What they do
Barefoot College trains rural communities (especially women) as solar engineers, water testers, and health workers. Founded in 1972 in Tilonia, Rajasthan, their Solar Mamas program brings grandmothers from 96 countries to India for 6 months of hands-on solar engineering training. Graduates return home to electrify their villages with solar systems they build and maintain themselves.
Why they matter
Barefoot College inverts the development model. Instead of sending outside experts to install technology that communities cannot maintain, they train community members (specifically older women, who are less likely to migrate to cities) as the technicians. The Solar Mamas program has electrified communities in 96 countries, with locally trained technicians maintaining systems for years. This bottom-up approach to electrification is more durable and more empowering than any top-down infrastructure project.
How to support
Donate to fund Solar Mama training programs. Nominate communities for electrification projects. Visit Barefoot College in Tilonia, Rajasthan for educational tours.
Key project to explore
The Solar Mamas program trains grandmothers from remote communities as solar engineers. Over 3,000 Solar Mamas from 96 countries have electrified their home villages with solar systems they built and maintain.