Veronica’s Business Is Lighting the Way, For Fishers and Her Family

Meet Veronica Danieli. She’s building her business in Tanzania by selling solar lights, including new solar fishing lights that help local fishermen save money and stay safer at night.

Before joining Solar Sister in April 2020, Veronica Danieli spent most of her days at home, relying entirely on her husband to provide for the household, even for small needs like buying salt.

Life was difficult,” she said. “I depended on my husband for everything. What I like most about Solar Sister is the business opportunity,” Veronica shared. “It has helped me meet my family’s needs. Now I can contribute, and even my husband is happy.”Veronica expanded her business by also selling women’s underwear, which she purchases in a shop in town and then resells in her rural community.

Veronica recently joined Solar Sister’s solar fishing lights project in Tanzania, a new opportunity she hopes will grow her income and expand her business.

“I’m not there yet,” she said, “but this will give me income, and little by little my capital will grow. My goal is to become a big entrepreneur, support my family, and send my four children to school. I plan to expand my solar business and reach a point where I earn enough money to be able to support my family in full and be a known businesswoman in my community.”

She views the fishing lights as a means to attract new customers, particularly local fishers who currently rely on costly and unreliable acid batteries.

“They spend TZS 45,000 (@$18) every few months on batteries that don’t last. Many don’t even have life jackets or safe equipment. I know most of these fishermen. I’ll talk to them and present this opportunity. I know they’ll like it.”

For other women wondering if they should join Solar Sister, Veronica doesn’t hesitate:

“You need to have something to do. Depending solely on your husband is a burden, and it gives you no freedom, as most of the time, you’ll be begging your husband to buy clothes for your children and yourself, which is a shame. As a woman, you need to have something to do.”

Photo Captions: L- John Nyallu, Solar Sister Programs & Operations, trains entrepreneurs in the new solar fishing lights. C- Victoria assembles one of the fishing lights that float on buoys. R- A fisherman who has rented some lights from Victoria takes them out on Lake Victoria.