Sylvester Chabuka Junior, is a 28-year-old, Neno based social entrepreneur who has ventured into briquette production as an alternative energy source for household cooking.
Through his company called Clean Heat Solutions, Chabuka makes and sells low-cost eco-friendly carbonised charcoal briquettes made from waste as an alternative to contain charcoal and fuelwood, which are forms of biomass consumption that are destructive to the environment.
Speaking in an interview with ProjectM, Chabuka said his desire to conserve the environment in his area moved him to establish an eco-friendly energy source for household use.
“Clean heat is 4 years old. Reaching this far has sold over 50,000 kilogrammes of briquettes, trained over 600 people in alternative sources of income and briquettes making in the district of Neno where charcoal making is high”, he said.
Realising that charcoal producers lack income generating activities, clean heats offer alternative sources of income to charcoal producers by giving them technical skills in welding and fabrication, tailoring and briquettes production and ICT.
“I strive to promote environmental conservation, biodiversity promotion and economic empowerment of marginalised people in rural areas especially after realising that people venture into charcoal making due to lack of other skills of generating income,” he said.
Besides running this renewable energy enterprise, Sylvester also the founder of a food processing company, a company currently make highly nutritious porridge flour branded Wamkaka.
He said: “I decided to venture into this business cereal business because I wanted to address pressing malnutrition in the country.
“As a way of supporting my community, my company buy raw materials directly from 200 farmers.
“These farmers are provided with farm inputs such as drought resistant seeds, trained in Good Agricultural Practices then offered market for their produce.”
Through his two enterprises, Chabuka has created 15 jobs for his fellow youths.
In recognition to his good work, he was recently awarded an award in the category of Ecology and Climate Action by National Youth Council of Malawi (NYCOM).
The enterprise has won over US$36,000 in grants some from Mudzi Connect, Tony Elumelu Foundation and Sylvester has been recognized as the TotalEnergies Startupper of the year 2022 and was awarded the 2022 Presidential Zikomo award by the State President His Excellency Dr Chakwera
