International Women’s Day: An obvious cause...

Posted Monday 9 March 2026 by Urs Riggenbach.

The day after International Women’s Day we are back to work. We are reminded that a lot is left to do until equality is real.
For those who know me, following the successes of the women empowerment movement has been a real source of joy for me. The cause itself is so obvious. Women are everywhere. Everyone benefits when women are empowered. It’s a cause that cannot be lost: Half the world’s population is women... The patriarchy cannot be sustained, it lacks the... manpower. And it is a matter of time until all women believe in themselves.
Entrepreneurship is one amazing catalyst for this change. When someone creates their own job, creates financial independence, this provides power, to protect, to heal, to grow. It brings respect, independence, it creates air to breathe, to discuss, to vote, to challenge things. It’s not only better for women, it’s better for everyone. More dignity for all. More hope for all.
One woman who is on that entrepreneurial path and a real success case is Joan Ogwang. Every day she bakes bread with the sun and sells it in the nearby town and villages with her team. I visited her bakery back in 2022. She’s come a long way since then. Joan, the hard work you do with your solar bakery in Kenya is really amazing and inspiring. We need more positive role models like you in these tough times! Thank you!

This Women's Day, we want to shine a light on Joan Arwa Ogwang.

When Joan decided to open a solar bakery in Kisumu, Kenya, she had no experience in baking, no guarantee of success, and very little room for error. What she had was a Lytefire solar oven, an unshakeable work ethic, and the ability to find a solution to every obstacle, including being evicted from her workshop on Christmas Eve.

Three years later, she runs East Africa's first profitable solar bakery. Nine employees. 400kg of baked goods a month. A revenue growth of 180% in one year. And a second outlet opened last year.
Women like Joan build proof that sustainable solar bakeries are real.

Happy International Women's Day. 🌍🧡

#WomensDay #Empowerment #SolarBakery #Africa #Lytefire

Picture: Maxime Moreau | 11 comments on LinkedIn



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