Every year, Earth Day reminds us that small actions can create big change. This year’s theme, Our Power, Our Planet, highlights the role of renewable energy in building a better future.
For Jecintha Maina in Kenya, renewable energy is her passion and her career. She’s helping families switch to cleaner cooking and lighting solutions, proving that sustainable energy can transform lives.
Finding opportunity in unexpected places
Jecintha’s journey into this business wasn’t something she had planned. Back in 2011, she ran a small barbershop when a friend invited her to a local meeting about improved cooking methods. Jecintha saw the potential and was keen to learn more.
With training and support from Practical Action, she learned how to sell and promote these stoves, which use less fuel and produce less smoke than traditional cooking methods. She also started selling solar lights, which quickly became popular, especially with parents wanting better lighting for their children to study.
Overcoming challenges with determination
In 2018, Jecintha’s resilience was tested, when a serious road accident left her with life-changing injuries. It was a tough time, but even while recovering, she didn’t let her business slip away. Her customers kept placing orders, trusting her to deliver. From her home, she made sure sales and deliveries continued.
Despite facing barriers as a woman in business – like people doubting her ability to install solar panels – she never let stereotypes hold her back. She has also become a role model for others with disabilities, showing that independence and success are possible no matter the obstacles.
A business that makes a difference
By helping families switch to energy-efficient stoves, Jecintha is reducing the health risks caused by smoky fires and cutting down the time and money spent on fuel. Her own family has felt the benefits too.
Every day, she balances her business with family life – waking early to pray, preparing her children for school, and then heading to her shop to engage with customers. Her passion for clean energy and sustainability keeps her going, and the trust she has built in her community keeps her business thriving.
Jecintha’s story is a perfect example of how renewable energy can power both people and the planet.
By making clean energy solutions accessible in her community, she’s reducing pollution, improving health, and helping families save time and money. This Earth Day, her work is a reminder that when we invest in renewable energy, we invest in a healthier future for everyone.
To find out more about Earth Day, visit the Earth Day website.