Moshi Mohamed Mgelwa has always been busy. When she saw something she wanted to achieve, even as a young child, she thought, “Why wouldn’t I do that? And I would go and do it. I believe in myself!”
“I wanted my community to have light, and in 2014, when I heard about Solar Sister, I joined.”
Moshi sold over 250 lamps in her first year, determined to bring light to her entire community.
“People in the community love solar products! They have already dropped using kerosene lamps–buying the kerosene is so expensive, so they bought solar. They now see Solar Sister products as high-quality, better than other brands. Even if other products are cheaper, people see that there is real worth to our products. We give them a receipt, a warranty, and support if anything goes wrong. So now people trust me and call me asking for products.”
Things have changed a lot for me since I joined Solar Sister. I built a house. We did not have one before.”
Moshi joined the We Solve Program in 2019 thanks to a special partnership between Solar Sister, BRAC, and d.light. By offering a credit plan to customers, the project addresses the lack of renewable energy and the absence of economic opportunities for women in rural areas.
Moshi assisted in bringing together Solar Sister Entrepreneurs to hear about the idea and sign up if they were interested. When their goods are sold through this project, entrepreneurs receive a commission.
“We Solve has been a positive program for me,” Moshi says. “Since 2019, I have built a separate addition to my home and a henhouse to keep more chickens with the additional income. I purchased more sheep for our farm, and I help support our family.
Most of my sales have been cash sales. For the last several years, cash sales have been difficult because we have had more drought, so people don’t have as much cash. Working with We Solve makes it easier for customers to buy the products they would like and could not get otherwise with cash.
Before working in the We Solve program, I had transportation challenges. It would cut my profit if I wanted to go beyond my community, where I have already sold to many people. When traveling to a remote district, I would have to hire a motorbike or take the bus.
Now I have my own bicycle and a motorbike. In the village, I use the bicycle, and for trips further away, I use the motorcycle.
When the power cuts and people are putting out candles, that’s when I’m running to them! I don’t sleep! There is no sleep where there’s money! Solar Sister has a lot of benefits. I won’t be stopping. And I will also get one of my children involved in the future to keep the business going.
In 2021, Moshi attended advocacy training offered by Solar Sister.
“I can stand up in front of any group and talk. It impacted me in that I have more confidence. I can speak at any gathering without fear. In training, you meet fellow entrepreneurs, and you learn a lot and exchange ideas and techniques to improve your profit.
I am proud that I have been able to distribute most of the lanterns in my community. I am proud of my business achievements and the income that I make.
Women are the people for this work because as soon as a woman gets money, it is the community that benefits. If the man gets money, he sends it to his girlfriend. Women are trustworthy. Even if the money is small, the community benefits if a woman has it.”
Over the years, Moshi has become famous in her area.
“People in the community see me differently now. And that is why other women are interested in joining. They see I have money for soap. I’m involved in two loan groups. I use an efficient stove and have installed a large solar light system in my house. They see me differently. I don’t even have time to sit down at home–I’m going all around with this business. I don’t have time to gossip. I’m just solar. I’m just gossiping about solar.
“People come to me for their “solar.”