Enterprising women stand a chance to expand or start-up businesses, thanks to a new promotion by Mobisol Rwanda, a renewable energy firm. The one-week drive seeks to support women entrepreneurs with small businesses to expand them by incorporating phone-charging units using the firm’s mobile chargers, according to Frida Winkelmann, the firm’s development specialist.

The promotion that is part of the activities to celebrate International Women’s Day that was marked on March 8, also target those that want to start-up new businesses.

Winkelmann said, "Female customers will this week benefit from a 25 per cent price reduction on any premium package bought as our way of celebrating and valuing women’s efforts in society.”

"We believe that everyone has to be valued, especially women. Therefore, empowering women will help improve their lives and those of their families,” she said, adding that the initiative is a gesture to mark this year’s International Women’s Day.

She said women meet barriers in their daily lives that must be fought to ensure equality in all spheres of life.

"Overcoming stereotypes is one challenge that we need to address in our communities. Besides, women do even better than men in some fields and roles,” she said in Kigali on Wednesday. Winkelmann added that women should never relent in the face of challenges, and encouraged them to aspire for positions of leadership "as one way of resolving issues they face”.

Meanwhile, Mobisol recognised efforts of its female staffer in different fields. The firm challenged businesses and organisations to promote gender equality and support female employees to realise their full potential and dreams.

How it works

According to officials, the "mobi charger” allows one to charge 10 cellphones at ago, which "will be a sustainable source of income for women who will buy the product, particularly those in areas that are not connected on the national power grid.