Bunker Roy - Universidade dos Pés-Descalços (legendado)

Summary

This inspiring story follows an individual who, after experiencing the devastating Bihar famine in 1965, decided to leave a privileged life behind and dedicate themselves to serving the poor. They founded the Barefoot College, an educational institution focused on the poor, where traditional skills and knowledge are valued over formal qualifications. The college empowers communities by teaching sustainable practices like solar electrification, rainwater harvesting, and health care. It emphasizes learning through practical experience, where teachers and learners share roles, and success is determined by community recognition rather than certificates. The project has had a transformative impact, training women in solar technology and improving lives across India, Afghanistan, and Africa.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker shares a personal story of how their privileged education in India led them to discover the importance of grassroots knowledge while witnessing famine and poverty in rural India.
• 😀 In 1965, the speaker visited Bihar during a famine, which profoundly changed their perspective on life and sparked the desire to give back by working in a village.
• 😀 The Barefoot College was founded with the goal of providing education to the poor and recognizing the value of indigenous skills that are often overlooked.
• 😀 The college rejects traditional academic qualifications; instead, it values practical skills and experience, where even dropouts or those with no formal education are welcome.
• 😀 Barefoot College focuses on redefining professionalism, highlighting that competence, confidence, and belief are what make a professional, not just academic degrees.
• 😀 The college operates under the lifestyle and principles of Mahatma Gandhi, where there are no formal contracts, and all students are paid a small stipend for their work and community service.
• 😀 The Barefoot College encourages creative problem-solving, allowing people to try innovative ideas without fear of failure and embracing learning through hands-on experience.
• 😀 The college’s approach has resulted in remarkable achievements, such as building an award-winning campus with unqualified barefoot architects and solar electrifying entire villages.
• 😀 The college is fully solar-powered, with solar cookers and solar electricity installed by local women who were trained to be solar engineers, demonstrating the power of community-led sustainable solutions.
• 😀 The speaker emphasizes the importance of looking for solutions from within communities rather than relying on external expertise, as local knowledge is often the most effective.
• 😀 The speaker highlights the transformative impact of empowering women in rural communities, showing how grandmothers in Afghanistan and Africa have led solar electrification efforts in their villages, defying gender norms and achieving remarkable results.

Q & A

What inspired the speaker to move from an elite educational background to working in a village?

The speaker was inspired by the experience of witnessing the worst famine in Bihar, India, in 1965, which exposed them to the harsh realities of poverty and hunger. This led them to desire a life of service to the poor and to explore the skills and knowledge of rural communities.

How did the speaker's family react to their decision to work in a village?

The speaker's mother was initially shocked and disappointed, as she expected them to pursue a prestigious career, considering the speaker had an elite education. She even went into a coma, unable to understand why someone with such opportunities would want to live and work in a village.

What is the Barefoot College, and how did it come into existence?

The Barefoot College was established by the speaker to create an educational institution that caters specifically to the poor. It focuses on imparting knowledge and skills that are valuable to the community, particularly those that are often overlooked in mainstream education.

What is unique about the Barefoot College's approach to education?

The Barefoot College rejects formal qualifications, such as degrees or PhDs, in favor of practical skills. Only those who have hands-on experience, like dropouts, are allowed to join, and the community certifies the knowledge of its members rather than relying on traditional degrees.

How does the Barefoot College redefine professionalism?

The Barefoot College redefines professionalism as a combination of competence, confidence, and belief. Professionals in their context include traditional practitioners like water diviners, midwives, and bone setters—people whose skills are essential but often undervalued.

What makes the Barefoot College's campus distinctive?

The Barefoot College campus is unique in that it is entirely solar-powered, constructed by illiterate barefoot architects, and designed to be eco-friendly. The roofs collect rainwater, and the building uses sustainable materials and techniques passed down through generations.

What role does women play in the Barefoot College and its solar electrification projects?

Women, especially grandmothers, play a crucial role in the solar electrification projects. Many women have been trained as solar engineers, including some who have solar electrified villages in countries like Afghanistan and Sierra Leone, proving the efficacy of community-driven solar energy solutions.

Why does the Barefoot College focus on training grandmothers rather than men?

The speaker notes that men are often more mobile and restless, seeking formal qualifications and city jobs. In contrast, grandmothers, who are seen as more grounded and stable, have been successfully trained in solar technology and other practical skills, making them ideal candidates for leadership roles in rural communities.

How does the Barefoot College use puppetry as a tool for education?

Puppetry is used at the Barefoot College to communicate essential lessons in a fun, engaging, and accessible way. The puppets, like Jim Chacha, are used to resolve conflicts, raise awareness about local issues, and promote community engagement.

What is the significance of the quote by Mahatma Gandhi mentioned at the end of the talk?

The quote, 'First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, and then you win,' emphasizes the challenges the Barefoot College has faced in proving the value of their unconventional approach to education and development. It reflects the perseverance required to overcome skepticism and achieve success.