Women as bright as the sunlight

Photo: courtesy Paola Gianturco

It is called the Barefoot (नंगे पाँव) College. Why? Because it is for poor (गरीब) people. It is for people who want to learn (सीखना)! It is for people who want to have a better (बेहतर) life! They study what will improve (सुधारें) their lives.

Photo: TEDtalk

The college is in Rajasthan, India.  It was started by Bunker Roy. He left the city to visit the villages. Then he lived in the villages. He saw (see: देखना) in the people extraordinary knowledge (असाधारण ज्ञान) and skills (कौशल).

The college began (begin: शुरू करना) with young men. It taught (teach: सिखाना) them to be solar engineers (सौर इंजीनियरों). The college wanted them to bring light to their villages. The plan did not work: the men went to the city to find jobs. They did not go back to their villages.
     The college learned a lesson. The college changed (बदलना). They began to teach mothers and grandmothers. The women could not read or write. But they were eager (उत्सुक) to learn. The mothers and grandmothers would never leave their villages. They would return (लौटना) to help their children and grandchildren.

Barefoot College, India

     After six months, the women could make and repair (सुधारना) solar lanterns, solar water heaters, solar cookers and solar panels. 
     The women taught more women. The Indian grandmothers have now brought light to almost 10,000 families in 16 regions in India!
     The Indian grandmothers teach women from other poor countries. Together they have brought solar electricity to 45,000 families in 64 countries in the Middle East, Africa, South America and Asia.
     These women leave for college as grandmothers. They return to their villages as heroes (हीरो)!