In 2017, Mwape Chimpampa, a student from Zambia, lost her father to skin cancer. Her father had albinism—a condition in which a person’s body doesn’t produce melanin. This colored pigment helps protect skin from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays. Mwape, who’s 16, also has albinism. She decided to create a more affordable sunscreen specifically for people with this condition.
Mwape’s sunscreen uses only local, natural ingredients, like banana, turmeric, milk, honey, and aloe vera. She worked with the Zambia Research and Development Center to create and test her formula. “Hopefully, in the years to come, my sunscreen will be available on the market,” says Mwape.