New Delhi, 28 March 2015 – The Philippine Embassy in New Delhi organized a film showing for the 2015 International Women’s Day celebration on 28 March 2015.

The film “Six Months with the Barefoot Grandmamas” by Yasmin Kidwai won Best Documentary at the 2013 Zanzibar International Film Festival.  It follows the story of the 2011 batch of African women as they live and learn together for six months at the Barefoot College in Ajmer, Rajasthan without knowing each other’s language but sharing a unifying goal of becoming solar engineers and bring light to their villages without electricity.

Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Fernando V. Beup, Jr. gave the opening remarks to the ladies of the Filipino community associations, Filipinos in India Community (FIC) and Kapisanan ng mga Pinay na may Asawang Indiano sa Hindustan (KAPIHAN).  CDA Beup highlighted the importance of having the will to learn, just like the women in the documentary.  Their illiteracy did not hinder them from wanting to become solar engineers for at the end of their six-month course at Barefoot College, they could efficiently produce, maintain and repair solar panels and solar-powered lamps.

The film was received positively by the audience who commented that it was an inspirational story that must be spread to others and receive government support to help develop far-flung villages.

The film screening was followed by the presentation of certificates of appreciation to the representatives of the associations and a simple merienda.

The Barefoot College was founded in 1972 by Mr. Sanjit “Bunker” Roy to teach rural people sustainable skills through grass-roots social entrepreneurship.  Recognizing Roy’s work, Time magazine named him one of its 2010 “Time 100” most influential people.

A group of seven Filipina women from Abra, Tarlac, Kalinga, Subic, Cebu and Tacloban participated in the Barefoot College course from September 2014 to March 2015.  They were received with great interest by media and NGOs upon their return to the Philippines on 16 March 2015.