Leunia Kihaga is a force to be reckoned with.
She’s a Solar Sister Entrepreneur, bringing light and warmth to the homes of her village in Isimani, Tanzania. But her success wasn’t always a given. Despite her best efforts, Leunia needed help with the rugged terrain and need for transportation options in her area. Finding new customers and getting her products out to the far-flung corners of her region took a lot of time and expensive transportation.
That’s where global bike came in. This organization, run by and for women, aims to empower female entrepreneurs across Tanzania with access to bicycles. These sturdy, reliable machines help women like Leunia break through the barriers holding them back.
As it turned out, the partnership between Solar Sister and globalbike was a match made in heaven. Thanks to their collaboration, Leunia and dozens of other Solar Sister Entrepreneurs could get their hands on brand-new bikes custom-built to handle the rough roads of rural Tanzania.
“In the past, we could not conduct our business on foot because the villages we visit are far away. We had to walk, got very tired, and could not go as far as we wanted. But bicycles now help us travel to even the remotest villages. We can go fast because of the bicycle, which makes us do our Solar Sister business efficiently.
Since I could only take a few lanterns with me at a time, I saw only a small profit. Now I am making a good profit because of the bicycle. Sometimes I would hire a motorcycle, but now I take my bike. Hiring a motorcycle was expensive, but now I do not need to”
Since receiving her bike in 2019, Leunia’s business has taken off. She’s expanded her reach and connected with customers in far-flung communities, efficiently delivering solar lamps and clean cookstoves. And with every successful sale, she’s proving that women have what it takes to thrive in even the toughest environments.
“The bicycle helps me personally. If I need to go to the farm, I can go quickly and get back early. It helps a lot. I can carry firewood and fetch water using the bike.
Before, I had a low income and could not buy my children school uniforms. Now I can buy them uniforms because my income has grown. I can budget and plan now. Because of the bicycle, I can buy more food and things for our home. Even my husband does not worry about buying a bar of soap. Life at home is better, and even my father is happy because we help them.
We also have been able to buy more livestock because of my increased profit. I also add money to my saving group, little by little. At the end of the year, I use some of my savings on our farm.”
The globalbike program, together with Solar Sister entrepreneurs, has changed lives like Leunia’s and transformed communities, one pedal at a time, and one lamp at a time. It shows what can happen when women unite to lift up each other.