By Nicola Keane | BCI Communications Department
Our last Report described the selection and training of a cohort of solar engineers at our Barefoot College Training Centre in Zanzibar. This Q3 Report focuses on the intricate activity of installing the home solar lighting systems that those solar engineers trained hard to do.
During July 2026, BCI conducted a ten-day field mission on Pemba Island, often referred to as the Clove Island, which is rich in spices, valued for many centuries, alongside their traditional agricultural communities. The main objective of the mission was to supervise the solar system installation process in selected villages where eight local women had previously completed the three-month Solar Engineering Training Programme at Barefoot College Zanzibar.
150 houses were electrified. What an achievement!
The women, commonly known as Solar Mamas, had to assemble and install the equipment, and they are expected to provide technical services and support to the householders, and ensure that the community ownership structure works as agreed with all the beneficiaries.
The mission aimed to:
Before starting installations in every village, community meetings were organized together with the village Sheha (head) along with community members and beneficiary households. With agreement from these groups, and with the support of the Sheha, the installations progressed smoothly!
Community members appreciated the opportunity to interact directly with the project team and expressed confidence in the trained Solar Mamas. Imagine the young children and boys of the village seeing their mothers and grandmothers climbing up to the rooftop to set up the solar systems that will bring to power their houses – it is transformative in so many ways.
With clear communication, the beneficiaries understand the commitments of the solar mamas, and also their role in the community sustainability model. Each beneficiary contributes a fixed monthly stipend for the equipment. These contributions are intended to support long term maintenance, replacement of damaged components and sustainability of the programme.
Along with general household transformation these installations will improve children’s access to lighting for evening study, reduce dependence on kerosene lamps and create a better learning and living environment, for all the family.
As additional positive support for the project, and to incentivise timely monthly payments from each household, solar lanterns were donated from BCI to the villagers.
Feedback from the villages which have been solar electrified was extremely positive, describing a positive effect on all household activities such as studying, cooking, small businesses and evening social activities. Our system provides
Many households describe the project as life changing because it reduces energy expenses while improving their quality of life.
Our next report will be following the Solar Mamas and the transformative impact of the BCI Zanzibar training programmes on rural lives in Pemba and elsewhere brought about by the Barefoot College International training programmes and work of the indominable women solar engineers.
By Nicola Keane | Communications Department
By Nicola Keane | BCI UK Communications Department
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