In the early morning mist of Chandamukulu Village, nestled deep in Zambia’s Northern Province, a big, iron-roofed house stands calm and quiet, surrounded by a semi-green landscape. This is the home of Rhoda Chibale Chibwe—teacher, mother of six, and SolarAid Solar Entrepreneur.
Rhoda’s life is a beautiful blend of purpose and perseverance. At 41, she is not only shaping young minds in the classroom but also lighting up homes across remote villages with solar energy.
“I live in Chandamukulu Village in Kasama district, which is in Northern Province. I am a teacher by profession,” she says. “I’ve got 6 children.” Her first-born is 15, and her youngest just two years old.
Rhodah Chibale, Chandamukulu village, Kasama, Zambia. Photo: SolarAid/Jason J Mulikita
From Teacher to Agent: A Journey Sparked by Light
Rhoda has been a Solar Entrepreneur for over six years. Her first motivation was simple—she liked the lights.
“I decided to be an Entrepreneur because I like business and I thought let me be of help to SunnyMoney in selling the lights. I liked the lights in the first place.”
It’s not without its challenges. “The most challenging thing is transportation due to long distances,” she says. “When getting the lights from town, the distance is very far, about 76km. Thus, collecting the lights from the post office is at my own cost.”
She often travels by bicycle or tries to hitch a ride on trucks when her own vehicle doesn’t have fuel. “You may be at the roadside without any vehicle, so you come back home and try the following day,” she explains. “It is not possible that you will chance a vehicle every time you go to the roadside. It is very challenging.”
Still, she’s driven. “I am motivated by the profit I make from the business, though not much, but I am motivated just like that.”
Rhodah Chibale with Sunny Money staff Beatrice Mwiimbu and Thomas Nyangulu in Chandamukulu village, Kasama, Zambia
Lighting Homes—and Futures
For Rhoda, solar lights aren’t just products—they’re instruments of change. She’s seen the transformation in her own home.
“Before I became an Entrepreneur, I was facing problems buying essentials at home; things like cooking oil, salt etc. But this time around, I’ve got something in my pocket, just because of solar lights,” she shares.
“I have heard on news, stories of people burning houses and people dying because of accidents caused by kerosene and candles and that is very bad. One of my clients mentioned of how they needed a solar light because some time back, his things got burnt from the use of a candle. He vowed that he would rather sleep in the dark than having a candle due to the experience he had.”
Now Rhoda’s children are thriving too. “When the grade 9s wrote their exams last year, my son was the second-best student at the school! Then my second born, a girl in her grade 7 exams, came out 1st as best student at the school.”
Her first born son is dreaming of becoming a pilot, ”I told him that if he wants to become a pilot, he should be very good in mathematics. And for sure, he’s very good in mathematics.”
Students in her school have also felt the benefit. “This time around they buy the small ones which they can afford. You find that instead of just sleeping at night, pupils are able to study using the solar lights.” And when power cuts hit her own classroom, “I am able to prepare the work for the pupils using the solar lights.”
“The pupils usually tell me ‘madam, we want these lights because they are helping us’.”
Rhodah Chibale at the school in Chandamukulu village, Kasama, Zambia
A Role Model, On and Off the Blackboard
Rhoda teaches mathematics from grade 8 to 12, often challenging the stereotype that math is a male domain.
“Some people say mathematics is a male calling but I say no to that because I am a female but I teach mathematics,” she says. “There are some pupils whom I taught both males and females who saw me as their role model. Right now, they are teachers as well; female teachers who tell me that I inspired them to be teachers.”
She also teaches about fire safety and environmental awareness. “I usually teach the children about using those types of lights, stating that they can burn the house and sometimes one may develop diseases because of the fumes. And they are convinced that solar lights are the best.”
And she believes the climate conversation matters deeply in Africa. “Like in our case in this area, we’ve had a change in rainfall patterns making it difficult for farmers to cultivate like they used to.”
Rhodah Chibale helping her children do their homework in Chandamukulu village, Kasama, Zambia.
Looking Ahead: Hope and Gratitude
Despite the daily hurdles of transport and access, Rhoda’s spirit remains joyful and hopeful.
“My hope as an Entrepreneur is that SolarAid will continue supplying the lights and not stop, so that we can continue selling the lights to the people and benefit from the business myself.”
She has noticed how people in the community have come to depend on her—and the lights. “People usually come here asking ‘madam where are the lights?’ So, I give them the dates when they order and tell them to come and get on a particular day.”
Rhoda believes in education, resilience, and light—in every sense of the word. “I didn’t have many friends before I became an agent but this time around, I’ve got so many friends.” Whether she’s helping her son reach for the skies, guiding students through algebra, or riding across rivers to deliver solar lamps, Rhoda and her solar lights are now at the centre of her village.