![Solar Mama Dines smiles as she stands outside in the sun holding a solar panel](/sites/default/files/styles/320x160/public/2020-02/42088-malawi-solar-mamas-dines-msampha.jpg?h=0e1b8130&itok=juSoB5Aa)
A single mother whose husband left her when their children were still young, Dines Msampha, 42, has seen her monthly income more than double since she was trained as a Solar Mama.
Not only does Dines receive a salary for her role maintaining the solar systems she's helped install in the community, but she's also boosted production for her donut-making business by being able to work outside of daylight hours – making a huge difference for herself and for her children.
![Solar Mama Dines is illuminated by a solar lantern she holds aloft as she stands outside in the night](/sites/default/files/styles/600x400/public/2020-02/42007-malawi-solar-mamas-dines-msampha-lantern.jpg?h=0317e0c6&itok=o_GbytEK)
"I had never left Malawi before"
"People came and they wanted to select women to go for training. So, they called a meeting of the village and they came to select women.
“I had never left Malawi before. The furthest I had travelled before was about 190km from Lilongwe.
Becoming a female engineer
“Growing up I wanted to be a doctor, or an accountant, but we didn’t have the money for school fees. I was excited to do the course, because I had never seen women being solar engineers. I was excited to think that a woman like me could be an engineer. And when I got to India I was happy to see a lot of women in the offices and workplaces.
“When I got to India I was surprised to learn that we would be learning to build circuit boards and do the electrical wiring of the solar lamps ourselves by hand. I thought they would be assembled by machines.
“I learned how to build solar lanterns, and how to fix them. I learned how to maintain the home solar systems. If we have the parts, we can combine them together.
![A young boy lies on the floor and does his homework by the light of a solar lantern](/sites/default/files/styles/600x400/public/2020-02/42078-malawi-solar-mamas-studying.jpg?h=05aba2cb&itok=-Hs1R7kh)
"I can do things on my own"
“When I returned to Malawi everyone was very happy. I don’t understand why other women were scared to do things like this. Now I know that I can do things on my own.
“My perspective changed a lot. My husband divorced me when my last-born was still a baby. I am paying secondary school fees for my two older children. I hope they will be able to finish school.
“Now that we have solar at home, I use the light to cook doughnuts and sweet potatoes in the evenings for sale at the market.
“Before, my profits from the business were about 5-7,000 a month. Now that’s about 12,000. In addition I have the Solar Mama salary which is 10,000 a month. It’s made a big difference."
I have worked hard and I am very proud of myself. I know I can do more.
Find out more about our work in:
![Prisca helping students with the tablets.](/sites/default/files/styles/350x175/public/2024-01/Malawi%20Unlocking%20Talent%20Prisca%20helping%20Memory%20in%20class%20RS82194.jpg?h=56d0ca2e&itok=H3RDpHTQ)
Malawi
We've worked in Malawi since 1958, building healthy communities, improving inclusive education, and supporting people to develop secure and resilient livelihoods
![Dines Msampha, 42, Solar Mama Dines Msampha, 42, Solar Mama](/sites/default/files/styles/350x175/public/Solar%20mama.jpg?h=84b100ad&itok=sJ2vFeQa)
Empowering women and powering communities
The Solar Mama rural electrification project is simultaneously bringing electricity to rural communities, and empowering women in those communities through education and training.