Central Wisconsin Rotary Clubs deliver solar power to an orphanage in Cameroon

STEVENS POINT–Children at the Bon Makah Orphanage & Resource Center in Cameroon now have reliable electricity thanks to a solar electrification and battery storage project completed in March 2025. The project was made possible by the Rotary Club of Greater Portage County, the Waupaca Rotary Club, Rotary International District 6220, and community donors. The Limbe Rotary Club of Cameroon also served as a project partner.

The new system includes ten 325-watt rooftop solar panels, eight deep-cycle batteries for power storage, a 5,000VA/48-volt hybrid inverter, and a 180-watt solar-powered water pump for the orphanage’s well. 

The Bon Makah Orphanage & Resource Center is the permanent home for 13 children, ages four to fifteen years old. Previously, the orphanage struggled with an unstable electricity supply, making it difficult to keep food cold, light study and living spaces, or operate cooling fans. The new solar-powered electrical system now supports food refrigeration, nighttime lighting in living areas, and improved overall safety and quality of life for the children.

“This project has brought tremendous joy and relief to the staff and children,” said Sam Dinga, founder of the Bon Makah Orphanage and a member of the Rotary Club of Greater Portage County. “We are deeply grateful for the generosity shown by our community in central Wisconsin. It means the world to the children we serve in Cameroon.”

Sarah Scripps, president of the Rotary Club of Greater Portage County, said, “This effort shows that a small group of committed individuals in Wisconsin can make a global impact when they work together. We’re proud to have partnered with the Waupaca Rotary Club and the Limbe Rotary Club in Cameroon to make this possible.”