«My name is Yilma Getahun. I am 27 years old and come from Tarmaber Woreda in the Amhara region of Ethiopia. As the youngest of ten children, my path was predetermined: My father is a farmer and I was supposed to work with him in the fields one day.
But I couldn’t find a job. I couldn’t support myself or my family. Every month it became clearer that I couldn’t go on like this. I had nothing to work towards.
Then I heard about the Solar Learning Ethiopia project and applied. For nine months, I learned how solar systems are planned, installed and maintained. For the first time, I had skills that were in demand.”
After graduating, I founded a company with friends. We sell and service solar systems. The project helped us with training, start-up capital and materials – we couldn’t have started without this support.
At the beginning, we had to explain what solar energy actually is. Many people didn’t know what it was. Today, we work for households, schools and health centers in our region. Places that previously had no electricity now have light. People can charge their phones, receive information and organize their daily lives differently.
I earn my own money and support my family. At the same time, I am bringing a technology to my region that is changing everyday life.»