Uganda x Germany Media Programme
Youth Power for a Sustainable Future
A recorded panel and field interview series on renewable energy, environmental justice, and green careers, produced by Rolfes SDG Academy with End Fossil Occupy Uganda and German university partners.
Programme Overview
Energy learning grounded in justice, story, and youth action.
Youth Power for a Sustainable Future (YPFSF) is a 10-12 week recorded panel and field interview series produced by Rolfes SDG Academy in partnership with End Fossil Occupy Uganda and German university partners. The programme educates youth on renewable energy, environmental justice, and green careers, producing high-quality video content, expert conversations, and youth-led capstone projects.
Session Library
Weekly Zoom Episodes
Each week, two expert discussants join our moderator for a 60-90 minute recorded panel. Browse the full series below.
Session 01
What is Energy? From Fossil Fuels to a Renewable Future
An accessible introduction to the global energy transition, covering how fossil fuels shaped today's inequities, key metrics like LCOE and EROI, and what communities can do in the next 30 days.
Session 02
Environmental Justice: How Climate Issues Disproportionately Affect Communities
Who bears the heaviest energy burdens, and how is it measured? This session covers siting injustice, health disparities, and what meaningful community consent looks like in practice.
Session 03
Harnessing the Wind: Mechanics and Potential of Wind Energy
From aerodynamics to grid access, this session demystifies how modern turbines work and explores community wind, offshore innovation, and permitting barriers.
Session 04
Solar Power Demystified: How Photovoltaics Work
A plain-language guide to solar PV, from how panels work, to rooftop versus ground-mount decisions, net metering, and how renters and low-income households can benefit.
Episode 04 video coming soon
Session 05
Beyond Sun and Wind: Geothermal, Hydropower, and Bioenergy
Where do these resources fit best? This session examines environmental safeguards, enhanced geothermal developments, and how to weigh options in a diversified regional energy portfolio.
Episode 05 video coming soon
Session 06
The Smart Grid: Technology Making Energy Systems Smarter
What makes a grid smart? Covers AMI, demand response, EV flexibility, cybersecurity considerations, and case studies where grid visibility reduced outages.
Session 07
Energy Storage Solutions: Batteries and Beyond
From lithium-ion to flow batteries, pumped hydro and thermal storage, this session covers storage economics, safety, recycling, and near-term innovations like second-life EV batteries.
Episode 07 video coming soon
Session 08
DIY Renewable Energy: Building a Solar Phone Charger
A hands-on workshop covering basic electrical safety, how to size a panel and battery, prevent overcharging, and adapt the project for classrooms or community groups.
Session 09
Energy Auditing 101: Identifying Energy Waste
A step-by-step home and community centre audit process, including low-cost tools, top no-regrets fixes, and a quick win attendees can implement this month.
Episode 09 video coming soon
Session 10
Project Pitch Workshop: Developing a Community Project Proposal
How to frame a problem, design a theory of change, map stakeholders, build a budget, and deliver a memorable 60-90 second narrative pitch.
Session 11
Introduction to Fundraising: Grants, Crowdfunding, and Sponsorships
How to build a funder map, write a persuasive grant proposal, run a crowdfunding campaign, and use blended finance tools for community energy projects.
Episode 11 video coming soon
Session 12
Meet the Mentors: Sessions with Renewable Energy Professionals
Career pathways, mistakes that shaped practice, and where the strongest opportunities for new entrants lie over the next 3-5 years.
Episode 12 video coming soon
Session 13
Career Pathways: Exploring Green Jobs and Educational Opportunities
Where are the jobs along the clean-energy value chain? This session covers entry-level roles, in-demand skills, barriers for women and marginalized groups, and recommended programmes.
Episode 13 video coming soon
Session 14
Building a Network: Staying Connected and Supporting Each Other's Projects
How to map allies, approach mentors, maintain relationships, and set up lightweight collaboration structures, plus tools to avoid burnout.
Episode 14 video coming soon
Session 15
Capstone Presentations: Youth Project Pitches to Expert Panel
Five youth teams present finalized community project plans. Judged on problem clarity, feasibility, ethics, impact metrics, and sustainability.
Episode 15 video coming soon
Expert Conversations
In-Person Uganda Interviews
Beyond the weekly Zoom series, our team travelled to Uganda to conduct in-depth, story-driven interviews with climate activists, energy experts, and community leaders. These conversations go deeper, grounding global concepts in local realities.
Joan Namaggwa
Environmental Justice Advocate, Uganda
Joan explores which communities bear the heaviest energy burdens in Uganda and how siting injustice, air quality, and gender intersect with energy access. She makes the case that green futures must correct, not reproduce, unequal power.
Interview video coming soon
Patrick
Solar Energy Technical Expert
Patrick provides a plain-language technical guide to photovoltaic systems, drawing on NREL research and Uganda's ERA tariff framework. He covers design, payback, PAYGo solar homes, and responsible end-of-life recycling.
Interview video coming soon
Ali
End Fossil Occupy Uganda, Climate Justice Activist
Ali brings the lived experience of rural women and low-income communities facing energy poverty in Uganda, from firewood burdens to pipeline displacement. He emphasizes renewable projects that center genuine community benefit.
Interview video coming soon
Prima
Youth Energy Advocate, Uganda
Prima discusses how renewable energy aligns with, rather than replaces, Ugandan culture and community values. She advocates for locally owned energy solutions and a youth-led transition narrative.
Interview video coming soon
Geofrey
Community Leader / Expert, Uganda
Geofrey speaks to the intersection of community development, land rights, and the energy transition in East Africa, sharing insights from local advocacy and climate resilience work.
Interview video coming soon
Tina
Youth Leader / Activist, Uganda
Tina shares her journey as a young climate advocate navigating systems that often exclude youth voices. She reflects on community trust, peer mobilization, and meaningful youth participation.
Interview video coming soon
End Fossil Occupy DRC
Climate Movement, DR Congo
This cross-border interview explores fossil fuel divestment in Central Africa, the impact of extractive industries on local communities, and youth-led civil society driving energy justice.
Interview video coming soon
Featured Articles
Written Profiles and Commentary
Our interviews are accompanied by in-depth written profiles and commentary, published in partnership with Vectorpress. Read the full articles below.
Solar is Not Magic, But it is Close
A technical expert breaks down how solar PV works and why it is the most accessible energy solution for Ugandan households.
Read Article ->Renewables Are Not Replacing Our Culture
Prima on why the energy transition and Ugandan identity are not in conflict, and what community-owned energy looks like.
Read Article ->Black Gold, Broken Promises
An examination of how oil and extractive industries have failed communities in Uganda and DRC, and what accountability demands.
Read Article ->We Are Building A Green Future On An Unjust Foundation
Joan Namaggwa on energy justice, community consent, and why the clean transition must correct historic inequities.
Read Article ->Capstone Showcase
Youth-Led Renewable Energy Project Pitches
Five teams of youth leaders designed and pitched renewable energy and climate justice solutions for community implementation.
Solar Community Mini-Grids
Community-owned solar mini-grids prioritizing affordable energy access, local maintenance capacity, and youth-led job creation in rural Uganda.
Clean Cooking Stoves
A financing and advocacy concept for transitioning low-income households from firewood dependence to cleaner cooking technologies.
Youth Energy Workforce Hub
A training and placement pathway for young people entering solar installation, grid operation, energy auditing, and green enterprise roles.
Environmental Justice Data Dashboard
A community-led monitoring concept that turns local pollution, health, and energy access evidence into accessible advocacy data.
Community Benefit Agreement Toolkit
A practical facilitation resource to help communities negotiate fair benefit sharing before energy infrastructure projects begin.
Pitch Event Recording
Watch the full capstone pitch event featuring all five teams presenting to an expert panel.
Photo Gallery
Behind the Scenes of a Uganda-Germany Collaboration
Documentation from in-person sessions, community recordings, and the Kyambogo University partnership. These panels link to the source folders; selected photos should be downloaded and self-hosted for final public display.
Join / Apply
Choose Your Next Step
Watch the Series
Access all recorded episodes, in-person interviews, and masterclasses on our YouTube channel. Free, captioned, and open to everyone.
Open YouTube Playlist ->Join the Core Cohort
Apply to be part of the next YPFSF core cohort and work on a capstone project with peers from Uganda, Germany, and beyond.
Apply Now ->Submit Your Story
Have you participated in YPFSF or been impacted by the programme? Share a video, written reflection, or photo to be featured here.
Share Your Experience ->