Thundu Mayi Wala group

Please note:

** This loan is part of a big project designed to bring clean, affordable lighting to 10,000 households in some of the most remote regions of rural Malawi. The significant loan amount reflects the substantial impact it will have. Don't miss the chance to support these unique and transformative loans! Please also note that since these loans are used to purchase stocks of solar home systems and repayment only begins once these systems have been installed, the repayment schedule could be subject to change. If there are significant changes to the scheduled list of repayments below, you will be contacted by the Lendwithcare team. **

This group of entrepreneurs is part of SolarAid's Mayi Walas programme, (which means 'Shining Mothers' in Chichewa), which supports rural women to overcome the barriers they face in growing successful businesses and bring clean, safe and affordable energy access to their communities. The Thundu Mayi Wala group is made up of 19 women solar entrepreneurs selling solar lights and spreading energy access in their community in the Central Region of Malawi. Among the group is Zelinesi Justin, a 29 year old entrepreneur who was interested in joining the group business selling solar lights to support her family.

This group of women is part of a large-scale solar lighting project led by Lendwithcare's partner, SolarAid. The project aims to bring clean, affordable light to households in some of the most remote areas of rural Malawi.

The impact of just one solar light on a family’s life is transformational:

- Families save significantly over the lifetime of a solar light, no longer needing to buy hazardous candles or kerosene lamps. These savings are redirected to essentials like food, school fees and livelihood improvements.

- 97% of solar light users report feeling safer at night, avoiding the risks of open flames and benefiting from the increased security provided by the lights.

- Children’s educational opportunities improve, with a 33% increase in homework completion after dark.

By working with local women’s groups, the project not only generates alternative income for participants but also establishes a reliable network of solar agents who can effectively reach underserved rural communities. This group will receive support from local partners SunnyMoney and FEBCO to identify households in need, sell solar products, and provide installation and maintenance services.

The loan provided to this group will enable them to purchase 500 Solar Light Systems to sell within their communities using a pay-as-you-go scheme. This model makes the systems more affordable and accessible, allowing households to pay in instalments rather than upfront.

Solar Light System Features

Each system includes:

- Three bright and efficient lamps (200 lm per watt), with adjustable brightness levels to meet varying needs.

- A durable solar panel and a wall-mounted battery hub with a user-friendly display and keypad.

- A smartphone charging holder, wireless wall-mount light switch, and options for future system expansion with additional batteries, panels, and lamps.

The women’s group will sell each Solar Home System for approximately £42, earning a profit of around £13 per unit. These profits will be reinvested into the business to establish sustainable energy enterprises within their communities.

Loan Details and Timeline

The loan will be used to purchase the solar stock, with installations planned for July 2026. Following the installations, the women will set up payment schemes with their customers and begin collecting repayments. Loan repayments to Lendwithcare are scheduled to start in August 2026, with the full loan expected to be repaid within 24 instalments.

This project represents a significant opportunity to improve livelihoods, promote renewable energy adoption, and empower women to lead sustainable energy businesses in their local communities.