Zanzibar’s ‘solar mamas’ are trained as technicians to help light up communities

Half of Zanzibar's population lacks electricity, relying on smoky, unhealthy kerosene lamps for light. A program by Barefoot College International trains middle-aged women, often with little formal education, as solar power technicians. These "solar mamas" receive six months of training and are provided with solar panel kits to install and maintain in their rural communities. The initiative aims to bring clean energy, improve health by replacing kerosene, and create jobs for women, transforming them into community change-makers. The program has already lit over 1,800 homes in Zanzibar, with similar efforts underway in other African nations. Challenges include funding cuts and societal resistance to women in technical roles, ... download the app to read more