Building a future of Independent women

It's about one month since I met a lady who would soon change my life, in terms of thinking and inspiration. Katherine Lucey, Founder and CEO of Solar Sister is one phenomenal lady with a vision to transform and help Women around the world.

I work with Solar Sister now, and the most amazing experience I love is being able to meet with real community challenges, and forge a way forward to a solution.

In Uganda today, according to a report submitted by UNESCO "Overall, only 9 percent of Uganda’s population is supplied with grid electricity (20 percent in urban areas compared to only 3 percent in rural areas), and 70 percent of these customers reside in the three major towns of Kampala, Entebbe and Jinja."

Just 9 percent, leaving the remaining 91 percent in energy poverty.

Solar Sister is doing something in trying to change this situation, by empowering women in rural areas of Uganda get out of poverty by becoming Solar sister enterprenuers.

Women are the heart and soul in any business if they put their mind to it.
Yet many women today in rural areas of Uganda are stay home mothers with out an income of their own. They depend entirely on what their husbands have to bring to the table.

Solar Sister seeks to target that woman because we believe that they have the potential to build themselves if only they are showed how. We believe women are passionate enough and ready to build their financial status, do their own business and do not have to depend on anyone else for a day to day income.

I travelled to Mityana this last week, and I experienced first hand the challenges women face, by introducing them to Solar Sister I saw them smile and have a hope that they can now also work and have some independence because they gain their own income.

Few of the Women who signed up as Solar Sister Enterprenuers in Mityana!

So what does Solar Sister do? Solar Sister basically seeks to empower the rural woman in Uganda by giving them an opportunity to get out of poverty by working, selling solar lamps.

By doing so, they get to help other women from the dangers of using Kerosene lamps which have alot of hazzards, like them being smoky, attaining respiratory diseases, poor eyesight for their children, accidents that happen with kerosene lamps like burning of houses and buildings, to mention but a few.

I believe we can empower more women to be independent by encouraging them to develop an entrepreneurial spirit, which is what we do at Solar sister.

She can now work at night, with her solar lamp!

Our vision is to see many women getting empowered, elevated, and living to the full potential of what their lives are meant to be like.

And that is why am a Solar Sister!

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A family divided

As Uganda headed to the polls on 18th of February 2011, one thing was certain, everyone had a favourite in the 8 presidential candidates that were presented to us.

I remember for the first time in my life I wanted to make a decision based on what I felt right, and not a decision my mother had always led me to believe was right.
I love my mum so much, and I can say that for the past presidential elections my vote was entirely because of her preaching to me.

She preached of how Uganda had been in such a sorry state with the different governments and how suddenly we were enjoying the peace that we deserve. I was only 2 years when President Museveni claimed power, so I had no idea whatsoever what the days were like without him.

2001, I was led to the polls, yes I was under age then, but I voted, and voted for the man I believed had led us out the most dangerous times Uganda had ever been through. It felt right, really right.

2006 under the guidance of my mum, I again went back to the polls and did the same thing, but I noticed one thing, my dad, was never enthusiastic about the whole election story just like my mum was. He was a more laid back, 'who cares who leads us' type of guy.

I sat with my dad to find out his side of the story, and oh boy did he have one!
I learned that my Dad had a different perspective, he had worked for the government for so long and when his time came to retire, he never got his retirement package.
He was the guy who had seen some of his sons go without jobs everyday while other people who do not necessarily deserve the jobs got them! He gave me a pretty much different perspective to the one sided story I knew.

My dad always stayed home, when my mum gathered all of us to go to the polls to vote for the one man she believes has a vision for this nation. My dad gave up on the system long ago, he has not gone to the polls because he believes it makes no difference... am beginning to believe him.

This time, 2011, saw our family divided! My brother who from the beginning always thought differently from the rest of us, did not change his mind. My family was divided with the presidential vote. I had a different perspective of who I thought would lead this nation best, my elder brother felt differently too, and my 2 younger brothers, were still under the wings of mummy.. and trust me she is good with convincing so she had those two do as she said.

Faithfuls line up at one of the polling stations in Kampala to cast their vote

The final results are not yet in... but one thing is for sure, the winner is already seen. Whether these will be the best 5 years Uganda has seen or the worst, I have no idea, all I know is that for the first time, I headed to the polls and did what I believed was right for me and the future of Uganda, whether what I thought was right will win or lose, I will live with that.

All in all I can say, I still enjoy the peaceful Uganda and I pray so many things and policies will change for the years to come.

"For God and My Country"

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