22nd September 2014
HBPS collaborates with Barefoot College, India
HBPS is delighted to send Monora, Munjuara & Rejia – 3 illiterate ladies to Barefoot College in Rajasthan in Indian to attend 6 month training on solar electrification. As these ladies are from the HBPS Kazipur center so the HBPS Chairman, Golam Morshed and Executive Director, Rayhan Kabir accompanied the ladies during their journey and had the chance to see the activities of Barefoot College. Barefoot College is run by The Social Work and Research Center (SWRC).
Barefoot College, India
Image: Barefoot college
Grandmothers learning about Solar power
Image: Fixing the solar panels
Mr. Bunker Roy started Barefoot College more than 40 years ago to provide the basic service and solutions to problems in the rural community . The College has adopted the Gandhian ideas into its lifestyle and work ethics, holding it true and relevant universally even in the 21st Century. This institute collects illiterate and disadvantaged women from various parts of the world and provides them with training in various skills including Solar Electrification to strengthen villagers’ ability to solve their own problems.
Fixing the solar panels
Image: Setting up the solar panels
The Barefoot College has struggled to train village women, in areas that have traditionally been dominated by men. 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, hand pump 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 prioritized for training over others because they need the employment opportunity and income the most. If you would like to know more then please visit www.barefootcollege.org Be the change you wish to see in the world”- Gandhi
Time for a little shopping at the College
Image: Time for a little shopping
