'Solar Mamas' graduate from Barefoot College
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 30 2024: The MaolKeki Foundation has announced the successful completion of three months of training for 18 women selected by the foundation from Noney, Tamenglong, Tengnoupal and Ukhrul districts of Manipur.

According to a release issued by MaolKeki Foundation, the women, now fully qualified as "Solar Mamas", were part of a contingent of 30 participants from Manipur with the other 12 participants coming from Churachandpur and Pherzawl districts.

The training in engineering and fabricating solar equipment and devices was organised by Barefoot College in Tilonia, Rajasthan, and funded by HDFC Bank as part of its CSR programme.

During the graduation ceremony organised today at Barefoot College, Heather Malcolm, CEO of Barefoot College UK who presided as the chief guest, congratulated the 30 women calling them "bringers of light" .

Padma Shree Awardee Bunker Roy, founder of Barefoot College, said he was glad the women from Manipur came all the way to Rajasthan to learn a technology that will be useful when they got back from Rajasthan.

The graduation ceremony was also attended by Dr Shachi Gurumayum, a trustee of the MaolKeki Foundation, who congratulated the Solar Mamas on the successfill completion of their training and urged them to start implementation as soon as they returned home to light up their respective villages and bring hope and prosperity to Manipur.

Demonstrations from the Solar Mamas of what they had learned in the three months and cultural performances highlighting the beautiful ethnic diversity of Manipur were the main highlights of the event.

The MaolKeki Foundation has extended its appreciation to Barefoot College for providing the unique opportunity to the women from Manipur and HDFC Bank for their generous funding of this first-of-a-kind programme in North-East India.

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