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When Monique Ntumngia first visited a rural village in Cameroon, she saw young girls bent over kerosene lamps, straining their eyes to study while inhaling toxic fumes. That moment crystallized her life’s mission: energy access was not just about electricity — it was about dignity, opportunity, and justice.
Today, as the founder of Green Girls Organisation, Monique is building a new generation of African women climate leaders. Her organization has already trained over 15,000 women and girls across 7 African countries to become clean energy entrepreneurs and climate advocates. Through GFiC, Monique is amplifying her impact, scaling community-driven solar projects that tackle both energy poverty and gender inequality.
Her courage lies in choosing justice over silence and impact over comfort — a spirit that continues to fuel her work and inspire a global movement for sustainable, gender-equitable energy systems.
Being part of Global Fellows in Courage has amplified my voice as a woman climate leader from Africa, connecting me with a global community of bold changemakers. It has sharpened my leadership, expanded my advocacy tools, and strengthened my resolve to drive gender justice and sustainable energy access.
Courage is the ability to act with conviction even when the path is uncertain or unpopular. I consider myself courageous because I dared to challenge entrenched systems by founding initiatives that empower women and communities with clean energy. Despite obstacles, I continue to amplify marginalized voices and prove that African women can lead transformative change in sustainability and gender justice.
I am tackling the twin challenges of energy poverty and gender inequality. Millions of African households still lack reliable electricity, a crisis that disproportionately impacts women and girls. By advancing clean tech solutions and empowering women as sustainability leaders, I aim to accelerate an equitable, inclusive, and resilient energy transition.
Through Green Girls Organisation, we’ve trained over 15,000 women and girls across 78 rural communities to become eco-entrepreneurial leaders. One story that stands out is of a young woman who electrified her village’s school after our training. She transformed learning conditions for hundreds of children and became a respected community leader. Her journey reflects the ripple effect of women-led climate action.
In 5–10 years, I envision rural African communities powered by renewable energy and led by women entrepreneurs. I see Green Girls Organisation electrifying thousands of schools, health centers, and households while creating green jobs. Beyond access, our vision is to build a generation of African women climate leaders defining sustainability on their own terms — anchored in justice, equity, and resilience.
Monique’s leadership embodies the heart of GFiC: courageous leaders shaping systemic change. From Cameroon to the wider African continent, she is proving that when women are equipped with tools and trust, they ignite transformations that light up entire communities.