S.Sudanese student earns UN recognition for solar-powered water irrigation system

“We will use the Agricultural waste to turn it into briquettes that can be used instead of charcoal and firewood for cooking”.

A South Sudanese student in Canada has been nominated for a UN award on the protection and restoration of the environment.

James Thuch Madhier is up against four other people for the ‘Young Champions of the Earth’ prize offered by the UN Environment Program (UNEP).

Madhier earned the recognition for a solar-powered irrigation system that sources water from underground.

The third-year peace, conflict and justice student at the University of Toronto hopes his invention will address a cross-section of issues ranging from environmental destruction to food insecurity, conflicts over limited water sources and extreme poverty.

He plans to launch a pilot in Tonj, #SouthSudan which he says is relatively secure.

The beneficiaries will be expected to give back to the community by planting trees.

The first implementation of the first solar powered water plant will take place in December.

Madhier pitched the idea at a global summit last year and won a fellowship award as well as some seed capital and access to professionals who have been offering him mentorship.

He spoke to Irene Lasu in this interview.