Barefoot Learning


We have really enjoyed our time in Jaipur; it’s a lovely city with some really nice tourist attractions that Oliver, Mik and Zoe have shared. Lucky for us, while staying at the Jaipur Friendly Villa, our hosts Shveta and Kul shared with us a remarkable story about a college that has transformed a nearby village, and parts of the developing world.

Barefoot College was founded in the village of Tilonia by Bunker Roy. The philosophy behind the college is to empower the village people, especially the women, (who are mainly illiterate), to promote positive social development for longer and healthier lives. The reason they focus upon empowering the women is because they discovered women will usually return to their village and pass on what they have learned to their families and friends. This is how they hope sustainable change will happen.

We were amazed at what we saw! The program is an international one and the campus is full of illiterate women from developing countries who come to the Barefoot College to become Solar Engineers! Many of their villages do not have the infrastructure for electricity, so solar energy is an easier way to bring light to their village.

It was incredible to see the ladies gathered around circuit boards and figuring out how make things work. The idea is that for 6 months they learn everything about how solar energy works. Then they return to their villages and set up a solar energy system to bring light to their villages. Since most of the students are illiterate, the books are all picture based and show what to do using colour coded, step by step instructions. The teachers are all former students who have gone through the program and are afterwards, able to pass their learning on to the new students.

In order to be part of the program, an NGO from the women’s country must be willing to support them, so that when they return to their village, the learning can be put to use and bring light to their families and the rest of the village. It was interesting to see women from different countries in Africa, Asia, and Central America chatting away with each other. Since there is quite a language divide, most start communicating using sign language, but eventually learn some basic Hindi and English during their training.

There is a documentary on this program called “Solar Mamas” which highlights a woman from Jordan who comes to the College to be trained as a solar engineer. Halfway through her training, her husband insists she returns to take care of the family or he will divorce her and take away her children. The program focuses on the struggles these women go through as they are empowered with new knowledge and skills and how it impacts their lives in other areas. I won’t tell you what happens – you can watch the documentary yourselves – be prepared with kleenex!

The Indian government funds this program from two different areas. For domestic students, the Ministry of the Environment provides the funds, while the Foreign Affairs department funds the international part of the program.

From solar engineering classrooms we made our way to the solar powered parabolic cooking. In this program, women are learning how to design and use parabolic cookers. They ladies insisted on giving us a live demonstration on how hot their ovens could reach – over 300 degrees! The design is amazing – it’s a clock motor mechanism that moves the solar panels with the rays of the sun so that they can collect the sun’s energy for cooking for at least 10 hours during the winter and 14 hours in the summer. These women were very proud of their learning and are now developing more innovative cookers in different sizes.  In fact, they have actually started their own small business and sell the cookers to interested customers!

Back in October, we lived on a hobby farm that was off the grid and used solar energy.  We became quite interested in how solar energy worked, so these classrooms were of great interest to us.

Heath issues are another concern in the villages – especially malaria and feminine hygiene. Due to the extreme poverty of the villages, feminine products are not available to most women and many suffer from disease and infection. The College has now developed a program where women can learn to make sanitary products for pennies with local cotton and a special machine. They are also learning more about malaria and how mosquito nets can help to prevent fatal bites.

We also met women who have been trained as village dentists. For six months, they work with a qualified dentist so that they can do the basics for their village people. These ladies go into the schools to educate the children on how to take care of their teeth. They also can drill and fill simple cavities using the equipment at the College. This makes a big difference for the village people as many would not be able to visit a dentist in the city.

The College even has their own radio station run by a sound engineer – an illiterate woman from the village, who runs 6 hours a day of radio to bring information to their village.

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Sound engineer

 

Another way they try to bring education to the village is through theatre. They have amazing puppets that they use to teach the village people about social awareness issues concerning the environment, women and children’s rights, and the importance of ending the caste system which is still often in place in the villages.

 

The College focuses on the women in the villages, but they also provide schools for the local children. However, we learned there are many children who aren’t able to attend regular day school as they have responsibilities at home, (especially the girls). To solve this problem Barefoot created “night schools” just for these children. These classroom programs do not focus on regular text books and literacy learning, but rather experiential learning activities to help them develop knowledge and skills to help them in the “real world”. The Barefoot teachers and women from the village use carpentry skills to create educational toys that assist the children with learning.

 

Another example that Mik and Zoe both really liked was the “Children’s Parliament”. The kids run a student government where they are the leaders and Ministers of different parts of the school. It is their responsibility to ensure things are working properly so that the school runs. The elected student “Prime Minister” and cabinet even have the power to hire and fire teachers! These programs are to help the students become more knowledgeable about the world they are living in. The girls thought this program was great!

Our visit to the Barefoot College was incredibly inspirational and shows that everyone can learn and be empowered at any age. I’m so glad we were able to see the College in action and all the good they are doing for the people. This is an amazing organization and one that deserves so much praise for using grassroots solutions to help and empower the local people in a dignified way.

Check out the TedTalk below from Bunker Roy, the founder of Barefoot College – it will really make your day!


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Comments

17 responses to “Barefoot Learning”

  1. Ok, this one really blew my socks off! Amazing on so many levels. How on earth did you organize this visit? Did you hear about these back home? What an overwhelmingly positive program this is. And , of course geared to women as women tend to build/ create rather than destroy…. This is a story that I will have to re read. The clip at the end is most powerful. Thank you.

    1. Hi Herta,

      This program was new to us as well. We only discovered it because our hosts in Jaipur were sharing how they went to the college to learn more about some of the programs in order to assist some of the other villages. We found it interesting and asked to have a tour set up for us – we were lucky because our host called that morning and we were off within the hour!
      We were amazed at all levels – this is truly a unique place of learning and one that has really shifted my own thinking on how we can help others. I’m glad you see the power as well.

      Cheers,
      Kat:)

  2. Such an amazing organization and you are so fortunate to have spent time there. What a great experience for the girls to observe!

    1. HI Kim,
      You are so right – it’s really important for our kids to see these kinds of places so they are better aware of how they can help the developing world, as well as our own people who need to be empowered.
      Cheers,
      Kat:)

  3. Mary Papulkas Avatar
    Mary Papulkas

    I am so glad that Mikhaila and Zoe are experiencing not only the elegance of places, but, as well, the poverty around the world. We take so much for granted, when we have it, and rarely show gratitude for what we have. How wonderful it is to hear about these programs! I truly found this blog to be informative; but, above all, inspirational. Good on you!!

    1. Hi Aunt Mary,
      This place was incredibly inspiring and one that moved all of us. It really made me shift in my own thinking about how we empower others and when they have support and guidance – anything can be accomplished at any age.

      Cheers,
      Kat:)

  4. Gail Lawlor Avatar
    Gail Lawlor

    I am completely overwhelmed by this post Katina. thank you so much. I will be sharing this far and wide. anything is possible!

    1. HI Gail,

      I was overwhelmed too…it was just such an amazing place to experience. I’m glad you found it to be powerful as well….it really has made me think about my own perspectives on learning. I thought about our struggling students back in Toronto and how programs like this could help them. The possibilities are endless for people of all ages and levels of abilities.

      Cheers,
      Kat:)

  5. Katina,
    I am thrilled that Bunker Roy decided to run this program! It was great to see how the women were empowered!
    Imagine the skills they took back to the village. I think that it was great to see the children participating and learning real world education! How lucky, Oliver, You, and the Kids got to see this program in action. Thank you for sharing this good news with us!
    All it takes is a wonderful person, with a beautiful idea! Love, Mom

    1. Hi Mom,
      I agree with everything you say….and it was Ghandi who said, “Be the change you want to see”. Bunker Roy has certainly accomplished this and has inspired many along the way.

      Cheers,
      Kat:)

  6. Fascinating, inspiring and brave. These women are to be admired for their tenacity and willingness to learn and to share. What a great experience for all, I am sure they were thrilled that you were there to learn too.
    Travel safely, Love Doreen xoxo

    1. Hi Doreen,

      THe women were fabulous….so strong and brave to leave their countries and go to India where most did not speak the language. BUt they all recognize if they want the lives of their children and families to improve – they can be part of the solution. The pride we saw in the women was amazing – the way they showcased their talents with the cookers – they have now started their own business and are learning about marketing and business development – not bad for women who cannot read and write. Amazing…and inspiring…it really has me thinking.
      Cheers,
      Kat:)

  7. Just want to add a footnote… Had a neighbour in tonight and we watched both the TedTalk with Bunker Roy, and the hour video of Rafea’s story.
    Led to most interesting conversation on how a country like India is leading the way and with women. Thanks again!

    1. HI Herta,
      Glad you liked the documentary…it certainly is a conversation starter! Sometimes we think we have all the answers in the first world – but in order to really make a change in the developing world…it has to start with them.

      CHeers,
      Kat:)

  8. Happy Valentines Day!!!! Hi all…..I haven’t been able to touch base with you or read your blogs of late……however, I stopped by mom and dad’s and the opportunity to read about your Barefoot College. What a story….I have to say that I had a feeling that when Bunker Roy was speaking, that Mahatma Ghandi was an inspiration to him. When we empower people we can change the world…..I was very moved by the video.

    Cheers to all and lots of LOVE,

    Eleny (Teta)

    1. HI Eleny,
      Yes – he is a follower of Ghandi – and is a “doer” as well – so the people of Tilonia are lucky to have him as a supporter.

      Cheers,
      Kat:)

  9. Beverley Cude Avatar
    Beverley Cude

    This sounds like a wonderful place.