Ajmer, Barefoot College

January 7 we traveled to another project that is following Gandi principles the Barefoot College India. This is a non profit with a number of projects that are quite remarkable. 

1. Solar Energy. they are training very poor women to make solar energy cookers fueled by oblisk shaped mirror covered ... Uh... Not sure what to call them. But they start fire in the stove, follow the sun as it moves across the sky and can be used for cooking.

2. IT division. Training women (hand selected grandmothers) from tiny villages from 33 different countries to then make the circuit boards that connect to rooftop solar collectors that will power one household. After 6 months of training, they go back to their villages, with the parts to bring power to 5 huts. They then start teaching their community about it and bring light ..one hut at a time.

3. Health care workers. They train local Indian women and others who have no chance at getting a decent job due to their caste the skills for dentistry, acupuncture, and probably others. They work in the little medical center on their campus and serve the village workers.

4. Sanitary Napkin production

5. making of toys, cards, bags, and booklets, using waste materials

6. Arts including puppetry for spreading Gandian messages.

And many more. It was a very interesting day. Photos of the people working follow.

This is the material that goes inside a sanitary napkin, in case you were wondering.

Several steps later... 

Workshop that hand makes Wooden toys for kids 

She is the head of this area.

People with disabilities make the booklets using waste materials. Working outside is nice!

Toys made from waste materials...

Can you find the toothpaste tube? They use the box to make a rattle type toy.

The hospital

She is the acupuncturist offering someone a treatment for his knees.

These walls tell a story, though I can't tell you what it is. hand painted art on the walls is nice.

Here are some of the puppets.

All shapes and sizes. The stage is a bit further to the right.

Many of the buildings are round. I love that!