Hunter women shine ‘solar’ light on education

A group of local businesswomen has joined forces to give impoverished women and children in India the right to education.

Friends of Barefoot College Australia (FBCA) was established by businesswoman, coach and media commentator Shivani Gupta, interior design and home stylist Louise Hatcher, App developer and businesswoman Sue Hart, communications specialist Melinda-Lee Harvey and journalist and communication professional Melinda Smith.

Shivani Gupta has been appointed the Australian ambassador. The Hunter-based group is part of a world-wide network of similar groups located in the USA, UK, Switzerland and the Middle East. 

FBCA is working to support the work of the Barefoot College located in Tilonia, India by sending funds that will provide education to women and their children. Their particular efforts will be allocated to the Solar Bridge School – a night school program powered by solar lanterns and lighting systems provided as a part of the Barefoot Solar Program that trains village grandmothers to be Solar Engineers. The night schools enable young girls who collect essential firewood, drinking water and tend to livestock during the day to attend classes in the evenings. 

“In rural India, 60-70% of children do not attend school. Most Solar Bridge School attendees are young girls whose educational pursuits were previously devalued or ignored entirely within their community. Girls who were destined to stay home during the day now thrive in a challenging and culturally rich night curriculum,” Ms Gupta said.

“The Australian group is the result of a trip that we did together last year to India. We returned with a committed passion to make a difference,” she said. “It takes only $100 AUD to cover a Solar Bridge night school student for their entire year’s education – that’s around 25 cups of coffee in Australia,” she said.