Entrepreneur update

I'm pleased to announce that two of SolarAid Malawi's best entrepreneurs have been reaping the benefits of a sustainable income.

James Nyirenda's dream is to be an accountant. In order to achieve his dream James runs two shops in Mzuzu and is a member of the Ungweru Youth Group team of entrepreneurs and the Global Microsolar Enterprise team. Emerging as a leading franchisee, James has used his entrepreneurial skills to set up a teachers' sales network to increase sales and ensure solar energy is accessible to the poorest families with children in education. This great work has granted James the income to fund his university fees of MWK35000, that's £150 each semester.

James (far left) at a meeting with the Global Microsolar Enterprise team in Mzuzu.

What makes this achievement even more special is that as an orphan James has had no external finances available and has had to achieve all this largely on his own. But his determination has paid off; James was recently awarded a prestigious Certificate in Accounting by his university and gained employment as Accounts and Administration Support for SolarAid Malawi.

You may remember Charles Nyondo from an earlier blog. Working as a Government Rural Health Officer in Mzimba district, Charles uses his microsolar business to support himself financially.

Charles was the first of 12 franchisees operating in Raiply, Mzimba to sell 100 units in 2009 and is renowned for his hard work and creativity in finding unique ways to sell and promote microsolar technology.

Charles (left) meeting with fellow entrepreneurs to share ideas and experiences outside the SolarAid office in Mzuzu.

However, despite his success there was a period of four months recently when his employers failed to pay him. James explains how his microsolar business allowed him to survive that tough period:

"There was a time when I didn't receive my salary from the government...but I survived because of this business, in fact nothing much changed. That is when I realised I could retire from the Government, I'm now planning to open a big energy shop in Mzimba town."

It's great to hear these success stories and since Charles is planning to retire from his Government job it is a clear that our goal to have self-sustaining employment for franchisees is working.

More soon

Brave