Luwinga microsolar entrepreneurs improve lives of Malawi's orphans

A group of 20 women, including 15 widows based in Luwinga Township near Mzuzu city are the latest entrepreneurs trained by SolarAid to distribute and maintain microsolar units. After setting up the Kwithu Community Based Organisation centre in 2004, the entrepreneurs have been using their various baking, farming, knitting and sewing skills to raise funds that help feed an orphanage of 120 children twice a week. The women provide ten of the orphans born with HIV, daily supplements in order to boost their immune systems and to give them the best future possible.

Three entrepreneurs repair microsolar products such as the Muuni held by Joice Hara (right).

To raise awareness the entrepreneurs counsel children and guardians on how to live positively with HIV and teach those free of the disease on how to avoid it. Orphans also attend evening classes to continue their education after the regular school day is over. Microsolar is another method by which to enable this process, to not only light their education, but with an improved income, provide a greater number and quality of reading and writing materials.

Children attending an after school lesson at the Kwithu Community Based Organisation centre.

Since meeting with SolarAid, the entrepreneurs are now training in microsolar maintenance and distribution to generate a more profitable income and provide an even better service for the orphanage. By selling microsolar products, these women will be empowered both economically and practically. The Kwithu ladies are filled with energy and want to expand their community centre to match their ambition, carry out an increasing number of activities and help a larger number of children. The distribution and maintenance of microsolar is a step towards achieving this aim by helping to improve the lives of orphans in Malawi.

Please support entrepreneurs like these in providing a brighter future for the rural poor in Malawi by donating here.