#8 Barefoot College

After conducting a survey of water supplies in 100 drought prone areas, Roy established the Social Work and Research Centre in 1972. It is now widely known as the Barefoot College, and it is grown into a voluntary organization working in the fields of education, skill development, health, drinking water, women empowerment and electrification through solar power for the upliftment of rural people. Its Night Schools allows students to support their families during the day and still receive training in night. The organization has utilized a system of training the trainers to bring skills training to villages.

Barefoot College gives women in underdeveloped communities a job and a technical education while saving the environment. Women from underdeveloped villages, many of which don't have electricity, are taught to become solar engineers by Barefoot College staff. These women then can electrify their villages with panels, cookers, solar lanterns and more. They can also sell the devices they make to others in the village.

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