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An Indian organization, the Barefoot College, has won this year's
$1 million Alcan Prize for Sustainability. The prize annually
recognizes NGOs, not-for-profit, and civil society organizations
working to build sustainable societies around the world.
The Barefoot College, set up in 1972, works with India’s poorest people to tackle problems surrounding drinking water, female education, health and sanitation, rural unemployment, income generation, electricity and power, as well as social awareness and the conservation of ecological systems in rural communities.
Located in Tilonia in India’s northwest Rajasthan state, it was selected from a field of almost 200 entries from 55 countries around the world by an international adjudication panel of experts on sustainability.
Alcan said the college 'has created an inspirational ripple effect in rural India and communities in other countries through its innovative work in demonstrating how empowerment, grass roots technology and education enables people to promote sustainable communities'.
Four Indian organizations, including the college, were on the shortlist of ten candidates for this year’s prize. The other three were the Energy and Resources Institute, International Development Enterprises and the Naandi Foundation.
Alcan, the international metals, mining, power generation and packaging group, gives the prize to recognize outstanding contributions to economic, environmental and social sustainability by non-profit, non-governmental and civil society organizations. The International Business Leaders’ Forum makes the assessments without Alcan’s involvement to ensure credibility and objectivity.
As well as awarding the $1m prize, the judges also select up to four recipients of Alcan grants, worth $15,000 each, enabling representatives of the organizations to earn postgraduate certificates in cross-sector partnership from the UK’s Cambridge University. The Naandi Foundation was one of the four.
The Barefoot College, set up in 1972, works with India’s poorest people to tackle problems surrounding drinking water, female education, health and sanitation, rural unemployment, income generation, electricity and power, as well as social awareness and the conservation of ecological systems in rural communities.
Located in Tilonia in India’s northwest Rajasthan state, it was selected from a field of almost 200 entries from 55 countries around the world by an international adjudication panel of experts on sustainability.
Alcan said the college 'has created an inspirational ripple effect in rural India and communities in other countries through its innovative work in demonstrating how empowerment, grass roots technology and education enables people to promote sustainable communities'.
Four Indian organizations, including the college, were on the shortlist of ten candidates for this year’s prize. The other three were the Energy and Resources Institute, International Development Enterprises and the Naandi Foundation.
Alcan, the international metals, mining, power generation and packaging group, gives the prize to recognize outstanding contributions to economic, environmental and social sustainability by non-profit, non-governmental and civil society organizations. The International Business Leaders’ Forum makes the assessments without Alcan’s involvement to ensure credibility and objectivity.
As well as awarding the $1m prize, the judges also select up to four recipients of Alcan grants, worth $15,000 each, enabling representatives of the organizations to earn postgraduate certificates in cross-sector partnership from the UK’s Cambridge University. The Naandi Foundation was one of the four.
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