Msawu Mayi Wala Group

The Msawu Mayi Wala group is made up of 13 women solar entrepreneurs selling solar lights and spreading energy access in their community. Among the group is Judith, a 40-year-old mother of 6, who has run a solar business for years. She sells solar lights to help her community access reliable, affordable light. Her income supports her family and covers school fees, and she continues to expand access to clean energy while building a sustainable livelihood for her household and community.

This loan is part of a nationwide programme supporting groups of women solar entrepreneurs who provide affordable energy access in rural communities across Malawi. The group receiving this loan is part of SolarAid's Mayi Walas programme (meaning 'Shining Mothers' in Chichewa), which supports rural women in overcoming the barriers they face to grow successful businesses and bring clean, safe, and affordable energy access to their communities.

Women are best placed to introduce new technology to women customers, who are often the primary energy users in the home. They are also trusted members of the community with wide social networks, providing a ready customer base. By working with local women’s groups, the project establishes a reliable network of solar agents who can effectively reach underserved rural communities. Local partners SunnyMoney and FEBCO will support this group in identifying households in need, selling solar products, and providing installation and maintenance services.

One barrier women face is access to finance to scale businesses. Through the partnership with Lendwithcare, Msawu Group will receive this loan to buy stock of Solar Home 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.

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.

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

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-mounted light switch, and options for future system expansion with additional batteries, panels, and lamps.

Loan Details and Timeline

These systems will be installed in customers' homes in February 2027. The Mayi Wala Group will then collect pay-as-you-go payments from each household to repay this group loan in 24 instalments, with the first repayment expected in March 2027. The significant loan amount reflects the substantial impact it will have. Please also note that because these loans are used to purchase solar home systems and repayment begins only once these systems are installed, the repayment schedule may change. If the scheduled repayment list below changes significantly, the Lendwithcare team will contact you.

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.