Ndolou Solar Charging & Community Internet Café Hub

Group: Gabon Student humanist club

Location: Ndolou Area, Gabon

Members: Punu Omar (Male, 21), Usman Abdu (Male, 22), Jean-Marc Essono (Male, 21), Brice Ndong (Male, 23), Fabrice Mba (Male, 20), Yannick Obiang (Male, 22), Rodrigue Nziengui (Male, 24), Arnaud Moubamba (Male, 21), Florent Kombila (Male, 22), Davy Boucka (Male, 20), Amina Bongo (Female, 20), Clara Mezui (Female, 21), Syntiche Ndoutoume (Female, 22), Grace Mapaga (Female, 20)

Email: punuomar9@gmail.com

Phone: +241 066 97 6338

What does humanism mean to you?

In our convictions, humanism is the conviction that we have the power and the responsibility to improve the world through our own actions, reason, and compassion, without needing to wait for external intervention. It means recognizing that every human being has innate worth and potential, and that our lives find their greatest meaning when we work to alleviate the suffering of others. As secular university students, we view humanism as an ethical commitment to using science, education, and collective effort to solve real-world problems like energy poverty and digital isolation, creating a fairer, more inclusive future for everyone while building a sustainable financial foundation for our humanist club's long-term community work.

Project

Our group is launching a community-led solar internet café hub designed to bridge the severe energy and digital divide in the remote, off-grid villages of the Ndolou area while establishing a reliable, sustainable income stream for the Gabon Student Humanist Club. Growing up in these isolated regions, we experienced firsthand how the total lack of electricity and internet access cripples education, isolates families from communication networks, and limits local economic growth. By utilizing the technical and organizational skills we are gaining at university, we aim to establish a clean energy hub that provides affordable phone charging, high-speed satellite internet access, and computer workstations for local residents and students.

The internet café will operate as a self-sustaining social enterprise. The $700 grant will be used exclusively to procure solar equipment, a Starlink satellite internet kit, low-power tablet/laptop workstations, and networking gear. We will establish a small, highly affordable fee structure for charging mobile devices and accessing internet/computer services. Revenue from these transactions will cover monthly data subscriptions and maintenance, while generated profits will be strictly reinvested into expanding the hub and funding the ongoing secular, educational, and humanitarian activities of the Gabon Student Humanist Club. By anchoring this project in our home region, we are creating an immediate economic lifeline and digital center while ensuring our humanist group achieves long-term financial independence.

Budget

• Refurbished Desktop PCs (2 Units - Dual-Core, 8GB RAM, SSD): $280.00

• Starlink Satellite Internet Kit & Integrated Router: $200.00

• 19" LED Computer Monitors (2 Units): $90.00

• Networking Equipment (8-Port Gigabit Switch, Ethernet Cabling, & Connectors): $35.00

• Peripherals & Power Protection (2x Keyboards, Mice, Headphones, & Surge Protectors): $45.00

• Café Setup & Installation Supplies (Power Strips, Cable Management, & Desk Mounting Brackets): $50.00

Total Budget: $700.00

Expected Income from Project, with Timeline

Months 1-2 (Setup Phase): No income; focusing on hardware installation, satellite alignment, community outreach, and testing network connectivity.

Months 3-6 (Growth Phase): Estimated revenue of $120–$180 per month through internet access pass sales, and device charging.

Months 6-12 (Sustainability Phase): Projected $250–$350 per month as local adoption grows and regional micro-entrepreneurs use the hub for trade and administration. Net profits will sustain monthly connectivity costs and fund the club’s community outreach programs.

Benefits to our Community

This project directly addresses both "energy poverty" and "digital isolation," which are at the root of many challenges in the Ndolou area. By providing reliable solar power and high-speed satellite internet, we connect the village to vital healthcare information, emergency services, distance learning, and agricultural market prices. Beyond economic benefits, our internet café provides an essential resource for students who previously lacked research materials and lighting after dark. By creating a modern digital space, we foster digital literacy, empower youth, and generate the financial sustainability needed for our student humanist club to continue serving the community independently.