2014-2016

GRANDMOTHERS SWITCH THE LIGHTS ON

2014-2016

BAREFOOT COLLEGE

The Barefoot College, based in Tilonia, India, seeks to ensure vocational and educational opportunities are accessible to women and girls from the most marginalised communities around the world. We funded its Solar programme, which empowers women (often grandmothers) with no formal education through technology to bring solar electricity to their villages.

www.barefootcollege.org

CHALLENGE

Some 13% of the world’s population – or about 940 million people – do not have access to electricity. About 2.7 billion people rely on firewood, diesel and paraffin for cooking, heating, and lighting. Poor energy access is strongly tied to having a low income.

ACTION

The Barefoot Solar programme trains middle-aged illiterate or semi-literate women (often grandmothers) from impoverished rural communities to bring household solar electricity to their villages. The six-month training programme teaches them to identify basic electrical terms, components and equipment, then to assemble circuits and solar lanterns and install home lighting systems.

Barefoot’s solar engineers are responsible for the installation, repair and maintenance of solar panels in their communities once the equipment is delivered. They commit to sharing the solar technology in their and neighbouring communities. They also commit to training other women, thereby passing on their knowledge and sustaining the model.

The solar-powered villages benefit from reductions in air pollution, fire and health hazards. The programme also significantly reduces the need for deforestation.

Access to electricity increases opportunities, enabling activities after dark such as night schooling, small evening businesses, food processing and handicraft production. 

IMPACT

BAREFOOT SOLAR ENGINEERS

from Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam graduated between 2014 and 2016 with our support

VILLAGES

were solar-electrified in Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam

739

HOUSEHOLDS

were solar- electrified