The intersection of Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda meet at the eastern edge of vast Lake Victoria. This region of Tanzania is known as Africa’s Great Lakes Region. It is home to Tanzania’s portion of Lake Victoria in the north and Lake Tanganyika in the west. Lake Victoria is the largest lake on the continent, the world’s second-largest freshwater lake, and the world’s largest tropical lake.
About forty kilometers east of Lake Victoria near the Kenya border is Solar Sister Joyce John’s small ranch, where she raises sheep and goats.
Joyce is a widow working on her farm and a small convenience shop owner. Three of her four children are now grown, with eleven-year-old Ajwala still at home attending school. When she joined Solar Sister in 2018, her children were still at home, and Joyce was the sole breadwinner.
Joyce says that the entrepreneurial training she received has helped her achieve her dreams for her family. Making sure her children get a good education, increasing her livestock, and expanding her shop.
“Through the savings I grew with the profits I made from selling solar products, I have benefited by adding four sheep and two goats to my ranch.”
As her business continued to grow, Joyce was able to open her convenience shop.
Joyce meets customers at markets, schools, offices, and other gathering places. Still, her favorite is the market where people have come ready to buy.
As a Solar Sister Entrepreneur, Joyce cites training in how to do business for her success in selling and bringing solar to her community.
“This is important work for women because it removes the women from the belief that a woman is weak, and it gives her the strength to do many good things.”