With little more than an idea and a growing sense of purpose, a Burundian university student of environmental sciences came up with a plan to help prevent continued deforestation in his community. 

In Burundi, more than 90% of the population depends on firewood and charcoal for cooking, according to the African Energy Commission. The country of just 27,830 square kilometers (approximately 11,000 square miles) is bordered by Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Tanzania in east-central Africa. Because there has been no other option for fuel, communities cut swaths of trees daily. This incremental deforestation then leads to environmental issues such as land degradation.

Delphin Kaze, who in 2017 was a first-year student in environmental sciences at the Polytechnic University of Gitega, in Burundi, was passionate about protecting nature. During a school field trip, he found out the stark reality of widespread deforestation, as trees were disappearing daily just to keep families fed. 

“Initially, I got an idea of transforming waste into charcoal because I knew that on all the hills of the country trees were being cut down to obtain charcoal or firewood,” he said. “I understood that an alternative was needed to remedy this problem.”

From agricultural waste to clean energy 

Kaze began to research and experiment with turning agricultural waste into briquettes. He tried different materials, looking for a way to produce a cleaner and sustainable charcoal. For a long time, the results were frustrating. But one day, he turned to something familiar, corn cobs. 

“I recalled how in my neighborhood, people sometimes used the corn cobs to cook, despite that they burn by blowing out smoke. That gave me an idea of a good prototype,” he said. “I wondered: What if I could transform these corn cobs into efficient, low-smoke charcoal?”

Kaze started working on his idea from home with almost nothing. No dedicated workspace; no funding. Only a few hours in the evenings after class, back at home. But he had support from his father, from close friends, and from his own belief that the idea mattered. Step by step, he improved the process. And little by little, what started as a series of home experiments began to look like a real product.

People doubted him. Many called the idea unrealistic. But Kaze kept going for he was committed to finding a solution to deforestation. He talked about his project to anyone who would listen, adjusted his time and expenses, and kept refining his work. He started applying for different opportunities and participating in different innovation competitions, with the main goal of promoting his innovation. Eventually, the results spoke for themselves. 

By 2019, he had officially registered his venture as Kaze Green Economy, or KAGE. While still studying, he turned his small venture into a functioning initiative. In 2020, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) offered support, helping him expand from a manual setup to semi-industrial production. Later that year, additional support from UNDP and Burundi’s Ministry of Energy helped him reach full industrial capacity.

Green growth with social impact

Today, Kaze’s factory recycles different agricultural waste materials — namely corn cobs, rice husks, and coffee husks — and turns them into clean, energy-efficient briquettes called “Kabiof” as an alternative to firewood and traditional charcoal for cooking. Now KAGE produces up to 20 tons of that eco-charcoal every day. 

Kaze’s initiative has so far created 40 full-time jobs, which makes him proud of the social impact also driven by his initiative. 

“Thanks to the idea I developed from scratch, our model not only helps preserve Burundi’s forests but also supports dozens of families who supply the raw materials (agricultural wastes),” he said. “Around 60 daily workers, many of whom are youth and women, are working in the factory and go back home with an amount of money to meet their family’s needs.”

Through this journey, Kaze has not only built a business, but also shaped a vision. He believes that young people in Burundi have the power to solve real problems when they are supported and encouraged. The passion to protect the environment and to combat deforestation by producing eco-friendly charcoal is proof that environmental change doesn’t have to start with big institutions. It can begin with one person, one idea, and the courage to try. 

Now, Kaze’s story doesn’t stop at charcoal. As his KAGE venture grew, he began thinking even bigger. He saw that many rural areas still lacked electricity. So, he planned to expand his focus to rural electrification, using his platform to bring energy, and hope, to communities long left behind.

“What I would urge young people with passion about environment protection is to be committed, to persevere, and especially to focus on what is essential and contribute to finding solutions to community’s challenges,” Kaze said. “And I believe that if we really want to see change, we must believe in and support young innovators. The future depends on it.”

Editor’s Note: The views and information presented herein are those of Melchisedeck Boshirwa and do not represent the Mandela Washington Fellowship, the U.S. Department of State, or IREX.