According to World Bank, some 90% of the population in Uganda lives without access to electricity. Besides the obvious inconvenience of what to do after the sun goes down, the lack of electricity leads to health hazards, financial strains, dilapidated home maintenance, and ultimately prevents people from escaping poverty.
But there is light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks to the hot African sun, solar is a readily available energy source and social enterprise Solar Sister is taking full advantage. Since 2010 they’ve been selling affordable solar lighting (as well as other green products such as solar lamps and mobile phone chargers) to the rural population. Perhaps most exciting of all, they use an Avon-style women’s distribution system to train and recruit women in East Africa to sell the products which earns them a commission on every sale.
Solar Sister founder Katherine Lucey, a former investment banker with expertise in the energy sector, says this model is creating access to safe, affordable, and clean energy while helping women to earn a steady income to support their families. “You really can’t raise up above subsistence living if you don’t have light, electricity and energy,” says Lucey. “And when you do have it, it’s just tremendous what people are able to accomplish and the impact it has on people’s lives: children can study more and go to school, women can start businesses and are able to provide for their families.”
Steadily growing the business for the past two years, Solar Sister is growing their network across Sub-Saharan Africa. As a registered non-profit, they rely on donations and 100% of investments go to specific Solar Sister Entrepreneurs. According to their website, every dollar invested in a Solar Sister Entrepreneur generates over $46 in economic benefits in the first year alone, through earned income for the Solar Sister Entrepreneur, and the immediate cash savings of her customers as they avoid the cost of expensive kerosene.
So far, more than 270 entrepreneurs in Uganda, Rwanda, and South Sudan have joined Solar Sister. Lucey says the group, which is looking to expand in other counties in the continent, is deliberately working solely with women as they are responsible of managing the energy needs of a household.
See the light by learning more about Solar Sister HERE #punintended
(Photo credit: Solar Sister)
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