Meet the superhero sister duo behind Shamsina: a company that designs and distributes solar-powered water heaters that are clean and affordable, and that can provide energy-poor households in Egypt with healthier alternatives to heat water in their homes. They are among the grassroots innovators and entrepreneurs that the UNDP Accelerator Labs are learning from as part of the PeoplePowered campaign.

For Sarah and Deena Mousa, volunteering in Cairo’s underprivileged communities took on new meaning when they realized it was possible to create cheaper and more accessible ways to heat water.

“Families were using kerosene lamps, gas tanks or even makeshift fires to heat water for everyday needs like taking a bath or cleaning the house,” Sarah explained. “We wanted to create a sustainable way for people to access affordable, clean hot water at scale.”

Shamsina’s mission statement is “sun for all,” and Shamsina means “our sun” in Arabic. “We really wanted to keep our audience in mind,” said Deena. “So instead of using photovoltaics, for example, we went with a thermal design so that it would be more cost effective and as a result more accessible for the families that we were working with. It has adjustable legs to ensure that it can be installed on uneven surfaces. Also, the glass is designed to prevent pollution by sand and dust that can be so common in Egypt.”

“For us, this presents an opportunity to create a business model that benefits a wider range of Egyptians — from the energy poor to energy conscious consumers.”

Sarah Mousa

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