average. Due to the presence of stable classroom lighting, students were able to learn at night in preparation of end of end-of-course certificate examinations. So far, five 6th grade batches graduated scoring a 100% at the Common Entrance Examination and First School Leaving Certificate.

The school has been boosted by the project funded by NextEnergy Foundation as many more children are attracted to COREDA’s school with a current enrolment of 296 students.

Moreover, the school borehole is now able to provide safe drinkable water to the school and the surrounding community on a regular basis, benefiting over 1,200 people daily. As expressed by one of the women of local community: ‘the school tap is a blessing to us because every time we come to fetch water here, water is always flowing whether there is light or not’

The Primary School’s electricity bill was significantly reduced with monthly fees reduced up to 96%.

Location: Cameroon

In 2024 NextEnergy Foundation is furthering its co-operation with Community Relief and Development Action (COREDA) whose mission is to empower and sustainably improve the living conditions of children, women, vulnerable youths and disadvantaged rural and indigenous forest communities in the marginalised Southwest, English-speaking region of Cameroon.

Building upon the successful project carried out in 2023, consisting of the installation of a 5kWp rooftop solar system on the Nursery and Primary school in Tiko, Fako Division, Cameroon (read more here), NextEnergy Foundation  is funding the installation of  a 29.5kWp rooftop solar PV system on COREDA’s newly opened Secondary School serving the same community in Tiko, South West Region, Cameroon.

In September 2023, COREDA established a technical and vocational Secondary School in Tiko to provide graduates from COREDA’s Primary School with access to technical and vocational education. This education equips them with the skills necessary for economic self-sufficiency and job creation. The school offers training in Electrical Power Systems, Civil Engineering (Building/Construction), Welding and Metal Fabrication, Clothing Industry, Home Economics/Catering Services, Carpentry/Joinery, Plumbing, Automobile Repair Mechanics, and Entrepreneurship, with additional modules on Computer Literacy and Digital Skills. Located in an off-grid area, the school was in dire need of solar energy.

The support from NextEnergy Foundation has significantly enhanced COREDA’s inclusive and holistic educational program, which serves orphans, vulnerable children, and internally displaced children. The secondary school opened for admissions in September 2023 and already has 205 students enrolled, with expectations to enroll up to 600 students over the next three years.

The installation of a 29.5 kWp rooftop PV solar system was completed in November 2024. This system generates stable and clean solar energy to power workshops, classrooms, and security lighting at COREDA’s School. Adequate testing has ensured the system’s proper functioning, and teachers in the Electrical Power Systems program have been trained to detect faults and perform basic maintenance.

The solar PV system not only provides a clean, reliable energy source for the school but also serves as a practical learning center for students to learn about solar energy installation, operation, and maintenance. As part of the project, six 25W floodlights will be installed and connected to the PV system to improve security at the school and in the community.

Main positive impacts of the project:

  • The school borehole, previously powered twice a week by a diesel generator, is now powered by the solar system, providing constant access to safe drinking water for students, teachers, and the entire neighborhood. This also reduces the carbon footprint associated with diesel use.
  • The project has enabled the computer lab to become operational, allowing students to acquire digital skills.
  • Students can now engage in practical work in their respective workshops more effectively. Those in Electrical Power Systems, Clothing Industry, and Welding are using solar power to enhance their practical experience.
  • COREDA’s school is the first secondary school in the community to have an independent solar power system. This project will boost the school’s public image and is expected to significantly increase enrollment in the coming years.
  • The project provides a means for people in the neighborhood to charge their phones, enhancing the school’s relationship with the community.
  • Students can now study conveniently in the evenings on school premises. COREDA estimates that this will result in an additional 1,080 hours of study annually.
  • Approximately 1,200 members of the wider community are benefiting from the installation.

 

Location: Cameroon

COREDA – Who they are and what they do:

COREDA is an organisation which empowers and sustainably improves the living conditions of children, women, vulnerable youths and disadvantaged rural and indigenous forest communities in the marginalised Southwest, English-speaking region of Cameroon.

COREDA has a Community Relief Bilingual Nursery, Primary School and Secondary School in Tiko, Fako Division, Cameroon. Since 2016, COREDA has been running an inclusive and holistic educational programme for orphans and vulnerable and internally-displaced children at the school. Alongside lessons, students are provided with meals and psycho-social support. Thus far, three classes of students have completed 6th grade with a performance above the national average.

In 2023 NextEnergy Foundation (NEF) has supported the installation a 5kWp rooftop solar system on the primary school. This was the first time that the Foundation is entering into Cameroon. The system is currently also powering a water pump for the school’s borehole. resulting the only source of potable water for the students and surrounding community of 1,500 people.

In 2024 NEF has furthered the co-operation with COREDA funding the installation of  a 29.5kWp rooftop solar PV system on COREDA’s newly opened Secondary School serving the same community in Tiko. The school opened for admissions in September 2023 with expectations to enroll up to 600 students by 2026.

What NEF Does with COREDA in 2025:

In 2025, NEF is funding the following two new initiatives by COREDA:

Project 1 – Installation of a 29.5kWp solar photovoltaic system at Tiko District Hospital.

The hospital, located in a semi-urban area that has become a refuge for internally displaced persons, faces frequent and prolonged power outages that severely compromise its ability to provide essential medical services. These outages have led to tragic consequences, including the loss of lives during emergencies and childbirth due to non-functioning medical equipment.

By installing a 29.5KWp solar photovoltaic system, the project seeks to ensure uninterrupted power supply, which is critical for maintaining refrigeration for vaccines and medications, operating surgical and emergency units, and supporting maternal and neonatal care. The availability of reliable electricity will also power the hospital’s borehole, securing access to clean drinking water and improving hygiene and sanitation—key factors in preventing disease and promoting public health.

Beyond the immediate health benefits, the project is designed to foster a sense of stability and dignity for both patients and healthcare workers. It will create a safer, more comfortable environment for healing, where patients can receive care without the fear of power failures. The initiative also includes training for hospital staff, empowering them with the knowledge to manage and maintain the solar system, thereby promoting local ownership and long-term sustainability. The installation of the solar system is estimated to reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 602 tonnes and NOₓ emissions by 23 kilograms.

Through the realization of this project, COREDA will deepen its impact in the Tiko community. The solar energy project at Tiko District Hospital in Cameroon outlines a deeply impactful social initiative aimed at transforming healthcare delivery in a region affected by conflict, poverty, and infrastructural challenges.

Installation activities are scheduled from July through August 2025.

Project 2 – Installation of a 30kWp Solar Photovoltaic System at Ekanjoh Bajoh Village

The off-grid solar energy project in the village of Ekanjoh Bajoh, Cameroon, is a socially transformative initiative aimed at addressing the deep-rooted challenges of energy poverty in a remote and underserved forest community. Despite its rich natural resources and biodiversity, the community suffers from extreme isolation, a lack of infrastructure, and widespread economic hardship. With no access to electricity, clean water, or reliable roads, daily life is constrained by darkness and a dependence on hazardous and costly lighting sources such as kerosene lamps. These conditions not only hinder education and healthcare but also perpetuate poverty and social disconnection.

Through the realisation of this project, COREDA seeks to significantly improve the quality of life for the approximately 960 residents of Ekanjoh Bajoh by installing a 30KWp solar photovoltaic system that will power the village’s:

  • Primary school
  • Secondary school
  • Health centre
  • Church
  • 120 households
  • 20 outdoor/street lamps

This project aims to break the generational cycle of darkness by providing clean, reliable energy that will illuminate homes, schools, and public spaces. Each household will be equipped with basic lighting and power for small appliances, enabling children to study at night and families to remain connected. The project also includes the creation of a communal business and social hub, where villagers can gather, enjoy entertainment, and use powered tools such as grinding mills—reducing the physical burden on women and enhancing local economic activity.

Moreover, it will eliminate the health and safety risks associated with kerosene use, improve eye health and academic performance among children, and foster a stronger sense of community through shared spaces and enriched worship experiences. By reducing the need for rural youth to migrate in search of better living conditions, the project also contributes to community stability and cohesion.

Installation activities are scheduled to take place from the end of May 2025 through June 2025.