Barefoot Solar Engineers Bring Light to the Countryside

                   Women from Afghanistan, Bolivia, Cameroon, Mail, Sierra Leone, and
                  The Gambia are training to become barefoot solar engineers in Tilonia,
               home of the Barefoot College in India. Photo courtesy of Barefoot College.

When we think of electrical engineers installing complex community solar systems, we rarely picture rural illiterate women, but that is exactly who have been at the forefront of bringing solar power to some of the poorest communities in Africa and Asia. These "barefoot solar engineers" are chosen democratically by their communities to study at the Barefoot College in India, and get hands on training in how to install, maintain, and repair solar panel systems. In addition to choosing community representatives to attend the solar training, the community must choose to dedicate one building to serve as a solar workshop, and decide amongst themselves how much they can pay monthly for solar power. This amount (usually based on what they are already paying for firewood and kerosene) goes to pay a stipend for the solar engineers, support the college, and maintain the solar system once it is installed. 

Since its founding in 1972, the Barefoot College has used apprenticeships and hands on training to teach skills ranging from rainwater harvesting, community health, popular theater, solar energy, and literacy, to some of the poorest and most marginalized members of rural communities. Their methods promote autonomy, sustainability, and community self sufficiency. While the school is based in India, their students have come from Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, Brazil, Mali, and Bhutan.

Below is a short documentary about a pair of illiterate women from Sierra Leone who brought solar power to their communities with help from the Barefoot College.