Joan Arwa Ogwang: Solarfire
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There is so much power in finding a way to earn a good income for your family while meeting your creative interests and serving your community as a whole. Today’s guest, Joan Arwa Ogwang is the perfect example of this. In this episode of Next Economy Now, Joan tells us all about her incredible Solarfire project.
Joan was privileged enough to be given a good start by her parents and was inspired to do well to support her family. She is passionate about doing her part to make a difference in the lives of others. When Joan discovered that the incredible renewable resource, the sun, could be used to cook and bake, she knew it was a project she needed to venture into to uplift her community, her family, and her own creative mind.
Tuning in, you’ll hear all about how Solarfire can improve the lives of so many in Joan’s home country Kenya, how Joan got into baking and creating her bakery, how the solar baker is built and how it works, and what other work Joan participates in. We also discuss how Joan sees her community evolving over the next few years before talking about how we can assist her in her project. Finally, Joan shares some beautiful words of wisdom for any new entrepreneurs about fueling your passion. To hear more from this inspirational woman, press play now.
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Key Points From This Episode:
Introducing today’s guest, Joan Arwa Ogwang. [0:00:40]
How Joan was first introduced to solar cooking and what problem it can solve in her community. [0:01:33]
Joan’s background and what led her to be her current entrepreneurial self. [0:03:47]
Where Joan lives in Kenya and how the environment is advantageous for the use of Solarfire. [0:06:13]
How Joan got into baking and how she came to own the bakery she owns today. [0:08:00]
How cooking with the sun works, how the machine is built and who has seen Joan’s baking machine in action. [0:12:45]
The vision Joan has for her community over the next few years. [00:17:30]
What Joan was doing before she became a baker and the other jobs she’s working on. [00:20:23]
What listeners can do to support Joan’s Solarfire project. [0:24:05]
Joan shares some words of advice and reminds us of the importance of nurturing your interests and creativity. [0:25:40]
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Tweetables:
“I look at those who do not have opportunities or advantages and I think investing in this project with Solarfire would help them a great deal. – This will do great justice to so many people.” — Joan Arwa Ogwang [0:05:08]
“If you invest your time and energy into something, it can really grow on you and it becomes like a drug; you want it more and more.” — Joan Arwa Ogwang [0:08:57]
“I envision myself motivating and mentoring a group of young girls or young entrepreneurs who want to make a living out of their own creativity.” — Joan Arwa Ogwang [0:17:30]
“I wake up every day believing that I should make a change.” — Joan Arwa Ogwang [0:18:24]
“It’s always good to grow.” — Joan Arwa Ogwang [0:22:27]
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Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Joan Arwa Ogwang on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joan-ogwang-a0a986201/
Lytefire: https://lytefire.com/en
Donate to Solarfire: https://www.ulule.com/pioneers-solar-bakers-in-east-africa/
Solarfire: https://solarfire.io/en
Solarfire on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lytefire_solar/
Solarfire on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lytefire.solar/
Solarfire on Twitter: https://twitter.com/lytefire_solar
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