Barefoot College, Tilonia, India

Ten days ago, a group of ladies from SWEPA (Sabah Women Entrepreneur and Professional Association) and friends embarked on the 27 hour journey to the Barefoot College in Tilonia.  Donning our trademark red tops and red caps, we set off on this trip, eager to see how the two illiterate grandmothers from our country were doing in the college.

They were sent there two months ago to learn how to become solar engineers, to set up solar lamps, maintain the solar panels and to make repairs if necessary.  In September this year they will return to light up their villages which still do not have electricity in this age and time.  Their villages are situated in remote rural areas which do not have proper roads and are only accessible by four wheel drives.

Last year a grandmother graduated from the college and since then she has been responsible for lighting the homes in her village. 

We found Gining and Rusni hard at work in the workshop. Only women who are poor and illiterate are accepted into Barefoot College and to date the college has trained many women from third world countries.

Currently 40 women are in training.  Hostel facilities close to the college are provided for them.

The College also runs night classes for children who do not have the opportunity to attend regular school because they have to help their parents work their farms during the day.  There are no proper classrooms and the children sit on the verandahs which are poorly lit. As you can see in the photos, they don't have books.  The lesson is very interactive and the teacher calls upon the children to participate, using chants.

Our visit was truly an eye opener.  We could only count our blessings when we saw how deprived the poor children are.