Social Impact Senegal

Travel where no one else goes

Kandiadiou is located in Casamance, in southern Senegal. For decades, the region was marked by armed conflict. Families had to flee, villages were abandoned. Now the situation is calming down somewhat, and people are returning to their villages. They are rebuilding houses, planting gardens, trying to pick up where life once left off. The security situation has eased, but it is still far from a given today.

That's exactly where we went! But such a trip isn't just planned on a whim. The week before, we had to get our approval from four different authorities, including the governor and a military officer. In total, the journey from Ziguinchor, the capital of Casamance, to Kandiadiou took over three hours.

In four pick-up trucks, we drove through dense jungle, over dry ground, past small villages. From Sindian, the last larger town on the route, we continued with military escort.

Were we afraid? Honestly, no. What we felt was rather the opposite. A clear sense of purpose. We are going where others are not going. And that feels right.

Upon arriving in the village, one first sees a place rebuilding itself. Houses, a mosque, a community garden. But also soldiers patrolling the streets. The state is investing in the region – in addition to military security, it has also funded a solar farm with over 30 kW of power for Kandiadiou.

That sounds good. And it is. But it's not enough yet. Because electricity outside the village doesn't mean electricity in the house. The wiring, the connection, the meter, the ongoing consumption – all of this costs money, which hardly any family has after years of displacement.

This is precisely where our SOCHILI GOOD PLAN comes in. We enable financially disadvantaged families to receive a free solar installation in their homes, cover their electricity consumption for one year, and invite them to an Empowerment Workshop. Funded through our Impact Promise: every SOCHILI product sold donates the equivalent of one day's electricity.

Insights from the Empowerment Workshop

The workshop felt like a village assembly. Representatives from over 40 families, plastic chairs under a large tree, common prayer to begin. We spoke in Diola and French. For about three hours, we discussed electricity – what it has changed, what opportunities it brings, but also what is still missing.

I was lucky that Bakary sat next to me. He – like all the other villagers – had to flee Kandiadiou at the time. He went to Gambia, just a few kilometers away, where English is spoken. Bakary found work there as a firefighter, a profession he still practices today. Nevertheless, he has returned. He is one of those who are starting anew in Kandiadiou.

One woman, in particular, stood out in my mind. During the workshop, she stood up and expressed her gratitude – not generally, but for a very specific thing: she could now use her refrigerator. Before, it just sat there, without electricity. Now it cools food and changes her daily life.

A day to remember

At the end of the workshop, all participants filled out a questionnaire. The results give us a clear picture of the status quo and help us continuously optimize our impact model.

We ended the day with a joint prayer and delicious food: Thieboudienne, the national dish – with SOCHILI sauces, of course!

Before we left, the villagers showed us their community garden as a thank you and gave us salads and two goats.

This day proves that our impact model works: You buy a product, we donate to the Share The Power Foundation, which distributes the funds to local associations, and financially disadvantaged families receive electricity. And that's with every product: 1 product = 1 day of solar power!