SolarAid partnership brings power to the people

Heart of England Community Energy’s ongoing partnership with SolarAid is continuing to improve lives across rural Malawi.

According to SolarAid’s latest report, the £20,000 grant awarded in September 2024 has supported 432 women as solar entrepreneurs through 17 Mayi Wala (“Shining Mothers”) groups. The result is clean, safe and affordable solar energy for households that previously relied on candles, kerosene or disposable batteries.

With HECE’s support, the groups received tailored business training, solar product sales guidance and financial literacy sessions, alongside new branded chitenges (sometimes spelt Kitenge) and t-shirts that have strengthened their visibility and identity within their communities. A dedicated Mayi Wala Coordinator has also been appointed for the first time. Her full-time role is to provide mentorship, ensure regular follow-up visits and support group cohesion. According to SolarAid, this has already led to stronger financial discipline and better savings and reinvestment practices.

Over the past year, the Mayi Walas have reached 3,928 people with solar lights. Families now have clean, reliable evening light, and children are able to study safely after dark. One Mayi Wala, Khumbi Wedison, said: “Working with SunnyMoney has unlocked many doors. Our lives and the community at large have changed. Our kids can now study at night using solar lanterns, and our income streams have doubled through the energy business, as we are also doing poultry and gardening.”

A standout achievement this year was the milestone reached in Kasakula, Ntchisi District, where SolarAid’s Energy-as-a-Service model has now brought solar access to all 8,813 homes. One of the groups supported by HECE, the Kasakula Mbaula Group, played a role in this effort and has also been involved in testing clean cookstove production and sales as part of the new model.

Households in Kasakula now access solar energy without paying upfront for equipment, instead making small, flexible payments that also cover ongoing maintenance.

The success of this project shows the potential for the model to scale to other communities across sub-Saharan Africa.

HECE is proud to support the Mayi Walas as they continue to demonstrate resilience, leadership and the power of community-led solutions in tackling energy poverty. To learn more about the work SolarAid do, head to their website.