Juabar is a network of rural entrepreneurs in Tanzania who operate solar charging kiosks to offer their communities local and affordable access to electricity and connectivity services. Juabar began in 2013 with the goal of offering communities a low risk opportunity to experience and benefit from solar energy without the high upfront cost of purchasing solar devices outright. The primary demand for electricity in these rural communities is cell phone charging and lighting. By having access to better lighting solutions and consistent phone charging, communities are able to improve their communications access and overall access to information. For farmers this can mean improved knowledge of upcoming weather or opportunities to share information about local pests in their crops. For students it means better ability to study in the evenings.
The Juabar network is a mesh of interconnected stories. Sauti ya Wakulima, voice of the farmers, operated one of the earliest Juabar kiosks ever built in Tanzania. They are a collective of farmers who work together collecting and sharing information about their farming practices, pests, most drought tolerant crops and more. For Sauti ya Wakulima Juabar represented a way for the group to generate an income together, outside of their economically independent farms. Through operating the charging kiosk they would be able to generate funds in order to support the work of the group.
Mama Salama has worked with Juabar since the very first kiosk. She was part of the codesign process to test and validate early kiosk prototypes. A few months later her husband passed away from illness. During these difficult weeks and months her daughter was able to operate a kiosk to earn extra income for the family in her father's absence. Mama Salama and her family still operate a Juabar kiosk three years later.
Each of these stories represent pieces of the Juabar network as a whole. Through community based renewable energy services Juabar provides clean energy access to rural communities in Tanzania.
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