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New ideas and a drive for change are never in short supply in refugee camps.

Some aspects of a project only come fully into view when you see them on the ground. Reports can tell you what has been delivered, what has changed, and what results are beginning to emerge.

There was a time when Alice spent her days trying to get by. Today, her weeks follow a different rhythm: harvesting chillies, earning an income, and planning a future with her child.

When Maria Beatha talks about poultry farming, she does not begin with the chickens. She begins with the soil.

In partnership with Practical Action, Energy Saving Trust, co-Secretariat of Efficiency for Access, is delivering the Humanitarian Productive Use of Renewable Energy (H-PURE) demonstrator across three refugee camps and host communities in Rwanda.

For millions of families across Africa, cooking is a daily act of care, but also one of survival. It’s done over open flames using firewood or charcoal, often indoors and without ventilation. The smoke fills homes, lingers on clothing, and over time, seeps into lungs.

Refugees in Rwanda are transforming their futures by using renewable energy to power businesses and community services, supported by our Renewable Energy for Refugees project in its second phase. Through the project’s focus on the Productive Use of Energy (PUE), entrepreneurs are gaining tools to grow their livelihoods, foster collaboration, and drive progress for their families and neighbours.

In Rwanda’s Eastern Province, amidst the green landscapes of the Mahama sector in the Kirehe district, an initiative known as the Climate Resilient Farming Project (CRF) has taken root, achieving remarkable positive change. As the project approaches its end, the stories shared by the refugees tell the story of its impact, particularly on the two cooperatives involved. This project is a powerful example of transformation through fostering resilience, sustainability, and economic empowerment.