Zanzibar’s Women Solar Technicians Bring Clean Energy to Off-Grid Communities
Affiliate Disclosure
Hey fellow impactful ninja ?
You may have noticed that Impactful Ninja is all about providing helpful information to make a positive impact on the world and society. And that we love to link back to where we found all the information for each of our posts.
Most of these links are informational-based for you to check out their primary sources with one click.
But some of these links are so-called "affiliate links" to products that we recommend.
Why do we add these product links?
First and foremost, because we believe that they add value to you. For example, when we wrote a post about the environmental impact of long showers, we came across an EPA recommendation to use WaterSense showerheads. So we linked to where you can find them. Or, for many of our posts, we also link to our favorite books on that topic so that you can get a much more holistic overview than one single blog post could provide.
And when there is an affiliate program for these products, we sign up for it. For example, as Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.
What do these affiliate links mean for you?
First, and most importantly, we still only recommend products that we believe add value for you.
When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission - but at no additional costs to you.
And when you buy something through a link that is not an affiliate link, we won’t receive any commission but we’ll still be happy to have helped you.
What do these affiliate links mean for us?
When we find products that we believe add value to you and the seller has an affiliate program, we sign up for it.
When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra costs to you).
And at this point in time, all money is reinvested in sharing the most helpful content with you. This includes all operating costs for running this site and the content creation itself.
What does this mean for me personally?
You may have noticed by the way Impactful Ninja is operated that money is not the driving factor behind it. It is a passion project of mine and I love to share helpful information with you to make a positive impact on the world and society. However, it's a project in that I invest a lot of time and also quite some money.
Eventually, my dream is to one day turn this passion project into my full-time job and provide even more helpful information. But that's still a long time to go.
Stay impactful,
At Impactful Ninja, we curate positive and impactful news for you. Follow us on Google News or sign up for our free newsletter to get these delivered straight to your inbox—just like our expert roundup below!
📰 The quick summary: In Zanzibar, women are being trained as solar power technicians through the Barefoot College International program, bringing clean electricity to communities where half the population lives off-grid.
📈 One key stat: Around half of Zanzibar’s 2 million people live without connection to the electricity grid, highlighting the critical need for alternative energy solutions.
💬 One key quote: “The program is helping communities move on from smoky kerosene lamps. The lamps can cause health issues including eye irritation, lung damage and serious burns.”
1️⃣ The big picture: A transformative program in Zanzibar is empowering local women by training them as solar power technicians. Known as ‘solar mamas,’ these women are bringing clean electricity to Tanzania’s semi-autonomous archipelago where approximately one million people live without grid connection. The Barefoot College International initiative serves the dual purpose of creating skilled employment for women and transitioning communities away from harmful kerosene lamps. This clean energy solution addresses both environmental concerns and health issues related to traditional lighting methods.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: Women in Zanzibar are gaining valuable technical skills that challenge traditional gender roles while providing essential services to their communities. The solar initiative reduces reliance on kerosene lamps, eliminating their associated health hazards like eye irritation, lung damage, and serious burns. Clean solar energy brings improved quality of life through reliable lighting, enabling activities like evening studying and safer nighttime navigation. The program demonstrates how renewable energy can be implemented through community-based approaches, creating local expertise rather than depending solely on outside resources.
3️⃣ What’s next: The Barefoot College International program is expanding to other parts of Africa, bringing its successful model to more communities. Program organizers must address challenges from foreign aid cuts to ensure continued training and equipment supplies. Working with communities to overcome resistance to women taking on technical roles remains important for the program’s ongoing success.
Read the full story here: Associated Press – Zanzibar’s ‘solar mamas’ are trained as technicians to help light up communities
