Meet Kativa Maria, green hydrogen youth ambassador

In Kavango East, daily life often meant racing against the sunset, balancing buckets of water and bundles of firewood, with study time ending when candle flames burned out. These challenges inspired a new generation of Namibians to pursue solutions for energy access, including Kativa Maria, a young electrical engineer who later joined the inaugural Green Hydrogen Youth Ambassadors Programme. The initiative aims to develop a network of young leaders capable of bridging Namibia’s hydrogen ambitions with the realities of local communities.

In September, 28 young Namibians from all 14 regions gathered in Windhoek for the programme, led by the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Energy Partnership in collaboration with Hyphen Hydrogen Energy and the Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme.

The training offered participants practical knowledge of green hydrogen and its transformative potential. Demonstrations, such as splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen, led by Dr Detlof von Oertzen, highlighted that green hydrogen, produced using Namibia’s abundant solar and wind resources, is entirely clean, unlike grey hydrogen derived from fossil fuels.

Participants learned about the 'Power-to-X' concept, which converts hydrogen into synthetic fuels, fertilisers or stored electricity, offering pathways to food security, cleaner transport and energy independence.

The programme underscored Namibia’s enormous potential in the green hydrogen sector. With world-class solar and wind resources, the country can produce green hydrogen more competitively than many nations.

Skills and inclusion

Projects such as Hyphen’s US$10 billion initiative could create 15 000 construction jobs and 3 000 permanent positions, with 90% reserved for Namibians. Beyond employment, green hydrogen offers prospects for reduced energy costs, strengthened food production and youth opportunities across the country.

The initiative also emphasised the importance of inclusive development. Launches such as Hyphen’s National Skills Census aim to identify training needs for local employment. Discussions around water use, land allocation and community benefits stressed that projects must support rural communities and ensure fair distribution of resources.

According to leaders such as Marco Raffinetti, Hyphen CEO, and James Mnyupe, Namibia’s green hydrogen commissioner, the future of the sector depends not only on technology but also on trust, skills and inclusion.

For young ambassadors like Kativa, the role extends beyond advocacy: it is about translating complex energy concepts into community-relevant language, supporting local training initiatives, and ensuring rural voices shape development.

Ultimately, green hydrogen represents both economic opportunity and social transformation, offering a future where Namibia’s energy resources empower communities at home while contributing to global sustainability.