He also took part in the Masarang Foundation, a social enterprise that uses thermal energy to turn sugar palm juice into sugar and ethanol. This provided people with work and it also helped in conserving forests. Smits has received knighthood in his native Netherlands and also an Ashoka Fellowship for his services.

Bunker Roy

Founder of the Barefoot College

Sanjit ‘Bunker’ Roy is an Indian social activist and an entrepreneur who helped thousands of people in Asia and Africa to learn vital technical skills and bring solar power to their remote villages. His organization ‘Barefoot College’ specializes in teaching illiterate women from poor villages to become doctor and engineers. The most attractive part of this organization is, it is completely solar powered and often designed by former students. His goal was to develop the skills of rural women and this act has also reached few African countries. Today, women run most of the Barefoot College’s operations and the signs are – He’s been quite successful in achieving the goal.