Smiling Through Light

27/10/2026

💡 HAPPENING TODAY! | “LIGHT DON KAM”

Today, we gather in Brixton for “Light Don Kam”- People, Skills and the Future of Energy in Sierra Leone, an evening of research, reflection and conversation about the future of clean energy.

I’m delighted to welcome Samia Dumbuya and Alexis Kpadeh, who will share findings from their research placements with Smiling Through Light in Sierra Leone.

Their work explores renewable energy access, community impact, workforce development, green skills and building a more inclusive energy future.

For me, this event is also about something very important: creating opportunities for young people to learn from communities and practitioners, while bringing their own knowledge, ideas and perspectives into the clean energy transition.

At Smiling Through Light, we believe strongly in intergenerational learning. The transition to clean energy needs young researchers, entrepreneurs and professionals at the table and we need to create the pathways for them to gain experience, contribute and lead.

📍 The Liberation Centre, Brixton
🕕 6:00–8:00 PM
📅 Today — 27 October 2026

If you’re in London and interested in clean energy, Sierra Leone, youth development, green skills, research or sustainable development, come and join us.

🔗 Register: https://bit.ly/LightdonKam

A big thank you to everyone who has supported this journey, especially the EA Foundation, whose support has helped us create opportunities for community engagement and learning through our work in Sierra Leone.

From research to impact - energising Sierra Leone’s future. 🌱💛

15/10/2026

Today, I had the pleasure of attending J.P. Morgan Private Bank’s “From Tech to Impact: AI, Data & Cyber Strategies for Non-Profit Leaders” in London.

It was a valuable morning bringing together leaders from across the non-profit sector to explore how technology can help organisations become more resilient, effective and impactful.

The sessions on AI, cybersecurity, data governance and technology for social good were particularly insightful. I especially appreciated the practical conversations around how organisations can use AI responsibly, protect their data and turn information into a strategic asset.

As the non-profit sector continues to evolve, I believe it is increasingly important that we embrace technology not simply as a tool, but as an enabler of greater impact, better decision-making and stronger organisations.

A big thank you to EA Foundation for the invitation and for creating the opportunity to attend such a thought-provoking event. And thank you to the J.P. Morgan Private Bank team and all the speakers and participants for an engaging and insightful afternoon.

Always good to learn, connect and exchange ideas with others working to create meaningful impact.

13/10/2026

💡🌍 “LIGHT DON KAM!” — People, Skills and the Future of Energy in Sierra Leone

We are delighted to invite you to an exciting evening celebrating young researchers, community learning and the future of clean energy in Sierra Leone!

Join Alexis Kpadeh and Samia Dumbuya as they share findings from their research placements with Smiling Through Light, exploring renewable energy access, community impact, workforce development, green skills and the future of an inclusive energy transition.

📅 Tuesday, 27 October 2026
⏰ 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 Liberation Center, 2 Beehive Place, Brixton, London, SW9 7QR

These placements gave Alexis and Samia the opportunity to gain hands-on experience, engage with communities and learn directly from clean energy initiatives in Sierra Leone.

As Founder of Smiling Through Light, Mariama Kamara is committed to creating opportunities for young people to learn, contribute and become part of the clean energy transition.

We believe that building a sustainable energy future requires more than technology. It requires investing in people, sharing knowledge across generations and empowering young researchers to turn learning into action.

This event celebrates that belief - bringing together research, practical experience and community perspectives to inspire new ideas and strengthen Sierra Leone’s clean energy future.

A special thank you to the EA Foundation for supporting our work, including our Port Loko hub, which provided a valuable setting for community engagement and research.

🌱 Come along, hear the findings and join the discussion!

Expect research presentations, community discussion and a Q&A.

🔗 Register now: https://bit.ly/LightdonKam

Please share with your networks and anyone interested in renewable energy, youth development and sustainable development in Sierra Leone.

01/10/2026

It’s encouraging to look back and see how far Smiling Through Light has come.

What started with a simple belief that access to clean, affordable energy can transform lives has continued to grow into a stronger and more resilient social enterprise.

Over the past few years, we’ve seen meaningful progress across the organisation from stronger financial performance and improved margins, team growth and an expanding presence across Sierra Leone.

But for me, the most exciting part is what sits behind those numbers.

🌍 Expanding our reach into new communities
☀️ Continuing to make clean energy more accessible
👩🏾‍🔧 Strengthening our women-led sales and technical model
🤝 Creating opportunities for our team and local entrepreneurs
📈 Building a more sustainable organisation that can continue delivering impact

Grant and catalytic funding has played an important role in helping us build the foundations, test new approaches and reach communities that commercial capital alone may not have reached at the same stage.

But sustainable impact requires more than grants. It requires building a business model, a team and an organisation that can continue to grow and create value over the long term.

I’m incredibly proud of the STL team and everyone who has believed in this journey our staff, customers, partners, funders and community champions.

There is still so much more to do, but these milestones are a reminder that impact and sustainability can grow together.

Onwards and upwards🌱☀️

29/09/2026

🌍 Across Five Shores: One Heritage. Many Stories. A Shared Future.

I’m delighted to share that I’ve been invited to speak as a Panelist at Across Five Shores - Session 2: Education & Digitalization, hosted by the Sierra Africa Diaspora Connect ✨

On Thursday, 15 October 2026, I’ll be joining an inspiring group of educators, entrepreneurs and technology leaders to explore how digital skills, innovation and technology can unlock opportunities and build more connected communities.

I’ll be sharing perspectives from my journey building Smiling Through Light and SanKam Limited, and discussing the role of technology, entrepreneurship and inclusive innovation in creating opportunities across Africa and the diaspora.

💡 Learn. Explore. Connect. Build.
📅 Thursday, 15 October 2026
🕖 19:00–20:30 GMT
💻 Online Webinar

I’d love for you to join us for what promises to be an important and inspiring conversation.

👉 Register here:  https://www.sierrafricanetwork.com/events/

12/09/2026

✨Transforming Lives with Clean Energy✨

Mariama Kamara's Journey. Discover how one woman is lighting up Sierra Leone through innovation.In a world where discussions range from AI advancements to clean energy, one pressing issue remains: access to electricity. In this episode of Sòrò sókè, Zaynob engages with Mariama Kamara, the founder of Smiling Through Light, to explore the transformative journey of bringing solar energy to Sierra Leone.

Mariama recalls what motivated her to start her organisation in 2011. After witnessing the stark reality of her homeland during a visit, she was struck by the prevalence of darkness in homes across Sierra Leone, where many still relied on hazardous kerosene lamps. Her background in international development and personal experiences as a Sierra Leonean immigrant fueled her drive to create sustainable solutions.

Mariama emphasises the need for local women to play active roles in the energy value chain, not just as consumers but as leaders and innovators.Mariama's journey illustrates the impact one person can have when they decide to take action. Her story is not just about solar energy; it’s about empowerment, sustainability, and the belief that collective efforts can lead to significant change✨

Sòrò Sókè podcast · Episode

12/09/2026

I’m really happy to share this conversation with you. ❤️

I was honoured to be invited as the Founder & Director of Smiling Through Light to join Zaynob Sumon from The Soro Soke Thinktank for a conversation about my journey, clean energy and the work we’re doing to light up Sierra Leone.

We spoke about what inspired me to start Smiling Through Light in 2011, the realities of energy poverty, the importance of women being active participants in the energy value chain not just consumers and why locally-led solutions matter.

But beyond solar energy, this conversation is really about possibility.

It’s about what can happen when we see a problem, choose to act, and keep going. It’s about women, communities, innovation and the belief that we can create a different future for Sierra Leone and Africa.

I genuinely loved this conversation and I hope you will too. 😊

🎧 Listen to the episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7macsI1qqDmB6Izhv1Brwn?si=3QQM-MFkR76TmVt5EyxEyQ&utm_source=copy-link

If you listen and enjoy it, please share it with your community. The more we amplify African stories, ideas and solutions, the more powerful the conversation becomes.

Thank you to The Sòrò Sókè Thinktank for creating the space and for inviting me to share my story. 🙏🏾

Sòrò Sókè podcast · Episode

03/09/2026

When conversations become partnerships 💡

My week in Sierra Leone started with our PAYG Sales Training ongoing in Lunsar for our incredible female sales agents whilst I stayed in Freetown for meetings.

One of the most valuable outcomes from the Sierra Leone Diaspora Investment Conference 2026 has been the opportunity to move our discussions with Vista Bank Sierra Leone forward.

During the conference, I met with the MD to discuss their Sierra Leone Access to Finance facility for women-led businesses. While in Sierra Leone, I continued the conversation with Deputy MD Madam Priscilla, together with our Finance Assistant, Tamba Alie, exploring how this could support Smiling Through Light’s growth and expansion of clean energy access.

This is why conferences like this matter, the real impact is what happens after the event.

I am excited about the partnership we are working towards with Vista Bank and the potential to unlock finance that can help women-led businesses like ours scale.

Thank you to the Vickie Remoe VR&C Marketing Company team for creating a platform that connects entrepreneurs, investors, financial institutions and the diaspora.

From conversations, to connections, to action. 🇸🇱

20/08/2026

Day 3 of Sales Training ☀️

Day 3 continued our focus on Problem-Led Selling, with a key focus on communicating the value of the solution and, importantly, the closing - helping customers confidently take that final step to sign up.

While the team continued their training, I headed into the Lunsar local market to meet with the Chairlady of the Market Association and some of our customers.

These conversations were a great reminder that effective selling starts with listening, understanding people’s real challenges and connecting our solutions to their needs.

At STL, we are not simply selling solar products; we are changemakers in the communities we serve, helping households and businesses access cleaner, affordable and reliable energy. ☀️🌍

A big thank you to Njeri Gikami for continuing to challenge and develop our team, and a special thank you to the EA Foundation for funding and supporting this important investment in our people, their skills and STL’s commercial growth. 🙏🏾

18/08/2026

Day 2 of Sales Training ☀️

Another great day of learning with the Smiling Through Light (STL) team in Lunsar✨

Today we focused on Problem-Led Selling, understanding the customer’s problem, exploring the real cost of that problem, doing the calculations and then presenting the right solution.

We also looked closely at the features and benefits of our solar products and importantly, the key transition from problem → cost of the problem → solution.

One message really stood out for me: we are not simply selling solar products - we are changemakers in the communities we serve.☀️

When we understand our customers, their problems and the impact we can make, we can sell with greater purpose, confidence and authenticity.

Great work from the team today and a huge thank you to Njeri Gikami for bringing such practical and transformational learning to the team✨

And a special thank you to the EA Foundation for supporting this important investment in our team, our sales capabilities and the communities we serve✨