There are those who believe that big projects are needed to change the world, and those who try with a simple backpack. In San Francisco, a young man named Zac Clark decided to transform an idea into something concrete: a solar backpack for the homeless, capable of giving those living on the streets back some autonomy, security and, above all, dignity.
His project, The HomeMore Project, was born from a direct, simple but very powerful observation:
We have a phone, but we don’t know where to charge it.
For those who live on the streets, in fact, the telephone is often the only link with the family, with social services or simply with the world. Yet, even a simple gesture like recharging the battery can become an insurmountable obstacle. So, Zac decided to bring the sun on the shoulders of those who no longer have a roof over their heads.
How it works
He called it the Makeshift Traveler, and it’s much more than a backpack. On the top side it has a small 4-watt photovoltaic panel connected to a 10,000 mAh battery, powerful enough to recharge a smartphone two or three times after a sunny day. All you need is light. It’s a way to restore connection and security to those who, too often, are cut off from both.
But the idea doesn’t stop there. The Makeshift Traveler was designed as a real urban survival kit. It’s waterproof, made from recycled plastic bottles, and has an anti-theft lock to protect the few personal items a homeless person may have. There are reflective bands for night safety, an inflatable pillow that fills with a t-shirt, and inside the backpack you can find everything: a tent, a sleeping bag, a radio, a lamp, a bottle of water, a poncho and a small toiletry bag.
Since 2022, more than 1,200 solar backpacks have been distributed for free in 25 California cities, and the association aims to surpass 2,000 by the end of the year.
Numbers which, alone, do not tell the whole story. Behind every backpack there is a story, a name, a person who can finally light a torch or send a message without depending on anyone.
The project is also an experiment in sustainable solidarity. Each backpack comes with a brochure listing fifteen local services, from soup kitchens and health centers to dormitories and support associations. Not a gift as an end in itself, but a tool to regain autonomy.
The most interesting thing about Makeshift Traveler is that it was not born from a tech company or a research laboratory. It comes from listening, from a human gesture. And that’s what makes it truly innovative.
Technology, in this case, is not used to simplify the lives of those who already have a comfortable one, but to give voice and visibility back to those who the world no longer sees.
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