In the village of Ifakara, not too far from the tempestuous Kilombero River, I had the chance to visit the Ifakara women weavers. The women, part of a cooperative that provides an income source for women in the region, produce the famous Ifakara kikoi, hand-loom weaving worn as a sarong, body wrap, head-cover, or [...]

Felix Mukobeko is Zambian, 29, single, and a recent participant at our micro-solar production set-up workshop in Mumbwa (a small town which lies 150 km west of the Zambian capital of Lusaka).  His parents and older brothers have passed away, leaving Felix as head of a ten-person household.  Felix is a self-employed carpenter and joiner, [...]

This is 20-year-old Sharon Makoni of Chilimboyi, Mumbwa District, in rural Zambia.  Last week Sharon joined SolarAid’s first Solar Training Workshop in Zambia.  She learned how to construct a simple battery recharger with a small solar panel, and in the photo is seen testing this on a converted kerosene lantern.
I’ve recently started a six-month assignment [...]

Pretty much ever since I got to Uganda about 2.5 months ago to work for Barefoot Power, I have been working on a training to teach people business skills they’ll need to start a micro-franchise selling the solar lamps we’re here to distribute. Well, we’re finally about to start training our first batch of entrepreneurs! [...]