Solar Energy is one of the renewable energy sources and one that is available to all parts of the world. Barefoot College teaches its poor and most often uneducated mature students the use of solar energy and how Solar Energy can be a critical success factor and their key for the struggle against poverty.
Barefoot College is a Non Government Organization, NGO, founded in 1972 by the charismatic Bunker Roy. It is a social work and ‘’research center’’ that teaches people how to become among others, solar engineers, how to become eco-friendly and conserve resources. Barefoot college is a solar-powered college and has managed to provide electricity and solar power rural areas of India and other Asian and African countries like Afghanistan and Sierra Leone. Since its creation in 1972, Barefoot College has received many awards and recognitions.
Sanjit ‘’Bunker’’ Roy is an Indian educator and social activist who was born in 1945 and is the founder of one of the most innovative and progressive NGOs in the world. His Barefoot College has received recognition by many states throughout the world and has managed to educate over 3 million uneducated, poor peasants in the country side of many underdeveloped countries. Sanjit Bunker Roy has been named by the TIME magazine as one of the 100 most influential personalities in the world.
When studying at Barefoot College, students have the chance to become Barefoot Solar Engineers, BSEs, following 6 month training on electrical terms, components and equipment. Barefoot solar engineers learn how to install and maintain solar lighting systems as well other solar energy uses such as solar water heating.
Sanjit Banker Roy and his Barefoot College have proven, once again, to the world that the future to sustainable and eco-friendly growth lies with renewable green energy sources and solar energy can and will play an important role in financial and social growth.
About the Author
Andy Goldman is a 27-year veteran in the service industry with managerial, strategic, operational and consulting experience. Has managed teams of 5-45 people and has also managed several multidiscipline projects. He has worked in Europe and the USA and holds a BSc and MSc in Electrical Engineering and an MBA with a minor in Finance. For the past 5 years he has been an enthusiast of renewable technologies. Article by Andy Goldman You can connect with Andy Goldman at Google+
