We charge electric rickshaws with solar power and bring mobility back to the streets of Alamar!
Why this campaign exists.
Due to fuel shortages, petrol-powered vehicles in Cuba are often immobilised. This is not the case for electric rickshaws (triciclos), which have become the primary mode of transportation in many communities. However, the unstable power grid and increasingly frequent blackouts threaten the potential of these rickshaws and the drivers’ livelihoods. We have developed a solar charging station that allows drivers to charge their batteries with solar power independently of the national grid.
Your support keeps tricycle drivers moving, rain or shine.
→ Help us hit halfway ←
Time to realization: Until Beginning 2027
Help Without Reward
Any contribution matters!
Thank you so much for your support! If you don’t choose a gratitude gift, 100% of your donation will go towards building our solar center.
Discover our rewards!
We've teamed up with the German company Solarrepublik, the Cuban brand D'brujas, and two independent artists from Cuba, and we've prepared some exclusive gifts for you.
Origins | Afro-Cuban textile art | Unique handmade piece
Partner: Maritza | More information about Maritza
80€
Each piece is one-of-a-kind. Portraits and silhouettes of African women, handcrafted using fabrics, natural materials, and beads. No two pieces are ever repeated.
Colors of Cuba | Handcrafted jewelry, worn alone or as a set
Partner: Maritza | More about Maritza
Sets
Click on one of the images to open the gallery.
Donation value: 60€
Necklaces
Click on one of the images to open the gallery.
Donation value: 50€
Earrings
Click on one of the images to open the gallery.
Donation value: 15€
An exclusive piece just for you | A unique handmade piece
Do you love Maritza's designs?
Be part of the process.
Support our crowdfunding campaign and collaborate with her to design a piece of jewelry: handmade according to your ideas.
Custom
Earrings
- Handmade
- Custom design
- Material choice
- Gift box
Unique earrings
Custom
Necklace
- Handmade
- Custom design
- Material choice
- Length adj.
Unique necklace
Custom
Set
- Earrings+Necklace
- Handmade
- Custom design
- Premium box
Perfectly matched
Capas (Layers) | Cuba in Portrait
Partner: David López Cruz | More information about David
Prints| Individual photos
Click on one of the images to open the gallery. You'll find their number there, too!
Donation value: from 12€
Photo Print 12.7×18.5 cm
- 12.7×18.5 cm Format
- Premium photo paper from FUJIFILM
- 230-240 g/m² Paper weight
- Vibrant colors
- Elegant finish
Vibrant colors, elegant finish and proven Fujifilm quality on 230-240 g/m² photo paper.
Fine Art Print
- 13×18 cm Format
- Fine Art matte paper 305 g/m²
- Museum-quality gravure
- Heavy matte board
- For collectors & connoisseurs
Museum-quality gravure on heavy matte board (305 g/m²) for collectors who want to not only see art, but feel it.
Identidades (Identities) | Set
A young priest in his kitchen, an elderly man sitting before the Cuban flag, a tobacco farmer in the middle of his fields: three lives on the same island. David López Cruz portrays Cuba as it is: without artifice, without clichés, with genuine respect for its people. These three photographs capture moments that cannot be staged or repeated and that, once seen, are never forgotten.
Click on one of the images to start the gallery.
Desde 20€
Los Santos viven (The Orisha live) | Set
The Afro-Cuban religions of Santería, Palo Monte, and Abakuá are living testaments to a centuries-old tradition that has survived slavery, colonialism, and revolution. Rooted in West African beliefs and intertwined with everyday Cuban life, they radiate a spiritual power that can still be felt today. These three photographs capture moments that elude the fleeting glance. Click on one of the images to open the gallery.
From 20€
A pesar de todo, ligereza. (Despite everything, a sense of lightness.) | Set
In a country under pressure, there is a young population filled with energy. In Cuba, children often grow up with very little, but they are not lacking in dreams. David López Cruz captures these contradictions without explaining them.
Click on one of the images to open the gallery.
From 20€
Fujifilm
- 12.7×18.5 cm Format
- Premium photo paper from FUJIFILM
- 230-240 g/m² Paper weight
- Vibrant colors
- Elegant finish
Vibrant colors, elegant finish and proven Fujifilm quality on 230-240 g/m² photo paper.
Fine Art Matt
- 13×18 cm Format
- Fine Art matte paper 305 g/m²
- Museum-quality gravure
- Heavy matte board
- For collectors & connoisseurs
Museum-quality gravure on heavy matte board (305 g/m²) for collectors who want to not only see art, but feel it.
Framed pictures | Individuals
Have you fallen in love with a photo and want to give it the spotlight it deserves? With your support, we’ll make it happen. As a thank you, you’ll receive one of David’s photographs in a 21 x 30 cm format, ready to hang in a high-quality MDF wood frame in beige, brown, or black. A piece of Cuba that will last a lifetime. Click on one of the images to open the gallery.
50€
Let yourself be enchanted | Natural cosmetics made in Cuba by Dbrujas 🧙🏼♀️
Partners: D'brujas | More information about D'brujas 🔮
Witch's Dust | Fifteen minutes just for you.
5€
After a long day, your feet need more than just rest. d'Brujas Softening Foot Powder is a soothing foot soak made with natural ingredients: powdered soap, sea salt, and dried herbs, handcrafted in Cuba according to traditional recipes. Simply dissolve two teaspoons in a liter of warm water, soak your feet for 15 minutes, and let the rest wash away. No artificial ingredients, no long lists of chemicals. Just what nature needs to work its magic. By supporting this campaign, you’re not only helping bring solar energy to Cuba, but you’re also helping authentic Cuban products like those from d’Brujas get the spotlight they deserve.
✨Havana Soap Set | Let yourself be enchanted by the scents of Cuba ✨
15€
The Havana set by d'Brujas features three handmade natural soaps that not only care for your skin but also promise a sensory journey. The coconut soap gently moisturizes, the honey soap deeply nourishes dry skin, and the coffee soap invigorates with its pleasant texture and revitalizing properties.
Coconut: Gentle and moisturizing, it provides hydration and softness. Ingredients: neutral soap base, coconut oil, coconut fragrance.
Honey: Deeply moisturizing, soothes dry skin. Ingredients: neutral soap base, water, honey, coconut oil, and honey fragrance.
Coffee: Pleasant texture and softness, with revitalizing properties. Ingredients: neutral soap base, coffee infusion, coffee fragrance.
Weight per bar: 40 g–45 g
Mineral Breeze | Let your skin breathe 🌬️
23€
The sorceresses of D'brujas immerse themselves in nature and leave nothing aside: Mineral Breeze is a foaming body scrub that, in a single step, cleanses, exfoliates, and deeply nourishes. The combination of zeolite, green clay, peppermint oil, and cocoa butter removes what the skin no longer needs and restores what it deserves. Simply massage a small amount onto damp skin, let it foam and rinse. Magic? Perhaps.
But with the finest ingredients Cuba has to offer.
Ingredients: zeolite powder, coconut oil, cocoa butter, SCI, green clay, cetyl alcohol, sea sand, peppermint essential oil.
Weight: 60 g
Under the Same Sun | Solar Power to Go, Made in Germany
Partner: Sonnenrepublik | Learn more about Sonnenrepublik
Wing 6 Cordura | Charge your devices whenever and wherever you want.
100€
Cuba has plenty of sunshine, yet it lacks a reliable power supply. We’re working to change that. With your support, you’ll be investing directly in the expansion of renewable energy on the island, and as a thank you, you’ll receive the Sonnenrepublik Wing6: an ultra-lightweight, wallet-sized solar charger made in Germany that provides you with electricity wherever the sun shines. Because energy is a right, not a privilege.
Charges a standard smartphone in 3–4 hours in direct sunlight
Rated power: 7.0 watts; charging current: 1.1 amps in direct sunlight
High-quality outer material made of Cordura
Fluoropolymer protective coating on the solar cells, offering exceptional long-term durability
Robust, fiberglass-reinforced, splash-resistant design with 4 loops for attaching to a backpack or similar
High-quality monocrystalline solar cells with 23% efficiency
Patented eBag: interchangeable pouch with integrated electronics and cables for small devices or power banks
Cable with micro USB connector for Android smartphones, etc. + 2 adapters included for Apple devices and USB-C
High-efficiency MPP conversion electronics
Weight: only 195 grams and dimensions of 10 x 15.5 x 3 cm (folded); fits in a pants pocket
Made in Germany with a 3-year warranty
Here you can view the technical specifications and the instruction manual for the Wing 6.
Energy5000 | Charge your devices whenever and wherever you want.
30€
Those who live in Cuba know this all too well: the power cuts out, often for hours, sometimes for days. We’re working to bring about structural change to this situation. But until then, pragmatic solutions are needed. The Energy5000 from Sonnenrepublik is one of them: compact, lightweight, and with a 5000 mAh capacity powerful enough to fully charge a smartphone. Small enough to fit in your pocket, big enough to make a difference. Your support helps us bring solar energy to the island, and the Energy5000 reminds you every day why.Package contents
Energy5000 Portable Charger
USB to Micro-USB Charging Cable
USB-C and iPhone Adapter
User Manual
Dimensions: 12.9 x 6.7 x 0.8 cm
Weight: 120 g
Here you can view the [technical specifications] (https://sonnenrepublik.de/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Energy5000_Datenblatt.pdf) and the user manual for the Energy5000.
A Little Piece of Cuba in Germany | Exclusive Events as a Token of Appreciation
Contributors: LatinCologne | More information about LatinCologne
Salsaboot on July 12, 2026 | Just once a year, THE must-see salsa cultural event!
COMING SOON
Rhineland’s biggest salsa party is back this year!
Salsa Boot Köln will take place on July 12, 2026. Workshops will be held in the morning, and in the afternoon, the party will take place on the water. Dance salsa and bachata with four renowned DJs while enjoying views of Cologne’s Old Town. 🌊
And the best part: here you can choose exclusive tickets to the event in exchange for your support.
Those who support us get to celebrate with us. 🎉
Small gesture, big impact | Little gifts for yourself and to give away
1. Witch's Dust | Fifteen minutes just for you.
5€
2. Prints | Individuals
Click on one of the images to open the gallery.
from 12€
3. Havana Soap Set | Let yourself be enchanted by the scents of Cuba
15€
4. Earrings | Handmade Afro-Cuban jewelry by Maritza
15€
What exactly is happening?
The current political situation is causing a severe fuel shortage on the island. In Havana, too, traffic is heavily restricted, and public buses and minibuses (gacelas) are barely operating.
In many neighborhoods, electric tricycles are the only means of transportation available. But even they are threatened by increasingly frequent power outages!
Our solar charging station allows us to charge multiple tricycles without relying on the national power grid, and in addition to ensuring mobility for residents, it provides drivers with a reliable source of income.Here’s what you need to know:
Our concept goes beyond the current crisis! Even setting aside the current political situation, modernizing outdated power plants is a slow process. To avoid overloading them, local, independent charging stations for electric vehicles are essential!
Locally, EnergiKaba is registered as an SME, that is, as a small private business. This allows us to import components from Germany and hire staff. Our goal is to promote local value creation and generate stable income for all parties involved.
However, this does not mean that our company is profit-driven. On the contrary: the very purpose of this crowdfunding campaign is to avoid having to take out a loan. Because that would mean we’d have to maximize profits in a very short time. And that’s only possible through pricing. But we want to offer rickshaw rides at a price that’s affordable for most Cubans in Alamar.
What are the objectives, and who are our main supporters?
Our project is perfect for you if:
Support the development of renewable energy,
have some connection to Cuba, Latin America, or the Caribbean, or would like to learn more about them, and
are looking for a project with a promising future for the local community.
Of course, humanitarian aid is necessary and important in the current situation! However, with our project, we want to go a step further and help build the resilience of these communities.
Why should anyone support our project?
When it comes to Cuba, many people feel powerless. Even among experts on Cuba, the prevailing view on this issue is often marked by pessimism. We want to counter this trend, as we are convinced that our project is viable and will lead to an improvement in the standard of living for the entire Cuban population.
01-05-2026: Why are we not on a 'normal' campaign website?
The concept works, the need is greater than ever, and we’re ready.
But we can’t raise funds through a single major crowdfunding platform.
Kickstarter, Indiegogo and GoFundMe are all based in the U.S. All subject to U.S. sanctions against Cuba. Our greatest hope was in platforms hosted on European servers. But then, just a few days ago, we received a rejection from that side as well. The platform would allow us to run a campaign, but as soon as we try to route donations through these platforms, the payment processor blocks the transaction. Not because our work is illegal or because our supporters are doing anything wrong. But because Cuba is on a list. And this is not new at all, it has started way earlier than 2016.
This is exactly what nobody talks about when they say, “Just start a crowdfunding campaign.” For projects in sanctioned countries, the entire infrastructure of online fundraising is effectively blocked. The tools that are actually meant to help civil society projects were never intended for us.
That's why we stopped looking and took matters into our own hands. Our website is not perfect, but we are proud of it.
Leave a comment!
We'd love to hear from you.
Our Collaborations and Partners
David López Cruz
David is a freelance photographer who captures his homeland in a moving, respectful, and incredibly sincere way. In our campaign, you can find limited-edition prints of some of his photos. @davidlopez.stphoto
dieUmweltdruckerei
Con dieUmweltDruckerei hemos encontrado un socio que entiende la sostenibilidad de forma integral: se imprime exclusivamente en papel 100 % reciclado, con tintas veganas a base de aceite vegetal y electricidad ecológica. En nuestra campaña, UmweltDruckerei nos ayuda a realizar impresiones de alta calidad de nuestras ofertas fotográficas, así como de otros materiales de campaña. Juntos queremos demostrar que los productos impresos de alta calidad también pueden fabricarse de forma respetuosa con los recursos, justa y sostenible.
Maritza
In her work, this independent artist explores the African roots of her community and reflects her pride, dignity, and personal history. Among our tokens of gratitude, you’ll find her jewelry and exclusive tapestries.
Sonnenrepublik
Sonnenrepublik is a Berlin-based company dedicated to innovative, decentralized energy solutions. They develop mobile, off-grid solar systems to provide reliable power anywhere. In our campaign, you can find the Wing 6 and the Energy 5000 ☀️🛺
D'brujas
D'brujas is synonymous with natural, sustainable, and artisanal cosmetics that promote beauty and well-being in a natural way. Whenever possible, the ingredients in our products are sourced from local suppliers. Support us and receive magic gifts as a thank you! 🪄🌿🔮
Jorge from ilovekuba
Jorge is a German Youtuber, appreciated by his community for his unbiased and thoroughly informed videos about the entire Cuban island. He also publishes cultural content related to Cuba, from idioms to cusine. On his channel, you find an in-depth video on EnergiKaba, our story and where we're headed.
Danke, dass du uns unterstützt!···Thank You for your support!···Muchas Gracias por tu apoyo!
Scan the QR code using your banking app (photo transfer) or Wero to send your donation! You can also use this link to donate via Wero.
Would you like to know what happens with your donation? Then sign up for our newsletter here!
Beneficiary: Franca-Noemi Kaba Gómez
IBAN: DE19830944950003601951
BIC: GENODEF1ETK
Use: EnergiKaba free donation
PayPal is a U.S. company and enforces the sanctions imposed by the U.S. against Cuba. Unfortunately, this leads to recurring issues with donations made through PayPal. For this reason, we prefer that donations be made via bank transfer or using Wero. Wero is a European alternative to PayPal and is already integrated into many German banking apps. Find out here if your bank already supports Wero. If you have no alternative to donating via PayPal, you can also send your donation to [email protected].
⚠️ Please absolutely avoid using the terms “Cuba,” “Havana,” etc., as otherwise your donation will not reach us. It is best to indicate “EnergiKaba donation” in your donation. ⚠️
You’re very observant! So far, we haven’t registered a company in Germany, since we aren’t (yet) conducting any business activities here. However, sending money to Cuba is complicated for many reasons. Among other things, due to exchange rates, high fees, and the limited foreign currency reserves of Cuban banks, we would lose a lot of money “along the way,” which wouldn’t benefit the project. That’s why we plan to take the cash to Cuba when we travel there throughout the year. This is completely legal up to $10,000 per person and is not subject to customs duties. Of course, we pay for our flights ourselves and not with donation funds.
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