Our Solar Mamas have Solar Electrified 220 Homes

At Women Light The World, we strive to be a catalyst for rural economic uplift and an equitable future for all communities. Every marginalized village should have access to resources and knowledge that can help them participate in that future. Brimming with potential, rural women have often been overlooked in their capacity to be leaders and agents of lasting change. We believe that by providing lucrative educational and livelihood opportunities to women, the entire world will benefit.

Women Light the World has focused its efforts on Nepal, a country that today still faces an uphill battle to provide electricity to its remote communities.

Following the first successful cohort graduation of 3 Nepalese women, we supported the solar electrification of 265 rural households. This benefitted more than 2,385 local people who would otherwise have no access to electricity.

Through this initiative, the women are the Solar Engineers, or “Solar Mamas” as they are known. They’re now “Keeping the sun shining” for hundreds of households, where they are responsible for maintenance and repairs. Their newfangled skills and self-confidence have earned them respect in their communities and have enabled them to take on leadership roles.

Our Current Project

Following the success of this first project, our ambitions have now turned to train an additional 20 semi-literate women per 5-month cohort for two terms. Following their training, solar light will be brought to 9,000 people by solar-electrifying 1,000 households annually.

Women Light the World also strives to inaugurate a training center in Nepal to provide the training. This promotes an emissions-friendly decentralized model, encouraging sustainable and economic well-being for 20 rural villages. The Solar Mamas, who achieve their aspirations by contributing to their communities, will electrify 50 households per village.

Supporting Women Helps Support Entire Communities

Statistically, women invest twice as much of their incomes back into their families’ welfare and well-being, as compared to the amount men reinvest in the family ( 80% versus 40%). Women prioritize education for their children and stability for their community. According to the 2010 McKinsey Report, gender parity could raise GDP by 26%, roughly equivalent to the combined economies of the United States and China.

This initiative adopts solutions which naturally address 14 of the 17 UN Sustainability Development Goals & uses a locally relevant Grassroots systems approach.