Saturday, April 28, 2007

Bunker Roy's Barefoot College

I would like to invite you to visit the web-site of the Barefoot College, founded by Sanjit "Bunker" Roy in 1972.

Bunker Roy, IMHO, is one of the original band of social entrepreneurs who started out
well before it became fashionable to run an NGO and certainly well before this terminology
was coined. He happens to be one of the most highly decorated social activists around.

I reproduce below an extract from the Barefoot College web-site:

"The Barefoot College is a place of learning and unlearning. It's a place where the teacher is the learner and the learner is the teacher. It's a place where NO degrees and certificates are given because in development there are no experts-only resource persons. It's a place where people are encouraged to make mistakes so that they can learn humility, curiosity, the courage to take risks, to innovate, to improvise and to constantly experiment. It's a place where all are treated as equals and there is no hierarchy."
His single-minded focus, honesty of purpose, deep personal sacrifice, and emphasis on transparency are all highly commendable and worthy of emulation. He has been able to build and nurture a sustainable organisation by involving the very people whom he has targeted, in the formation of the enterprise.

It would have been great if we could somehow have Bunker Roy over for a seminar at RDVP. Some other time, some other place, maybe we will.

Cheers,
Shashank

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