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Jamila Mayanja is a social entrepreneur, educator, and the founder of Smart Girls Foundation Uganda, an organisation dedicated to empowering girls to lead healthy and economically sustainable lives. At Smart Girls Foundation Uganda, girls are provided with training in male-dominated fields and supported in entering the job market, with the overarching goal of demonstrating that women are equally capable as men.

Driven by a vision to reach millions of girls worldwide, Mayanja empowers over 400 young people annually, with 80% being girls and 20% boys. These individuals are innovative and creative, driven by environmentally friendly initiatives, particularly through recycling and creating innovative solutions for climate challenges.

They have pioneered a holistic innovation called the Recycled Smart Solar Bag, aimed at keeping young men and women in school while also ensuring that girls can attend school comfortably during their menstrual periods. The bag is a collaborative effort, with girls in the tailoring department crafting the bag and those in the engineering department assembling the solar components.

"The Eco-Jua smart bag is crafted from recycled plastic material and equipped with a solar panel that charges a bulb after dark. Additionally, it features a power bank, providing digital access to every household for charging their phones," explains Mayanja.

The bag (right) includes a menstrual hygiene kit, girls can stay in school comfortably during their menstrual periods. (Courtesy)

This innovation has significant benefits for rural communities. Not only does it enable young people to study using the charged bulb, but it also alleviates the struggle of finding places to charge phones for households.

Over 12,000 girls and 50 women have been employed through this initiative. Moreover, since the bag includes a menstrual hygiene kit, girls can stay in school comfortably during their menstrual periods. The solar power capacity of the bag ensures continuous functionality, enabling them to focus on their education without interruption.