Bunker Roy: Learning from a barefoot movement

4/13/2013

Sorry about the late post!

Having watched the Ted Talk (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qqqVwM6bMM) what were your thoughts of the 'Barefoot movement'?

Some questions to facilitate discussion:

1) Could programs like this be implemented in more affluent countries? Why/why not?
2) How do programs like this benefit the individual as well as the community?
3) What are the benefits of employing unqualified staff at the school?
4) The video explains that is it more important to educate women rather than men. Why do you think this is the case?

Post a 100 word comment on the Ted Talk. Once you have uploaded your post, comment on a post written by another student.

Aimee

9 Comments

Adelina

4/15/2013 10:44:41 pm

From my point of view, I do not think that there is a need for the projects to be implemented in other developed countries because those countries have already things in place such as electricity, educated children, skilled people and women empowerment. However, these projects need to be expanded more to other low-income countries such as Africa and some poor parts of South East Asia. Taking from what was shown, the programs really benefit the community because it empowers local people who are unskilled and unemployed. It also empowers local women to actively involve in the process of activities such as making solar electricity parabola/solar cooker. The programs also target in illiterate children. In addition, it attracts more women to work at the projects because they are more detailed, persistent and focus in their working. As a result, the community a whole does not work for other people but they work for themselves and the community itself.

janaina

4/23/2013 11:43:33 am

I respectfully disagree with Adelina regarding the need for projects like the Barefoot Movement in developed countries. Even though the project may not contribute in technological aspects for those places, its ideology should be listened and followed in more places. Developed countries, specially, are extremely devoted to profits and underestimate the positive transforming capability of work. Besides that, it could also include people that are marginalized from society, what is present everywhere in the world.

Rose

4/17/2013 10:12:14 pm

From my perspective, I am sure that the barefoot college has benefited people including women and children in poor Indian villages. A barefoot movement not only offers them the ability to access to school but also empowers them to improve their current life, such as making solar electricity, solar cooker. They were tought neccessary skills which are useful to help themselves and the community. The solutions, which were found out inside the villages in India might have helped them be lifted out of poverty.
On the other hand, as stated by Bunker, it is the best to train women rather than men because if men want to have certifications after graduating, men will move to the city for finding jobs; as a result, there is no trained men staying the village and helping others deal with problems due to lack of education and poverty.

Abdullah

4/18/2013 01:21:45 am

I think programs like this can be implement in rich and poor countries at the same time because, If all rich country have strong programs like these they can compete to be one of the advanced countries. Same things for the poor countries they can change there live and break the cycle of poverty. Moreover programs like these can benefit the individual as will as the community: I will give you an example, if the individual discovered something new he will benefit him self and his country by earning money and will be represented his country. I like the way they employing unqualified staff at the school and the reason for this is because, the unqualified people can discover and develop their skills unlike qualified people they now what are they good on. In addition, I think educate women rather than men are important because I think women conscientiously work more than men.

Anis

4/18/2013 01:50:47 am

From my point of view I think that barefoot collage providing a lot of opportunities to the village peoples mostly for the woman’s. Barefoot collages know how to utilize people’s talent and experience and they also select the perfect person for the perfect work place as a result they are helping people to build their confident and because of that village peoples became able to generate electricity and solar. By watching this video we can understand that people can do anything if they are passionate for work and also experience is a big asset for any person. The project of the bare foot collage was very superior. So others developing countries should come up with this kind of idea so that they can reduce their poverty.

Abdullah

4/18/2013 10:54:34 am

I don’t agree with you at the point where you said “they also select the perfect person for the perfect work place”; because barefoot college help people to have many skills. For example if anyone is already good in architecture they will teach him other skills such as how can they became able to generate electricity or work in solar power.so they can obtain the largest number of skills.
Please accept my humble opinion.

Anonymous

4/18/2013 11:38:09 am

On one hand, personally I may think that barefoot program may not influence in more affluent countries. In affluence countries people are more interested in theory rather than practicals. In rich countries peoples are more believe in certificate that will prove to other what they are capable off. However in poor countries where education is impossible for them for access; therefore, they may not have the papers to prove what they are capable off as a result those peoples are unemployed in certain companies.
On the other hand, barefoot program do benefit the poor people individually. Barefoot bunker is the school that allow the individuality to make mistake. Every single mistake is make was a learning progress of individualism. Peoples in the barefoot bunker are capable to think out from a box. A forester was asked what are the capable plants is suitable in barefoot college. The soil was rocky and water is not an availability moreover without furthers of thinking he had rejected the offer of planting. As a result, an old man was asked what he is cable off, therefore , miracle happen as the area were planted with some trees and bushes that require less of waters. In the near coming future barefoot college may create more practical peoples to contribute their knowledge to the community.
The beneficiation of employing unqualified people in barefoot college is that people who are uneducated might have the eager to learn and the passion to work. Furthermore, India has the highest poverty in the world as ten out of seven may not have the adequacy to get jobs. Moreover, women are the victims that were trapped in poverty; therefore, educating women might abate poverty cycles. As a result, women may contribute their knowledge and financial for the family and country.

Ximena

4/19/2013 11:00:53 pm

In my opinion, programs like this can benefit everybody in any part of the world whether poor or rich societies. It might contribute to improve the lives of any person from any community. Barefood Movement can permit people from local communities and be employed without any restrictions. Staff can offer their skills and knowledge that means if people have some ability to show to the community, they can teach to others and vice versa. Employing unqualified staff could enable their personal and professional growth. These programs allow unqualified people serve to their country and be designer of their own life.
Women are becoming the greatest communicators of the society. Even though some women do not speak the same language they can seek the way to communicate effectively among them, in this case the way of communication was sign language.

janaina

4/23/2013 11:35:56 am

I think programs like this one are welcome everywhere. The most important aspect of this initiative, in my opinion, is its ideology rather than the technological progress it brings to the community. To work for the importance of the work itself or the changes it can make do the world, is an almost inexistent value in society. People are more and more driven by great incomes rather than the importance of their work, not only for society but also for their own selves. Many people choose their careers having in mind how much money they can make with it. They supress their interests and passions, and rather do something that does not make then happy. The Barefoot movement value the capacity of work to change and improve society directly. And this can be applied everywhere, not only in poor countries. To educate women rather than man may be more important because women, in general, are more worried about their community and family. They tend to apply their knowledge in their own houses, own communities, instead of using it as a mean to go somewhere else. I think the benefit of employing unqualified staff is the opportunity of building knowledge together. School becomes an enriching experience not only for children, but also for the teachers. They will improve and see the value of their knowledge – which is unvalued in the academic society. Therefore, they will also have more security about what they know and what they can build with it.

Bunker Roy: Learning from a barefoot movement

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