Solar Sister and globalbike are working together to spread renewable energy and boost women’s economic empowerment in Tanzania.
When Solar Sister entrepreneur, Hilaria, started a clean energy business in her rural community in northern Tanzania, she was successful in convincing her family and friends and her wider community to invest in solar power. She was so successful that she decided to branch further out.
Then Hilaria hit a huge hurdle: the buses moving between communities were costly and unreliable. She tried walking to the next community with some products. But in the end, she determined the cost of traveling by foot or having to pay for transport cut too far into her profit.
When she received a bicycle however, her business grew. She strapped woven baskets full of solar lights to the back pannier, and bicycled off to new customers.
Now, thanks to support from Social Initiative / Fagerhult, Solar Sister and globalbike will provide 80 bicycles for women entrepreneurs like Hilaria to help them grow their businesses and reach beyond their own community. globalbike will provide sturdy, branded bicycles with spare parts, as well as train Solar Sister Entrepreneurs on bicycle maintenance and bike repair business management.
globalbike’s unique model of bike philanthropy in rural Tanzania empowers women as leaders who ensure that bike recipients in their communities realize the entire value of the bike over time. globalbike trains women in acquiring the mechanical knowledge, access to spare parts, and financial planning needed to keep bikes on the road for years to come. With this training, these women offer their community a valuable service while generating revenue for themselves.
“When bike recipients are supported with a long-term maintenance strategy, the impact of bicycle usage can be long-lasting.” says globalbike director, Erin Mahaffey. “Our research shows that people cut transportation time by 65% and increase monthly business income by 25-57% when they use a bicycle instead of walking.”
We see bicycles have such a tangible impact on a woman’s business. Suddenly, a woman has a means to move to nearby communities, reach more customers and increase their profits
Solar Sister supports thousands of women entrepreneurs to kickstart businesses that bring the latest durable solar technology to rural Tanzanian communities.
“We see bicycles have such a tangible impact on a woman’s business. Suddenly, a woman has a means to move to nearby communities, reach more customers and increase their profits,” says Solar Sister CEO Katherine Lucey.
So far Solar Sister entrepreneurs have reached over one and a half million people with clean energy solutions across Africa. In the next 5 years, they will reach 10 million people with renewable energy.
globalbike globalbike is a US-based non-profit organization that supports women-owned bike businesses in rural areas of Tanzania. Our programs make long-term maintenance of bicycles affordable and accessible for individuals of all income levels while creating economic security for the women’s groups who own and run them.
For media inquiries, contact globalbike at info@globalbike.org
Solar Sister Solar Sister is a movement of women, men, allies and partners who care about the well-being of people and planet. We are in this together. We believe everyone deserves clean energy and we know African women can transform their communities. Together, we are democratizing light and energy, and we are leaving no one behind. Join us to reach 10 million people across Africa by 2022.
For media inquiries, contact Fid Thompson at fid@solarsister.org