women solar entrepreneurs drive east african business surge - household air cleaner

Bunabayu, Tanzania (
Thomson Reuters Foundation-
When the darkness descended on the plain around Bunambiyu, a remote village in the new Yanga area in northern Tanzania, Elizabeth julius opened her solar lantern and sewn clothes for her customers.
Not long ago, nightfall would force her to close the tailor shop or use a smoked kerosene lamp.
But with solar energy
Power Light, Juli julius can sew as much as you like now.
"Solar power has completely changed my life.
The 29-year-old said: "I use it at work and at home, but it won't cost me anythingyear-
Old entrepreneur, mother of two children
"I often wake up to work at night because I need money to support my family," she said . ".
Julie julius and her husband, Zablon, said in the past that income was barely enough to meet the needs of their growing families.
But three years ago, julius received a bank loan of $500 to buy solar lanterns she sold to customers.
With the increase in additional income, she then sought another larger loan to expand her custom business, including a barber shop, a mobile phone charging facility and a consumer goods store, all using solar energy.
Now, "We are more productive than ever.
We can get an average of 50,000 shillings ($25)
One day, even more, "she said.
Julie's success is partly due to training from London energy impact. based non-
Profit groups in East and West Africa to improve energy supply.
A focus of the group's work is to lift rural women out of poverty through clean action
Energy startup.
Group new wire (
Integration of women into renewable energy)
The value chain project aims to help 400 female solar entrepreneurs through training and financing by 2020, and to help some of them provide clean cooking and solar lighting products to 360,000 people in Kenya and Tanzania.
The project is part of the women's start-up partnership in renewable energy (wPOWER)
Initiated by the United StatesS.
State Council, 2013.
In addition to helping women develop their businesses, energy impact spokesman Jerry Abgar said the effort was aimed at reducing climate change emissions and cutting timber.
Godfrey Sanga, Energy 4 impact project manager, said it makes sense to help women create clean energy enterprises because women are good at creating networks in rural areas and can spread the use of clean energy.
From 2013, 1,200 Micro
Project officials say businesses and 200 small and medium-sized enterprises in East Africa have been helped, with sales growing by an average of 32% per year.
Julie julius said that conducting business management and technical training through the project is key to helping her expand her business and increase her income.
"I have nothing to complain about.
In fact, everyone in the village is satisfied with what we are doing and our service is totally solar, "she said.
According to Tanzania's Ministry of Energy and Mines, only 21% of the population in Tanzania can use the grid, and Sanga said helping women become energy entrepreneurs is a useful way to improve the lives of millions of people in rural areas, it has an impact on energy.
Almost 69% of the population is cooking firewood, charcoal and feces in Kenya and 95% in Tanzania, the company said.
The company says smoke and kerosene lamps are the main source of household air pollution, with Kenya killing 14,300 people each year and Tanzania killing 18,900 people each year.
While the use of solar energy has grown rapidly in Tanzania, obtaining high-quality equipment from reliable suppliers remains a problem, Sanga said.
There is an increasing interest in solar energy, attracting unscrupulous sellers.
High quality equipment can hurt people's confidence to turn to solar power, he said.
"Poor quality, substandard or counterfeit products are one of the main factors that prevent people from using clean energy technologies because of frequent failures and general poor performance," Sanga said . ".
Energy 4 impact efforts help ensure high
He said that knowledge of quality, reliable equipment and maintenance equipment is available.
The effort is also aimed at bringing solar energy to rural areas in Tanzania, where many still do not know the technology.
To increase interest, he said, the project hopes to help solar entrepreneurs host roadshows, forums with women and youth groups, and media events.
"By demonstrating successful businesses, demonstrating the benefits of using clean technology in improving productivity, revenue and cost savings, Sanga said: "Many people are expected to be interested in adapting and using them for themselves and their families in their lives. ".