Model of success: The Barefoot College

The Barefoot College began in rural India in 1972 with the conviction that solutions to rural problems lie within the community.
The College addresses problems of drinking water, girl education, health & sanitation, rural unemployment, income generation, electricity and power, as well as social awareness and the conservation of ecological systems in rural communities.
The College encourages practical knowledge and skills rather than paper qualifications through a learning by doing process of education.

Example: Solar power engineers

The College trains rural unemployed youth as well as semi-literate and literate rural women, as barefoot solar engineers. Since 1986 these unskilled villagers have been sent to the college by their communities and returned as skilled solar engineers to install solar home lighting systems in their villages. They also fabricate and produce solar lanterns. Today more than 200 kilowatt solar energy is being generated across the country thorough these systems and lanterns.