Programme in pictures: the sisterhood of the solar shop

“This solar shop has been a shining light in our lives so we named it Shaka which means the morning light” — Aberash, Ethiopia.

The Breaking the Barriers programme is improving women’s lives across Africa and Latin America through sustainable energy. Increasing rural women’s jobs and income, tackling climate change and promoting gender equality, are just some of the benefits of this EU-funded project.

Here we take a look at how projects like this are changing the lives of a group of women, and through them the whole community, in Ethiopia…

In this drought prone region of Ethiopia people rely on firewood for most everyday activities. The task of walking long distances to collect this, usually falls to women. This, along with the smoke from frequent fires, affects their health, the health of their families and the ability of their children to study.

Traditionally, women are left out of community discussions and are not able to access loans or get involved in business. This gives them limited opportunities to take charge of the household income and their independence.

As a solution, these women came together to set up a solar shop. With support from Christian Aid’s partner, this shop has become a thriving business. Not only do they generate income from selling essential items and offering a mobile phone charging service, the solar shop is also the hub of the women’s self-help group.

The women use this group to support each other, discuss problems and run a savings and loans scheme. Aster, a member of the women’s group said ‘Before this project, any issue I faced, I had to solve alone. But I adopted 17 sisters; another family. They share my burden and help me face my challenges’

Solar lamps now replace firewood in these people’s homes. This means children can study without risk to their health, deforestation has halved, the burden of women’s workload has reduced and their personal safety improved.

Aberash, a member of the women’s self-help group, previously had no source of personal income and her family were forced to eat leaves during difficult, drought prone times. Through the solar shop, she set up her own bread business and constructed a new house. The group also gave her a loan to access much needed medical treatment.

Ari used a loan from the women’s group to expand and improve her livestock business (goat fattening) in times of drought. Ari is concerned about climate change and remembers the region being full of trees, wild animals and fruit. However, she is reducing her reliance on firewood and now uses solar energy so there is light for the household and her children are able to study.

Ari’s husband, Thomas (right), now has cattle and goats and has built a new home thanks to the saving culture introduced through the programme. ‘My wife has good negotiation skills and encouraged me to save from all her trainings’.

Funded by the European Union.This content was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of Christian Aid and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

Breaking the Barriers | Christian Aid

The Breaking the Barriers programme is a 42-month EU-funded project being implemented in Burkina Faso, Malawi, Ethiopia, and Honduras.

The aim is to increase women’s access to production, marketing and distribution of sustainable energy products and services, as well as influence environment policy.

Christian Aid are co-funding this programme through the 2018 Harvest Appeal. Money raised will be match funded by the European Union meaning that every £1 you give will be worth £5.

Harvest Appeal 2018 | Christian Aid

Find out more about Breaking the Barriers and our work around the world:

Breaking the Barriers | Christian Aid

Where we work | Christian Aid

This content was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of Christian Aid and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

Photos: Christian Aid / Matthew Gonzalez-Noda