Barefoot Education -- Meri OBARA

 What impressed me?

• Learning in a sustainable environment

• Learning beyond the language barrier

• Learning that gives back to individuals and society

• Learning empowers women and helps them escape poverty

  I’m interested in environmental issues. So, I thought that learning about solar panels, which are a sustainable solution, was very meaningful. I simply felt it was cool. I was also impressed that the campus itself was a sustainable building. When I knew that Barefoot College consists of students from different countries, I was surprised that the students could learn even though they didn't share a common language. I also felt that learning is possible without a shared language. Additionally, I thought that Barefoot College’s learning is useful. The learners become able to use electricity. Moreover, using solar panels has a positive effect on society, such as reducing CO₂ emissions and avoiding air pollution. Besides, in villages where there are men as well, women becoming in charge of electricity strengthens their position, reduces exploitation, and enables them to escape from poverty. I was amazed by this "killing two birds with one stone" idea.

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What distressed me?

• Social inequality

• A society where the concept of "social hierarchy" still exists

  I felt a sense of dilemma from the clip because, while women who had attended Barefoot College in poor regions are making great efforts to use solar panels, developed countries including Japan continue to rely on fossil fuels for electricity generation. Also, even though these poor regions are not the ones emitting a lot of CO₂ and are using renewable energy, they are the ones more affected by climate change. —This is unfair, isn’t it? Furthermore, I was shocked and surprised when I heard the phrase "Bottom of the Pyramid" in the clip. I didn't expect that the concept of social hierarchy still exists in India. Of course, the Gandhi Principle is important for ensuring that no one is left behind, the reality was surprising.

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What do I think is the key to an education that makes a positive difference in and to the world?

• Practicality

• Experience-based learning

• Teachers as “accompanying guides” rather than instructors

  I think the above three approaches are the key to an education. Firstly, practical learning might not only increase students’ motivation but also contribute directly to their lives and society. Secondly, when people experience something directly, it becomes personal. So, that might promote active and self-motivated learning. Also, knowledge gained through experience stays in the brain as lifelong knowledge. Thirdly, teachers acting as guides can support the development of students’ thinking skills and problem-solving abilities.

  I attended a junior and senior high school that focused on these three keys to education for six years. Through school life, I discovered my interests, and now I can continue to learn actively and independently. From both the clip and my own experience, I believe that these educational approaches have a positive impact on society.
  
  

  
  Barefoot College International HP
  (https://www.barefootcollege.org/why-i-walk-barefoot-2/)