Fiskani: December 2009 Archives

In a typical show of resourcefulness, SolarAid trained microsolar entrepreneur, James Mwakayoka, has extended his range of solar products for sale due to demand. Lanterns, torches and fans are now available alongside traditional Kadzuwa products.

James explained importance of the new stock for his business:

"The idea is to expand my microsolar business by sourcing and selling a variety of similar products. Having new products on my shelves will keep customers coming back, hoping to find something different."

James was trained in microsolar entrepreneurship in April 2008. He was then a member of Ungweru Youth Group. He praised SolarAid for, "teaching me how to fish as well as transforming me into a bread winner for my extended family."

Every entrepreneur has a reason for venturing into the microsolar business. But very few, have the reason like Hilda Longwe.

Hilda Longwe, at her mother's home.

Hilda is a widow with three children. She lives in a place called Engucwini in the Mzimba District of Malawi. When her husband passed away, she decided to go back to her father's village where she built a house. Due to the financial constraints - and the burden of raising her children alone - Hilda ventured into petty trading. She started selling dried fish and kerosene. From this small business she could earn barely enough to keep her body and soul together. But another tragedy was staring Hilda in the face.

One day, Hilda went out and left her children alone at home. When darkness fell, the children had no choice but to light the house using a locally-made kerosene lamp known as "koloboyi" in vernacular. This is literally made of a tin and muslin wick.

Misfortune struck the poor children as the kerosene lamp exploded and the fire spread to the nearby curtains. Being a thatched house, the inferno quickly became unquenchable and the whole house was completely gutted. Although her children were thankfully unharmed, nothing was redeemable from the house. When Hilda came back it was all ashes. Her world had crumbled and so did her business.

A Ray of Hope
In 2005, Hilda joined a group of small scale women entrepreneurs and applied for a loan from The Micro Loan Foundation to resuscitate her collapsed business. Although she has been running a business since then, things never became rosy as before. It was only in 2009 when she started selling SolarAid's microsolar products that she saw her business picking up again.

Hilda with two of her children and her mother.

Hilda is now very optimistic that the microsolar business opportunity will help her realise more dreams and bring in more money for her children. She will live a more independent and comfortable life. She said she has not yet bought a panel for her own use because she wants to maximise profits first and put her business in the comfort zone. She is full of praise for SolarAid's "miracle products" and has vowed never to sell or use kerosene in her house again.

Please help us to help other future women entrepreneurs, like Hilda, by supporting SolarAid today.

Thank you.