Xaviera Kowo has designed a waste collection robot that could contribute to sanitation efforts in Cameroon. The device, equipped with wheels, automatically picks up rubbish lying around in public spaces and deposits it in rubbish bins, recycling centres and other processing sites in record time. It developed the device with the aim of contributing to the sanitation of the continent through technology. The robot was created during the First Global international robotics competition, during which she had the privilege of representing Cameroon. The competition was held in Dubai in 2019, and the challenge was to develop robots that could solve community problems.

In Cameroon, the collection and treatment of waste remains a thorny problem in the big cities. In the country's major cities such as Douala and Yaoundé, rubbish is part of the scenery in some neighbourhoods. The overflow of waste led the government to put an end to the activities of the structure in charge of hygiene and salubrity (Hysacam) in 2018, and to call on new companies. This is a boon for many innovators and recycling start-ups.

A refuse collection robot can be an advantage for officers, who will be able to let it operate completely autonomously and perform other tasks in parallel. However, it may struggle to adapt to all environments, due to the country's impassable roads. On 8 March, Xaviera Kowo's device won her the Margaret Award in the Junior Africa category. The programmer is now encouraging the education of young girls in technology and robotics (Prosygma)