Kyela District in southern Tanzania lies to the northeast of Lake Malawi in a remote region where Solar Sister has started working in the last year. People living in this area are maize or rice farmers. The area has limited grid access, and many people use small torches and kerosene lanterns to light their homes in the evening.
Nine months ago, Rehema Mwandamo met one of Solar Sister’s new entrepreneurs in the region, Noelia Kajana. Noelia has a university certificate in education and applies her training to her new entrepreneurs. One of her focuses is on “connected selling,” where Solar Sister Entrepreneurs learn to form relationships with members of their community, learn about possible shared interests and goals, and seek to understand their customers’ needs.
As a farmer, thirty-year-old Rehema was having difficulty meeting family necessities. Her husband Esau runs a small business, but they often come up short at the end of the month.
In her nine months since becoming an entrepreneur, Rehema has opened a kiosk business, and now each month, the family has enough food and the children’s school supplies and fees.
Selling techniques and learning how to set goals has been the most valuable training for Rehema. She saved money by no longer constantly needing to purchase candles and batteries. Through careful planning, she was able to open her kiosk, where she stocks essential household goods like eggs, flour, bottled water, soft drinks, and her solar lights. The day Rehema opened her kiosk was her proudest day as a business person.
One of her marketing strategies is to visit her neighbors at night,
“I usually take my lanterns to my neighbors during the night, so they are able to witness how useful they are by seeing the light, and during the day, I show them the lanterns and talk about the warrants and receipts.”
“Most of my customers do not have any access to electricity, and they have a low income. They need light, and they need to charge their phones.”
Rehema knows that her customers will save money in the long run if they can purchase a solar lamp.
Solar Sister entrepreneurship works well for Rehema because she can plan her hours and still have time for her family. Rehema says that her situation has changed because now her family is happy. Her dream is to be a good mother and help support the family.
Reporting from Abubaker Yahya Laizer, Tanzanian Story Corps and Business Development Manager, and Business Development Associate, Noelia Kajana.