Solar Sister
Solar Sister uses a market-based, locally-led, women-driven approach to combat energy poverty.
It’s a women-centered network of entrepreneurs bringing clean energy to the most remote areas of Africa and providing essential services and training that enable women entrepreneurs to build a sustainable business in their own communities.
Solar Sister recruits, trains, and supports women from energy-poor areas who are interested in entrepreneurship and passionate about bringing light and clean energy to their communities.
Solar Sister Entrepreneurs (SSEs) educate communities and provide high-quality solar, clean cooking solutions and after-sales service to their community’s doorstep.
In the Maasai village in northern Tanzania where Susanna lives, most of the families in her community rely on kerosene at night. This worries her because she understands the dangers of kerosene lamps. One of her neighbours, Mary, had a terrible experience when a cat came in and knocked her lamp over. Mary woke up because the house was on fire. Luckily she had time to run out with her children and call for help.
Before joining Solar Sister, Susanna was relying on livestock – selling milk or their cows and goats. About four years ago, her husband left. A year later, she was attending a woman’s group and heard about Solar Sister and she decided to give it a try since her life was difficult with her husband gone and five children to support.
“I didn’t have any training nor the investment income to start a business. I have learned a lot since joining the Solar Sister program. I have learned how to save my money and how to invest in my business. I have learned how to grow my business and how to connect with customers.”
With her Solar Sister income, Susanna has been able to support her firstborn Benjamin’s education, and buy him school materials like notebooks, stationery, a dictionary, a school uniform and shoes, as well as a mattress and better clothes for herself. She has also begun to build the foundation of a house for herself in the family boma or village family community.
On market days, Susanna takes her products to sell at the market. On other days she walks door to door selling. She walks up to seven kilometres to her neighbour’s homes. Susanna’s husband has since returned to the family, but she remains steadfast that women need to be able to take care of themselves.
“It is essential for us women to work. We can’t rely on our husbands for everything. In my case, my husband was gone for three years. The year after he left, I joined Solar Sister. The income earned from selling the products helped support my family and children. My eldest, Benjamin, performed well at school. He wanted to continue with his secondary education, but my husband had disappeared. I had to cover the educational expenses. With the additional income, we can ensure that our children can go to secondary school.“