
Bhagchand Dev, Women of Tilonia
We appreciate your support for the sustainable development programs of the Barefoot College and its affiliates.
The success of the "barefoot" approach is based on community commitment. Before solar electrification of the village, the whole village must agree to pay a monthly contribution for the repair and maintenance of the solar power, and to select the poorest, semi-literate, unemployable person who has roots in the village to be trained as a barefoot solar engineer. You will help the Barefoot College to train barefoot solar engineers to solar-electrify their villages in India, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bolivia, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Sierra Leone and The Gambia. | ||
The Night Schools of the Barefoot College expose rural children to the concept of democracy and the importance of elections, citizenship and leadership. Every 3 years, 4000 night school children between the ages of 6 to 14 elect a Prime Minister and a Cabinet of Ministers. For over a decade, the 150 night schools have been jointly managed, supervised and administered by a children's parliament and the village education committee. You will help support the Children's Parliament. | ||
Today, more than 70 Pre-School Education Centers are coordinated by the Barefoot College and attended by more than 7,500 children with the help of 130 women Barefoot Teachers. Children from the ages of 1 to 5 are involved in the process of "Learning Readiness" and those that attend the pre-school education centers are provided with supplementary nutrition including milk, cereal and vegetables. Your contribution of $100 supports one child in pre-school for one year and covers the costs of teacher training, supplementary nutrition, health check-ups, learning activities and school supplies. | ||
Poor children in rural communities in India work during the day tending animals and collecting water. To educate these children, the Barefoot College has established over 250 Night Schools. Your gift will educate children who attend these Night Schools. Instruction in the Night Schools is informal and focused on practical knowledge. Since most children tend cattle, they learn animal husbandry along with reading and math. They are provided with booklets which they take with them while tending cattle during the day. Children monitor their own schools by electing student representatives to the Children's Parliament. The Children's Parliament controls and supervises the Night Schools. Giving power to the individuals who have a vested interest in the school is the best way of ensuring its success -- as well as educating the children in political processes. This form of education-related activism provides a heightened awareness of the political system and its workings.. You will help educate children who attend Night Schools. | ||
Poor rural children have to fetch water for daily household needs. By providing a source of clean drinking water at schools, more girls attend school. Rainwater harvesting systems with a capacity of 100,000 liters are enough to meet water and sanitations needs for 500 school children for 6 months. Your gift of $100 will help contribute to the construction of a rainwater harvesting system by the community, and help to provide trucked water supply during times of drought or dry season to supplement the rainwater supply and ensure a steady supply of cleaning drinking water to the school children and community. You will help build rainwater harvesting systems in schools in rural area | ||
Friends of Tilonia, Inc. is a US-based, tax-exempt, 501(c)3 non-profit organization helping to support the income-generating programs of the Barefoot College and its charitable affiliates in India. Your contributions are tax deductible in the US and 100% of your contribution goes directly to the support of these Barefoot development programs. You may provide general support or select the type of program you would like to support. | ||