“I find fulfillment in coaching women to increase their value. I have become a better version of myself.” Juliet Echima
Juliet Echima is a Business Development Associate for Solar Sister in Kogi State, Nigeria. Juliet talks about her experience working with Solar Sister and the women she works with and mentors.
“I have always been passionate about meeting new people and making friends. Connecting with others and building meaningful relationships bring me immense joy.
Growing up in Delta State, South-South Nigeria, my mother taught my sisters and me how to cook with firewood, which was the norm then. Little did I know the health hazards associated with it.
When I joined Solar Sister in 2018, I saw passionate women with a vision resonating with my desires. The job was initially challenging, as I needed to learn more sophisticated technology skills. With a supportive team, I have grown professionally and personally.
Every month, I train women, empowering them to grow their sustainable businesses by selling clean energy products like solar lamps and clean cookstoves. I have witnessed entrepreneurs scaling up from buying just a few small lamps to now purchasing cartons of lamps. Some have even transitioned from selling small lamps to larger home systems and clean cookstoves. Many have increased their product base tenfold, purchasing ten times the amount of products they bought when they started their business.
It’s incredible to see their growth as they support their families and provide clean energy access to their communities. By reducing reliance on firewood and promoting clean cookstoves, they are positively impacting climate change.
Watching the entrepreneur’s consistent growth and the impact on their lives and the impact on their communities keeps me going!
Working in Kogi state, Nigeria’s north-central region, has its challenges. The struggle of the state government to pay salaries and its impact on the workers in the state created a difficult situation, and we had to put our heads together to develop strategies for entrepreneurs. I started spending more time in the different communities there, connecting with entrepreneurs to address each person’s specific challenges. I built trust by coaching them and helping them navigate customer-related issues. I even faced risks traveling on the notorious Okene Road, known for kidnappings, to support entrepreneurs on the verge of quitting due to a lack of customers. By working closely with each entrepreneur, we have started to see a real impact – communities that have no electricity now have access to solar lamps and clean cookstoves.
I am passionate about my job and love being a coach and trainer for women, both for them and to make an impact in the world. Solar Sister makes that possible.“
