Solar-Powered Mobile Charging Hub 

Secular Students of São Tomé and Príncipe 

Members: Alice Joshua, Manuel Costa, Sara Neves, Edmilson Dias Male, Catia Ramos 

Email: alicejosh1994@gmail.com

Phone: +239 990 4866

What does humanism mean to you?

To us, humanism means recognizing that we possess the agency, reason, and responsibility to give our own lives meaning and to shape a better society based on human values rather than supernatural beliefs. In São Tomé and Príncipe, where secular voices are often isolated, humanism represents a call to action. It inspires us to practice mutual aid, foster critical thinking, support one another’s well-being, and build an inclusive, compassionate community through tangible, science-backed solutions that improve our daily lives. 

Project Description

This project will establish a student-led, solar-powered mobile device charging kiosk on our university campus in São Tomé, providing a reliable and green source of electricity in an area where frequent power outages disrupt student life. By utilizing a high-efficiency solar panel paired with a portable solar generator, we will offer fast-charging services for mobile phones, tablets, and rechargeable study lamps. The hub will be stationed at a secure designated outdoor spot on campus, managed on a rotating shift schedule by our secular student members. This initiative serves a dual purpose: it directly addresses the persistent grid reliability issues faced by our peers, and it acts as an active, visible community touchpoint where students can learn about renewable energy, find out about our humanist group, and engage in free thought and open discussion in a supportive environment.

Budget

Portable Power Station with AC/DC & USB Outlets ($140)

Foldable 100W Solar Panel ($100)

Multi-Port USB Charging Cables & Adapters Pack of 5 ($20)

Heavy-Duty Lockable Storage Box for Equipment ($40.00)

Total Project Cost: $300

Expected Income from Project, with Timeline

To keep the service highly accessible while maintaining self-sufficiency, we will charge a small fee of 5 Dobras (approximately $0.22 USD) per phone charge, which is standard for local kiosks. We anticipate charging an average of 15 devices per day.

Daily Projected Income: $3.30 USD

Weekly Projected Income: $16.50 USD (operating Monday through Friday)

Monthly Projected Income: $66.00 USD

Timeline:

Months 1–2 (Post-Funding): Secure the equipment, run safety tests, and launch campus advertising.

Month 3: Reach a steady operation rate of 15 charges per day, achieving the target monthly income of $66.00 USD. 100% of these proceeds will go directly toward maintaining the equipment, buying replacement cables, and funding future secular community outreach projects and student welfare.

Benefits to our Community

This solar charging hub will deliver direct, practical support to the university community by offering an uninterrupted, eco-friendly power source during frequent local blackouts, ensuring students can keep their devices charged for academic work. It demonstrates the power of humanist values in action showing that human cooperation, reason, and scientific technology can directly solve everyday local challenges. Additionally, the kiosk creates a safe, highly visible, and non-judgmental space on campus, making it much easier for questioning or secular students to find a welcoming community and connect with like-minded peers.

For a deeper dive into affordable, community-led energy setups in off-grid environments, this video on setting up a budget portable solar generator is highly relevant. It walks through exactly how compact power stations store solar energy and safely distribute power to multiple devices, which mirrors the technical foundation of Alice's charging hub.