In a Maasai village in northern Tanzania, when the sky turns from deep marine blue at dusk to black night, the stars sparkle like jewels in the sky. Despite the big, open sky, Solar Sister Entrepreneur Suzanna Simon’s community is dark with only a few pinpricks of light coming from kerosene lamps. Most of the families in her area rely on kerosene at night. This worries Suzanna.
One of Suzanna’s neighbors, Mary, had a terrible experience with a kerosene lamp. “It was after 10 pm when I fell asleep before switching off the lamp. A cat came in and knocked the lamp over, which caused the fire. I woke up because the house was on fire – it was hot and smoky. I ran out with my children and called for help, “Mary remembered.
Thirty-seven-year-old Solar Sister Entrepreneur Suzanna Simon lives with her husband and five children in a semi-arid region in northern Tanzania. Her husband Simon Moienget, now 72, is an agro-pastoralist. Suzanna is his second wife. They depend on their livestock for income, as do most Maasai. Before joining Solar Sister, Suzanna relied on livestock – selling milk or their cows and goats. About four years ago, her husband left. Suzanna attended a woman’s group and heard about Solar Sister. Suzanna’s life was difficult with her husband gone and five children to support, so Suzanna thought she would give Solar Sister a try. She was one of the first to join in her area.
“My life has improved since joining the Solar Sister program because my income increased, and I was able to buy myself better clothes. I was able to support my firstborn, Benjamin’s education. I spent 800,000 tshs on buying him school materials like notebooks, stationery, dictionary, school uniform and shoes, mattress.”
With some of her Solar Sister income, Suzanna has begun to build a house for herself in the family boma or village family community.
“I didn’t have any training nor the investment income to start a business. I have learned a lot since joining the Solar Sister program. I have learned how to save my money and invest in my business. I have learned how to grow my business and how to connect with customers.”
On market days, Suzanna takes her products to sell at the market. On other days she walks door to door selling. She walks up to seven kilometers or two hours to her neighbor’s homes.
“I leave my number with customers who recommend the products to new customers. Sometimes customers will come directly to my home for the solar lights. I always check in with my customers, and they know me well.”
Suzanna’s husband has since returned to the family. Suzanna remains steadfast that women need to take care of themselves.
“It is essential for us women to work. We can’t rely on our husbands for everything. In my case, my husband was gone for three years. The year after he left, I joined Solar Sister. The income earned from selling the products helped support my family and children. My eldest, Benjamin, performed well at school. He wanted to continue his secondary education, but my husband had disappeared. I had to cover the educational expense.”
Innumerable studies and real-world experience have shown that when you empower a man, it benefits the man; when you empower a woman, you benefit the nation. Women build up their children and their communities. This is not news to Suzanna.
“With the additional income, Suzanna adds, we can ensure that our children can continue their education.”
Photo Captions: Suzanna Simon in front of her hut at her boma, or family compound. • Suzanna welcomes a neighboring Solar Sister Entrepreneur, Mary Orikiitoi Arpaakwai. • Suzanna greets her four youngest children when they return from school. Left to Right: Rose, age 14, Leah, Age 10, Samson, age 8, and Musa, age 12. • Suzanna meets with one of her customers, Mama Prisila, to bring her a new solar lamp. • Women and children in the community gather at the well at the end of the day to get water. • Samson and Musa go into one of the family huts to study by a solar lamp. • Time to relax outside as the evening and darkness descends on the boma. The huts are usually made of mud, sticks, cow dung, grass, and urine.
This photo narrative was supported by Energia. All photographs are by Tanzanian photographer Roshni Lodhia. You can see more of her work here..
