Solar-powered classrooms light up women’s prisons as NGO pushes skills for self-reliance

Women inmates at Kisii and Machakos prisons are set for a more hopeful future after a Westlands-based non-governmental organisation donated solar-powered, containerised classrooms to support vocational training and rehabilitation.

Sukuma Twende Trust, a Kenyan charitable organisation headquartered in Nairobi’s Westlands, has rolled out the classrooms as part of its work to equip vulnerable communities with practical, income-generating skills.

The modified shipping containers, sourced from Maersk, have been converted into fully equipped workshops powered by solar energy.

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The latest donation to Kisii Women Prison builds on a similar project launched in 2025 at Machakos Women Prison, where a solar-powered containerised workshop is already in use.

The classrooms provide space for tailoring, carpentry, and agricultural training, enabling inmates to gain skills they can rely on after re-entering society.

Speaking during a donation event held at the Oshwal Community Centre in Westlands, Sukuma Twende Trust chairperson Trusha Rajesh Shah said the organization focuses on empowering individuals to become self-reliant.

“We work with the most vulnerable in society. When people gain skills, they gain dignity and independence. With affordable solar power, these classrooms can operate anywhere,” Shah said.

She added that the Trust also supports sand dam projects in West Pokot to help children in arid areas access education. Plans are also underway to introduce clinics in marginalised regions.

Her sentiments were echoed by Hitesh Shah, who said the containers will be distributed to different parts of the country, including Kisii, with the expectation that women inmates will acquire life skills that support their futures.

At Machakos Women Prison, the impact of the partnership is already evident. Officer-in-charge Margaret Waithera said the collaboration with Sukuma Twende Trust, which began in 2022, has improved skills development and nutrition among inmates.

“They donated a solar-powered containerized workshop, which we use as a classroom. The women have learned new skills, and our nutrition has improved because we grow our own vegetables and tomatoes,” Waithera said.

She added that vocational training has reduced re-offending rates, as former inmates leave prison better equipped to start businesses or seek employment.

“The rate of re-offending has reduced. They go out, start their own businesses, and look for jobs,” she said.

According to Waithera, 55 inmates have been trained in tailoring, farming, and carpentry, with 15 already released back into society. Beyond prisons, Sukuma Twende Trust continues to expand its reach.

During the Westlands event, other institutions across the country received sewing machines, salon equipment, farming tools, and workshop materials to support impoverished communities, vulnerable groups, and persons living with physical challenges.

The Trust has also invested in education and climate resilience by equipping classrooms, establishing libraries and computer labs, planting trees, and constructing sand dams to enhance water security in arid and semi-arid areas.

A highlight of the event was a showcase of products made by past beneficiaries, including a fashion show featuring garments produced through supported tailoring programmes.

As Sukuma Twende Trust looks ahead, it said practical solutions, sustainable innovation, and partnerships can help expand opportunities for marginalized communities.