Bunker Roy: creator of the barefoot colleges
Good Day, God!
Thank You for people like Bunker Roy! As he tells it, he had graduated from prestigious schools in India and had the world open to him — when he decided to go and see what village life was like.
His mother said WHAT? The villagers said WHY? But out of his time in the village came the barefoot colleges— schools where illiterate women are taught to become solar engineers and more. Not only that, but these women (many or most of them grandmothers) go out to train other women to electrify their villages in India.
Grandmothers have gone to countries where there is no common language. But, by body language and sign language the women teach and learn. As Roy said about one of these women: “She left, a Grandmother. She returned, a Tiger!”
Bunker Roy with a puppet made out of recycled World Bank reports
Watching his TED Talk was a moving experience and I especially remember two comments. The first was that they found men to be untrainable for positions in the college. Men only wanted a certificate so they could go find work in the city.
The second comment was: “Our schools teach at the best time for the students — not the best time for the teachers.” And there was a photo of children who worked all day, learning at night.
But here is my real “takeaway,” God: What about America’s grandmothers?
Yikes! No sooner had I written that than I remembered the recent invitation that I turned down to help with my Rotary Club’s literacy program! Oh Dear! Oh Drat! I am tempted to call back and sign up. Yes, God, I had better pray about what THIS grandmother could be doing.
Story teller,
A Moment with God 
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