Today we’d like to introduce you to Maureen Olofsson.
Maureen, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Some moments stay with you long after they happen. For me, one of those moments came in 2016 when I attended a conference and heard Watts of Love founder Nancy Economou share the story behind the organization. Her passion, purpose, and unwavering belief that simple tools and practical education could help families break the cycle of poverty left a lasting impression on me. By the end of her presentation, I knew I wanted to be part of that mission in whatever way I could.
At the time, I was working full-time as an independent contractor in a sales and service representative role for a yearbook company. My career was demanding, but with my children grown, I knew I could find time to volunteer. I began following Watts of Love on social media to learn more about the organization and eventually connected with co-founder Kevin Kuster, Nancy’s brother. I explained that my availability was limited, but because Watts of Love was only in its third year and needed help, they welcomed me as a volunteer.
I started by helping manage the organization’s social media channels, sometimes working alongside other volunteers and sometimes on my own. When I retired in 2019, I had more time available and began assisting with a variety of projects wherever support was needed.
Since then, Watts of Love has continued to grow tremendously. To date, the organization has delivered personal solar lights and financial literacy training in more than 55 countries and reached over 189,000 families. What continues to inspire me is the organization’s mission to help energy-poor households across Sub-Saharan Africa, with women serving as catalysts for change, growing savings, assets, and resilience through our personal solar lights and practical financial literacy training our local partner provide.
Over the years, my involvement has expanded far beyond social media, although I still contribute in that area today. I now serve as a Global Travel Team Coordinator, helping organize and prepare teams that travel to work alongside our local partners in distributing solar lights and providing financial literacy training.
My first trip with Watts of Love was to Malawi in the spring of 2022. Since then, I have returned to Africa every year, traveling twice to Malawi and three times to Kenya. The last three trips, I had the privilege of serving as team leader.
For years, I wrote about Watts of Love and shared its impact stories, believing I understood the organization well. However, seeing the program firsthand during my first distribution, opened my eyes even wider. Every trip is unique, and witnessing the work in person is truly life-changing.
What makes Watts of Love so unique is its commitment to empowering people to create new lives built around their own dreams and goals. We do not tell recipients what success should look like. Instead, we provide tools, training, and encouragement that allow them to dream bigger and pursue opportunities they may never have thought possible.
Our teams travel to some of the most remote villages imaginable—places with few resources, no electricity, and often not even access to a well for water. Yet despite these challenges, the people we meet are remarkably joyful. They do not focus on what they lack; instead, they express gratitude for what they have.
When we provide a solar light, we train recipients not only how to use it, but also how to save and invest the money they no longer spend on costly rent-to-own solar lights, batteries, or kerosene. Through translations provided by our local trainers, we hear story after story from people who tell us that no one has ever explained concepts like saving, budgeting, or investing before. They quickly grasp these ideas and become excited about setting goals and challenging themselves to achieve them.
One of my favorite parts of every trip is revisiting families who have participated in the program. Whether it has been two days or a year since they received their light, they are eager to share their successes. They proudly tell us how much they have saved, what they have accomplished with the additional hours of light each evening, how their children’s education has improved because they can study after dark, and how much safer they feel with reliable light protecting them from predators around their villages.
One thing I’ve been especially encouraged to see over the years is how Watts of Love continues to improve the quality and durability of its solar lights. These lights are thoroughly tested and, when properly cared for, can last up to ten years on the same battery. Knowing that a single light can provide years of safe, reliable illumination for a family is incredibly meaningful. It not only replaces the need for toxic kerosene and disposable batteries, but also helps protect the environment by reducing waste that often ends up scattered throughout the community.
As I look ahead, I am excited to continue volunteering with Watts of Love in whatever capacity is needed. My background in sales, design, photography, and marketing has allowed me to contribute in many different ways throughout the organization. My goal has always been to lighten the workload of our staff, support our mission wherever possible, and help spread the word about the life-changing work Watts of Love is doing around the world.
The greatest gift of volunteering with Watts of Love has been seeing firsthand that a simple light, combined with financial literacy and encouragement, can help transform lives. Every trip reminds me that hope grows when people are given the opportunity to believe in their own potential—and that is what keeps me passionate about this mission year after year.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Like any volunteer role, there have been challenges along the way, but they have been more learning opportunities than obstacles. After spending many years as an independent contractor, I was accustomed to making decisions independently and moving projects forward on my own timeline. Volunteering with an organization requires a different mindset. Rather than acting independently, the goal is to support the organization, collaborate with others, and often wait for approvals or consensus before moving forward. Learning to work within that structure has helped me grow as a team player and has given me a greater appreciation for the value of collaboration toward a shared mission.
Another unexpected benefit has been the opportunity to continue learning new technology. As Watts of Love has adopted new software and digital tools, I have been challenged to keep learning and adapting. While some retirees may view that as a hurdle, I see it as a gift. In a world where technology is constantly evolving, I am grateful for the opportunity to stay engaged, continue learning, and contribute my skills in meaningful ways.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
What I love most about my role at Watts of Love is the ability to bring together my photography and design background in a meaningful, real-world way.
I have a degree in photography, and in my earlier career I primarily taught students how to take better photos rather than spending much time behind the camera myself. In my role with Watts of Love, that has completely shifted. On our Global Travel Team trips, I now get to return to what first inspired me—documentary photography and environmental portraiture. Being able to capture the dignity, strength, and beauty of the people we serve is both a privilege and a gift.
It’s also deeply rewarding to revisit skills I developed in school and early in my career and apply them in the field, where the stories are real and immediate. Those foundational disciplines now help me tell the story of Watts of Love’s impact in a more authentic and visual way.
In addition, I enjoy using my 30 years of experience in yearbook and publication design to support Watts of Love through formatting and creating printed materials. It’s a different form of storytelling, but just as important—helping ensure our message is clear, consistent, and visually compelling.
What sets my work apart is the blend of creative disciplines—photography and design—used in service of a mission I deeply believe in.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
It’s incredibly exciting to be part of an organization that is growing with such purpose and clarity. Over the next 5–10 years, I see Watts of Love continuing to expand its reach while staying deeply rooted in what makes it so effective—bringing light and practical financial tools directly into the hands of families living in energy poverty, one household at a time.
Millions of families are still living without electricity, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the majority of energy-poor households are found. For these families, something as simple as light has the power to transform daily life—allowing children to study longer, improving safety at night, and reducing reliance on costly and unsafe alternatives.
One of the things I love most about Watts of Love is that there is a place for everyone to make a difference. While I contribute by volunteering my time and skills behind the scenes, others support Watts of Love through fundraising, sharing the mission with their communities, or joining a Global Travel Team to experience the impact firsthand. Whether someone gives their time, talents, resources, or voice, every contribution helps bring light, hope, and opportunity to families living in energy poverty. Together, we are not just providing solar lights—we are helping people take the first steps toward a brighter future.
As Watts of Love continues to grow, the focus remains on empowering community members with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to create lasting change in their own lives. Through financial literacy training, personal solar lights, and the support of trusted local partners, families are equipped to save money, invest in their futures, and build greater resilience. Each distribution is designed to be more than a one-time gift—it is the beginning of a journey toward self-reliance, opportunity, and hope for generations to come.
Pricing:
- a single light costs $50 – this price includes, manufacturing, shipping, customs, and the costs of our local trainers
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wattsoflove.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wattsoflove?igsh=d281azU4cDVsbWJq
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BMDuk6nX9/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/watts-of-love/
- Twitter: @wattsovlove
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/WattsOfLove?app=desktop&ra=m
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/4D-jptx5D-
- Other: https://vimeo.com/wattsoflove
