Exceptional Future Female Leaders graduates contribute to the Youth Energy Summit 2025

The TEA-LP partnered with the Youth Energy Summit (YES! 2025) to support the attendance and contribution of four of the exceptional Future Female Leaders in Energy (FFL) at the 2025 edition, which ran from 18-20 June in Cape Town, with the goal of bolstering female leadership in the energy sector. With over 60 applications received, the selection process proved to be challenging, and TEA-LP was exceptionally proud and grateful to be joined by Hannah Muthoni Gichuki (Kenya), Cynthia Ngoma (Zambia), Bongeka Gumede (South Africa), and Mekides Ashagre (Ethiopia) join us at the event.

Speaking to her experience of the event, Hannah shared that “…the YES! Forum reaffirmed the power of intentional collaboration, youth agency, and systems level thinking in advancing Africa’s energy agenda. My key takeaways include; Continuing to bridge the gap between community energy projects and institutional investors; Integrating stronger feasibility and bankability assessments into all project design, and; Engaging in youth-centred advocacy and mentorship to elevate more voices and ideas in clean energy.”

The YES! Conference brought together more than 6,000 students and young professionals to connect, collaborate, and chart their paths into the energy sector. Each of the TEA-LP attendees participated in a panel discussion at YES!, where they had an opportunity to engage and contribute towards a discussion alongside some of the brightest minds and industry leaders in the sector. These provided an opportunity to engage with other panellists, share their own journeys within the energy sector, share their experiences of the FFL programme, and offer unique, meaningful industry insights.

Mekides participated in the panel discussion, Maximizing Investment in Africa’s Energy Potential, which was particularly apt as an energy sector entrepreneur herself, being one of the founders of the biogas production startup, Ablenee Energy Solutions. She said of the panel; “It was an honour to share the stage with professionals from various countries and sectors. [W]e had meaningful conversations, exchanging ideas and perspectives on the opportunities and challenges in clean energy investment across the continent. The session was highly interactive, with active participation from both the panellists and the audience. I had the opportunity to respond to several thoughtful questions, which made the experience even more rewarding.”

Hannah contributed to the panel discussion; From Conception to Reality: Bringing Energy Projects to Success, of which she said; “Our panel explored the challenges and strategies of moving energy projects from ideation to implementation, highlighting youth-led innovation, feasibility studies, community engagement, and bankability as key success factors.” Hannah has recently started her own company, Hannathon Ecodesign and Energy, which focuses on solar energy systems and clean water access for schools, homes, and small businesses, which made her an excellent contributor to this discussion.

Cynthia’s panel was titled, The Role of Youth in Energy Policy and Advocacy. She also had the opportunity to co-facilitate a hands-on workshop called Youth Simulation on Local Energy Solutions, saying; “It was incredibly rewarding to see students tackle a genuine community energy challenge. Their strategic thinking, collaborative spirit, and impressive prototypes reaffirmed my belief: when youth harness energy, creativity, and local knowledge, they don’t just launch ideas—they light up entire communities.”

Finally, Bongeka’s panel, Rural Electrification: Developing Energy Access Across the Continent which she said is “[A] challenge that holds immense opportunity for innovation, inclusion, and impact”, proved to be an insightful and relevant discussion, noting; “The conversation was fruitful, and it was a pleasure engaging with not only the delegates but with fellow panelists”

The Forum proved to be a productive and meaningful few days for our attendees. All highlighted the benefits of networking with professionals and stakeholders across Africa and beyond, of gaining current and relevant industry insights, growing personal confidence to share their own ideas and insights, and building lasting contacts and connections.

Mekides shared of the YES! 2025 event; “I enjoyed hearing from past YES alumni—it made me hope that in a few years, I can be in their place, sharing my journey too. Although I didn’t win the pitch, I gained valuable feedback from investors and connected with other entrepreneurs.”

And Cynthia shared that; “My key takeaway: delivering energy isn’t just about the technical aspects; it’s about aligning governance, finance, and community trust to weave projects into wider energy systems across Africa.”

Overall, the TEA-LP was incredibly proud to attend YES! 2025 with these four dynamic and inspiring women. Mascha Moorlach, TEA-LP’s lead for the FFL course said:

“These four inspiring women demonstrated exceptional commitment throughout the course — each completing all assignments, attending multiple Learning Labs, finishing at least three courses for the AMI modules, and achieving over 70% on average across all UCT modules. A powerful example of what focus and determination can achieve.” – Mascha Moorlach, TEA-LP WP2 Lead

The Future Female Leaders in Energy course has enrolled a total of 403 ladies to date, of which 300 have already successfully graduated. This programme, run in partnership with African Management Institute (AMI) and the University of Cape Town has been an exceptionally popular and meaningful learning experience for students as it empowers upcoming women in the Energy Access sector with the skills to be future senior leaders that can contribute to the clean energy transition.

– Written by Andrea Fitzpatrick