Providing Employment As Well As Energy

This potential for growth not only augurs well for Helvetic’s profit margins, but provides another avenue by which Ngowi can better the lives of his fellow Tanzanians. More growth means more jobs in Tanzania and other countries where Helvetic operates.

Currently, Helvetic Solar Contractors and Helvetic Group employ more than 350 Tanzanians, of which 300-plus are between the ages of 25 and 40. The company expects to employ 1,000 Tanzanians in the construction of its PEN Estates green development project, an initiative of PEN Holdings, Helvetic’s parent company. Along with American investors, PEN is planning to build two developments – one outside Arusha and one outside Dar Es Salaam – each consisting of 50 low-cost and self-reliant houses. Each will come with integrated solar power, solar water heating and centralized biogas systems. Construction has begun in Arusha and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2014.

In Tanzania, where unemployment has fluctuated between 10.7 percent and 12.9 percent in the last seven years, creating jobs is part of Ngowi’s personal and professional philosophy.

“I believe in doing something in life that makes a difference in the community around you,” he said. “It’s the only sense of giving back in its truest form.”