When Ruth, a History student, and Danish, an Engineering student, took on leadership of BioSmart this year, they inherited a challenge. The student-led social enterprise, operating under Enactus Exeter, had seen its Cameroon operations dwindle after a research-heavy year left physical infrastructure neglected. Now, they’re working to revive a project that converts agricultural waste into sustainable fuel for communities struggling with fuel poverty.
BioSmart’s approach is elegantly simple: produce biochar, a sustainable alternative to traditional coal, using specially designed furnaces that transform agricultural waste into usable fuel. The project currently operates in Tico, Cameroon, and previously flourished in Kenya before those operations became fully self-sufficient. “The furnaces used to create the biochar had rusted away,” Ruth explains. “You can’t make biochar without furnaces.” The solution requires sending approximately £1,500 to Cameroon—a process underway since late September involving complex international money transfers through the university’s Guild.
BioSmart’s approach is elegantly simple: produce biochar, a sustainable alternative to
traditional coal, using specially designed furnaces that transform agricultural waste into
usable fuel.
The handover between leadership teams revealed critical lessons about continuity. “When there’s not the continuity of people continuing the project year to year, some information doe get lost,” Danish notes. “Relationships in particular are hard to maintain if you don’t hand them over during the academic year.” Despite these hurdles, the team remains optimistic about having new furnaces operational by December’s end.
What distinguishes BioSmart from other charitable aid is its commitment to sustainable economic
empowerment. As a social enterprise — a core Enactus requirement — BioSmart must operate as a profitable, self-sustaining business rather than relying on continuous external funding. The project specifically targets women, who in many communities face the dangerous and often illegal task of gathering firewood. “We try and make it really clear to our teams that lots of the men already have jobs, and this is something that women can get involved in,” Ruth explains, “It’s meant to supplement income.”
We try and make it really clear to our teams that lots of the men already have jobs, and this is something that women can get involved in
Ruth
The model’s success shines in Kenya, where operations have become entirely self-sufficient.
The Kenyan team has even expanded impact through bartering, trading biochar with neighboring villages for textiles and other goods. “Communication with Kenya is really sort of dead in the water, to an extent, because they’re really happy with where they are,” Danish says.
As BioSmart rebuilds its Cameroon operations, Ruth and Danish are recruiting first and second-year students who can provide multi-year commitment for continuity. The process is deliberately informal — students fill out a basic form and attend casual drop-in sessions. No specific skills are required, just enthusiasm and willingness to contribute two to three hours weekly. The team’s composition reflects this inclusive approach. About a third of them are STEM students, but members also study History, Communications, Business, Geography, Psychology, and more, including several Master’s and MBA students.
As BioSmart rebuilds its Cameroon operations, Ruth and Danish are recruiting first andsecond-year students who can provide multi-year commitment for continuity.
To foster cohesion, the leaders have introduced regular social events, including popular bracelet-making sessions every few weeks. These handmade bracelets are sold at fundraising stalls to help fund operations while creating relaxed bonding opportunities. “Some people have really come out of their shell in a way that wouldn’t have happened without the socials,” Ruth observes. The approach has generated over 130 bracelets ready for sale.
Beyond direct impact in Cameroon, BioSmart offers valuable professional development. Enactus UK membership provides access to fast-track interviews with companies like Enterprise Mobility, while connections with organizations like EY and British Airways offer networking opportunities. “The experience you would gain working on an Enactus project is great to talk about in any interview — leadership skills, project management, organization,” Danish explains. The team remains intentionally flexible about commitments, understanding academic pressures. During exam weeks, no work is assigned, and they readily accommodate members’ other commitments.
The experience you would gain working on an Enactus project is great to talk about in any interview — leadership skills, project management, organization.
Danish
For this academic year, Ruth and Danish’s primary goal is straightforward: get the project running at a good level again. Looking further ahead, they hope to set up next year’s leadership to potentially split into two groups—one maintaining Cameroon operations, another focusing on competition to secure grant funding for expanded impact. BioSmart represents students who refuse to see borders as barriers to making a difference. Alongside sister projects like Oyana, Twelve Period, and Grow, it demonstrates that
meaningful international development doesn’t require waiting until after graduation.
For Exeter students interested in joining BioSmart’s mission, recruitment information will be posted next term. No matter your background, there’s a place for anyone willing to contribute a few hours weekly toward creating lasting change.
BioSmart is part of Enactus Exeter, a student society running multiple social enterprises globally. For more information, look out for recruitment materials next term or visit the Enactus Exeter Instagram page (@enactusexeter).
