This post was originally published by Empower Generation, which merged with Pollinate Energy to form Pollinate Group in 2018.
Meet the recipient of the solar light you funded– Pabitra Aryal, Empower Generation’s newest entrepreneur and proprietor of Tri Urjah!
She and her husband live in Bardiya with their three daughters, Tripura, Trishna and Tripti. “TRI” represents the shining example she wants to leave for her daughters and “URJAH” means power. Pabitra education stopped after 8th grade, but she didn’t let that bar her from a career defending the rights of her community members.
Bardiya is in the Mid Western region, which is one of the poorest areas of Nepal with the worst access to electricity. Tri Urjah’s market includes landless communities, villages of victims of the Kamaiya system—Nepal’s ancient bonded labour practice (read more about the Kamaiya in Anya’s next post). Being landless means having no rights, including the right to own property or get a connection to the power grid. These communities are forced to use kerosene and flashlights, limiting them severely after dark. They are eager for solar lights and improved cookstoves, and stand to gain the most significant benefit of all our projects so far.
Pabitra is well respected in Bardiya as an advocate for marginalized, landless communities. She’s worked for over 5 years as a legal companion for the Kamaiya with the Community Self Reliance Center. We’re confident that she will make an even greater positive impact, now that she’s part of the EmpowerGrid. With support from EG, Pabitra has already bought a cool red scooter for zipping over the rough terrain to promote her business, and has sold over 100 solar lamps.
I had the pleasure of meeting Pabitra and her family recently and was super impressed by the amount of support she gets from not only her family but her entire community. Her husband and daughters help promote solar lamps in town as well as keep track of inventory and sales. At Tri Urjah’s opening ceremony, some fifty people showed up to participate in the festivities. I’m confident that this strong sense of community will ensure success of Tri Urjah for years to come!