When her father lost his job, Susanna’s family was forced to move from the convenience of the city to a rural village without flowing water or electricity. There, her days started very early to gather firewood. This experience, coupled with her work with NGOs to uplift rural women, revealed a crucial need: empowering women with skills in clean energy solutions not only improves their lives but also transforms entire communities.
by Susanna Simango from Malawi,
Let My Village Have Light (Kwathu Kuwale)
Imagine living in a place where every day is a struggle to do basic tasks just because there is no light. For 17 million people in rural Malawi, this is their reality. And this became my story too.
A 4 A.M. Reality Check
It’s 4 o’clock in the morning, and it is cold and dark. On a regular school day, I had to go to get firewood. These early mornings became part of my life, shaping my understanding of the struggles faced by rural families, especially women. Years later, this experience would fuel my passion for finding solutions to the energy crisis that affects so many in my country.
City Dreams and Village Realities
Malawi is a beautiful country with mountains, rivers, and the breathtaking Lake Malawi. But Malawi is also one of the poorest countries in the world.
I grew up in a city called Blantyre. Life was good there. When I was four years old, my parents would drive me to kindergarten in their car, and I would stand between the front seats, watching the world go by, and every day felt like an adventure. In the evenings, I was allowed to watch cartoons on television or play with dolls, and during the day, I had fun with my two childhood friends. Looking back, those were some of my happiest memories.
A Life-Changing Moment
It was in 2003, during the school holidays. We had just finished our family dinner when my father let out a deep sigh and said, “I have lost my job.”
In an instant, our lives changed. We had no choice but to move to a village far from Blantyre. I spent my teenage years in a hut that had neither electricity nor running water. I am the youngest in a family of four daughters, and by the time we moved there, two of my sisters were married, and one was in college. So, I was alone at home with my parents.
Early Mornings and Endless Chores
My mornings usually began before dawn. I would wake up, endure the cold, and head out to get firewood.
Rural areas depend on wood as their main source of energy, and women have to fetch water for cooking, washing, and cleaning.
Finding Strength in the Sunrise
On my way, I met women and young girls from other villages carrying huge bundles of firewood on their heads. They often had to walk long distances to get it. Despite the hard work, the sight of the sunrise with its warm orange rays offered me a sense of warmth and joy. At night, I had to rely on a single candle, which provided insufficient light, making it difficult to see clearly. Being too exhausted to study due to constant chores and too little light, my grades began to decline.
A New Path in the City
Therefore, my parents decided to send me to live with my aunt in the city. This allowed me to have more time to concentrate on my studies, and I passed my final exams.
A Mission Begins
After completing my education, I got my first job with an international NGO.
I worked on a project aimed at improving rural women’s lives. My role involved helping women set up kitchen gardens and teaching them how to prepare nutritious meals. These efforts were meant to improve their food security and health.
A Journey to the Heart of the Village
One afternoon, I visited a woman living with her grandmother in a remote village. It was far, so I traveled there by motorcycle. Locals had to walk for two hours to reach the nearest village where the tarred road began.
When I arrived, I was greeted by the grandmother, who sat outside in the sun on a mat, peeling vegetables. I entered their home; the dim light coming through a small window barely revealed the mud-brick walls and a few simple belongings. The hut was small, with a thatched roof and only one window.
The Power of a Simple Light
As I sat down on a woven mat, the room felt cold, but the grandmother’s greeting made it feel warm and welcoming.
In rural Malawi, it’s a tradition to invite visitors in, no matter how humble the home is. Sitting there, in the quiet and dimness, I was reminded of my own childhood when my family lived without electricity. It was clear how much a small amount of light could transform spaces like this, making everyday life easier for families.
The Unseen Cost of Darkness
Through my interactions with rural women, I saw how deeply they are affected by the lack of electricity. Due to societal expectations, they shoulder most of the household chores and care-giving tasks that demand a lot of energy. This felt deeply unfair and inspired me to co-found Village Solar, a social enterprise focused on equipping women with the skills they need to provide clean energy solutions.
A Nation in the Dark
Globally, around 733 million people still do not have electricity, with about 570 million in Sub-Saharan Africa. Malawi struggles with its own electricity crisis. Only 12% of Malawians have access to the grid, and just 6% can use off-grid options like solar systems. The rest, mostly in rural areas, are left in the dark.
A New Dawn for Rural Malawi
In most rural communities in Malawi, life comes to a standstill after sunset due to a lack of electricity. Families rely on candles and bundles of dry grass for light, which they use as torches, making daily tasks difficult. Small shops close early, and children struggle to study in the dim light of a candle.
Lighting Up Lives, One Lantern at a Time
In July 2023, Village Solar piloted the distribution of solar lamps in Mtambo village. We provided 300 pico solar lanterns and trained 30 women from Village Savings and Loan groups to manage the distribution. Although the lamps were offered on a loan plan, not everyone could afford them. After the pilot, I enrolled in the kanthari impact leadership training program, where I reflected on our approach and made necessary adjustments to our plan.
Empowering Women Through Energy Cooperatives
Now we empower the women to take charge of their energy needs by establishing women-led energy cooperatives. We want to give them the tools to manage their energy needs rather than letting them be passive beneficiaries. These cooperatives will assemble, distribute, and repair solar products made from locally available materials such as plastic bottles and bamboo, reducing dependence on imports, which would additionally lower the costs. The project will expand to other villages over time; Mtambo Village is just the beginning.
Transforming Villages, One Light at a Time
Imagine walking into a village shop just as the sun sets. While before, the shop had to close, it is now glowing with the light from a solar lantern hanging from the roof—a sight that was once unimaginable here. You meet the shop owner, who smiles warmly and says, “Our villages have changed so much. And all this because a group of women formed an energy cooperative!”
A Brighter Future for All
He will not only be happy about the light in his store, but he will also be proud of the women who made it happen—a true transformation across the village. Children are able to study in the evening hours, health centers are well-lit and able to provide care around the clock, and businesses like the little village shop stay open longer.
From Mtambo to the Nation
What began in Mtambo Village will spread out to light up entire communities.
Imagine what lies ahead—villages once in darkness now shine brightly, with a future full of possibilities.
Susanna and all other 2024 kanthari participants will share their life stories and solutions for the issues they want to address during this year’s kanthari TALKS! Save the dates
