Can A Grandmother From A Hunter Gathering Tribe Become A Solar Engineer?

We’re all looking for stories of hope – that the world can be changed, that we are not limited by our culture, our backgrounds, our histories – and few stories are as inspirational as that of Lucy Naipanoi, a grandmother of Maasai, one of the last hunter gatherer tribes left on the planet. With the help of her children, and the wonderful people at Barefoot College, Lucy has become the Solar Mamma of her tribe, bringing light and energy to hers and her neighbours’ households so that they and their children can adapt and thrive in an ever changing world, and retain their respect for mother nature by adopting sustainable practices from the outset of their development.


Dishonoured through injury by the traditions of her people, and abandoned by her husband, she fought to make a living for her children through hard work in generating any value for those around her that she could. She fought to put her children through schooling, and in return, they taught her the English they were learning so that she could better trade at the marketplace and ultimately preparing her for her studies at Barefoot College in India. There are truly no limits to what we can make out of ourselves.


For more information on Lucie’s journey visit our dear friends on their facebook: The Barefoot College.

Leave a Comment