Engineering student to bring solar power to rural Cameroon school
A university student is preparing to travel to Cameroon to install a solar power system at a rural primary school where a lack of reliable electricity is hindering children’s education.
Antoine Minyanagadou, a third-year mechanical engineering student at Glasgow Caledonian University, has secured funding through a Magnusson Award to deliver the project. His plans include installing solar panels, battery storage and an inverter at a school he has previously visited and identified as both in need of support and willing to engage.
The Magnusson Awards, established in memory of broadcaster and former university chancellor Magnus Magnusson KBE, provide grants of up to £5,000 for student-led projects aimed at making a positive impact in communities at home and abroad. Since their launch in 2007, the scheme has supported more than 150 students working across dozens of countries, distributing over £600,000 in funding. The programme is overseen by his daughter, journalist and broadcaster Dr Sally Magnusson MBE.
Antoine said his approach has been to design a system that prioritises reliability and ease of maintenance over complexity. The installation will be carried out in collaboration with local technicians, with training provided to staff or community members to ensure the system can be operated and maintained independently once the project is complete.
The impact, he believes, will be immediate. Without consistent lighting, lessons at the school are frequently disrupted during overcast conditions, while teaching hours are limited by daylight.
“These are constraints that, while often overlooked, have a cumulative effect on educational quality,” he said.
The project is driven by both professional ambition and personal experience. Having seen first-hand the challenges faced by communities with limited infrastructure, Antoine said he wanted to contribute in a way that was practical and respectful.
“It is not about large-scale intervention, but about delivering something tangible that can make a meaningful difference in everyday life,” he said.
He added that his studies have influenced his outlook, particularly the University’s emphasis on social impact
“The focus on the Common Good has encouraged me to think beyond purely technical outcomes and to consider the broader human impact of engineering decisions,” he said.
While the technical delivery is central, Antoine is equally focused on engaging with the community.
“That human element is as important as the technical aspect,” he said. “I am particularly looking forward to understanding their needs and seeing the immediate impact once the system is implemented.”
He hopes the small-scale, sustainability-focused model could be adapted for use in similar settings, though he stressed the importance of responding to local conditions.
For now, he defines success as a system that continues to provide reliable energy, supports the school’s daily activities and can be maintained with confidence by the community it serves.