Geography: Africa
Founded: 2009
Address:PO Box 1002
Bristol, RI 02809, USA
About Solar Sister
Solar Sister eradicates energy poverty by empowering women with economic opportunity. Solar Sister combines the breakthrough potential of solar technology with a deliberately woman-centered direct sales network to bring light, hope and opportunity to even the most remote communities in rural Africa.
Solar is the most distributed energy source we have. The same sun shines down on everyone. And with advances in technology, it is available and affordable. Especially in sub-Saharan Africa, where only 5% of the rural population has access to electricity, solar is the perfect energy source as it takes advantage of their most abundant resource, the hot African sun.
The most important step to ending poverty is to create employment and income opportunities. Solar Sister does just that by empowering women with economic opportunity. Using an Avon-style distribution system, Solar Sister creates vital access to clean energy technology by building and extending the supply chain through women’s rural networks. Solar Sister provides the women with a ‘business in a bag’, a start-up kit of inventory, training and marketing support. The women become their own bosses, creating sustainable businesses. The women use their natural networks of family, friends and neighbors to provide the most effective distribution channel to rural and hard-to-reach customers.
Investing in women is not only the right thing to do, it is the smart thing to do. Solar Sister creates sustainable businesses, powered by smart investment in women entrepreneurs.