42 images Created 19 Mar 2013
Solar mamas
Solar Mamas,
a project by Barefoot College, Tilonia, Rajasthan, northern India.
Gandhi also believed in the equality of women.
The Barefoot College has struggled to train village women, in areas that have traditionally been dominated by men. Founded in 1972 by Bunker Roy to help Rajasthan rural communities, the Barefoot College created in 2005 a program allowing women from rural areas of India and other countries, to become solar energy engineer, bring electricity to their communities and manage the village solar equipment.
Since 1972, more than 6,525 unassuming housewives, mothers & grandmothers, midwives, farmers, daily wage labourers and small shopkeepers, who represent the profile of rural women from poor agricultural communities, have been trained as Barefoot midwives, handpump mechanics, solar engineers, artisans, weavers, balsevika (crèche teachers), parabolic solar cooker engineers, FM radio operators and fabricators, dentist, masons, and day and night school teachers. Women who are single mothers, middle-aged, divorced, physically challenged or illiterate are prioritised for training over others because they need the employment opportunity and income the most.
What the College has effectively demonstrated is how sustainable the combination of traditional knowledge (barefoot) and demystified modern skills can be, when the tools are in the hands of those who are considered ‘very ordinary’ and are written off by urban society.
The Barefoot College is viewed as a success story because it is shown as an example of what is possible if very poor people are allowed to develop themselves. It is a new concept that has stood the test of time.
The ‘Barefoot approach’ may be viewed as a ‘concept’, ‘solution’, ‘revolution’, ‘design’ or an ‘inspiration’ but it is really a simple message that can easily be replicated by the poor and for the poor in neglected and underprivileged communities anywhere the world.
Bunker Roy was selected as one of Time 100's most influential personalities in 2010 for his work in educating illiterate and semi literate rural Indians.
© Marida Augusto/Max Hirzel
a project by Barefoot College, Tilonia, Rajasthan, northern India.
Gandhi also believed in the equality of women.
The Barefoot College has struggled to train village women, in areas that have traditionally been dominated by men. Founded in 1972 by Bunker Roy to help Rajasthan rural communities, the Barefoot College created in 2005 a program allowing women from rural areas of India and other countries, to become solar energy engineer, bring electricity to their communities and manage the village solar equipment.
Since 1972, more than 6,525 unassuming housewives, mothers & grandmothers, midwives, farmers, daily wage labourers and small shopkeepers, who represent the profile of rural women from poor agricultural communities, have been trained as Barefoot midwives, handpump mechanics, solar engineers, artisans, weavers, balsevika (crèche teachers), parabolic solar cooker engineers, FM radio operators and fabricators, dentist, masons, and day and night school teachers. Women who are single mothers, middle-aged, divorced, physically challenged or illiterate are prioritised for training over others because they need the employment opportunity and income the most.
What the College has effectively demonstrated is how sustainable the combination of traditional knowledge (barefoot) and demystified modern skills can be, when the tools are in the hands of those who are considered ‘very ordinary’ and are written off by urban society.
The Barefoot College is viewed as a success story because it is shown as an example of what is possible if very poor people are allowed to develop themselves. It is a new concept that has stood the test of time.
The ‘Barefoot approach’ may be viewed as a ‘concept’, ‘solution’, ‘revolution’, ‘design’ or an ‘inspiration’ but it is really a simple message that can easily be replicated by the poor and for the poor in neglected and underprivileged communities anywhere the world.
Bunker Roy was selected as one of Time 100's most influential personalities in 2010 for his work in educating illiterate and semi literate rural Indians.
© Marida Augusto/Max Hirzel
