About Us
Power Up Gambia was founded by Kathryn Cunningham Hall, an undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania who volunteered in 2006 as a health aid in The Gambia with Operation Crossroads Africa. While working at Sulayman Junkung General Hospital in the rural town of Bwiam, she saw the consequences of limited electricity for Gambian patients. She returned to the US and went to work raising funds from Rotary Clubs, school ground and enthusiastic individuals to build a solar power project for the hospital. Based on the enthusiasm and success of her work, Katheryn and her fellow University of Pennsylvania students founded Power Up Gambia in 2010, with the mission to help fund and install a solar power systems at other hospitals and clinics in The Gambia.
Over the next 15 years, Power Up Gambia worked with the Gambia Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in close cooperation with hospitals and clinics to fund, install and maintain solar power systems for reliable electricity at rural health facilities in of The Gambia.
Volunteers from University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University and solar technicians from The Gambia have worked together to support Power Up Gambia's mission and vision - building lasting friendships in the process.
Moving Forward
Recognizing the significant potential of solar energy in providing reliable electricity in The Gambia, the European Investment Bank initiated and has funded The Gambia Sustainable Energy Project (GSEC) in 2024. The GSEC project goals are to install up to 1,000 solar systems in schools and nearly 100 solar systems in hospitals and health facilities across the country. The initiative seeks to enhance access to electricity, thereby supporting essential healthcare needs and improving educational environments.
As the global community increasingly embraces the importance of solar energy, more international funding is being directed toward innovative projects like GSEC. In this context, Power Up Gambia will transition its responsibilities to a new generation of project developers by 2026. While this bittersweet transition marks the culmination of our journey, Power Up Gambia takes pride in the impact it has made and that we inspired others to advance sustainable energy initiatives in The Gambia. None of this could have been done without the valuable support received from supporters, partners and stakeholders throughout the process. Each solar panel they helped install represents a significant stride toward a healthier and more sustainable future for all.
