[Music] whether you thing is the power of a
whether you thing is the power of a
whether you thing is the power of a simple light for people living in
simple light for people living in
simple light for people living in complete darkness the power of light is
complete darkness the power of light is
complete darkness the power of light is immense 1.2 billion people around the
immense 1.2 billion people around the
immense 1.2 billion people around the world still do not have access to
world still do not have access to
world still do not have access to electricity even today 95% of these
electricity even today 95% of these
electricity even today 95% of these people live in rural locations and 80
people live in rural locations and 80
people live in rural locations and 80 percent of them in sub-saharan Africa
percent of them in sub-saharan Africa
percent of them in sub-saharan Africa and in developing Asia I want to talk
and in developing Asia I want to talk
and in developing Asia I want to talk about the life of Maria so Maria is a
about the life of Maria so Maria is a
about the life of Maria so Maria is a village schoolteacher
village schoolteacher
village schoolteacher when I first met her in 2004 she was
when I first met her in 2004 she was
when I first met her in 2004 she was dropped in bonded labor and was really
dropped in bonded labor and was really
dropped in bonded labor and was really looking for help to come out of that
looking for help to come out of that
looking for help to come out of that cycle in 2008 we heard from our friends
cycle in 2008 we heard from our friends
cycle in 2008 we heard from our friends that she no longer was a bonded labourer
that she no longer was a bonded labourer
that she no longer was a bonded labourer but schoolteacher who had managed to
but schoolteacher who had managed to
but schoolteacher who had managed to start a little school for the people in
start a little school for the people in
start a little school for the people in the community in 2014 when I met her in
the community in 2014 when I met her in
the community in 2014 when I met her in person again she talked about how the
person again she talked about how the
person again she talked about how the community still lacked access to
community still lacked access to
community still lacked access to infrastructure they had no access to
infrastructure they had no access to
infrastructure they had no access to electricity no access to water no access
electricity no access to water no access
electricity no access to water no access to sanitation at this point we had to
to sanitation at this point we had to
to sanitation at this point we had to change something for her the problem got
change something for her the problem got
change something for her the problem got worse for her every year during the
worse for her every year during the
worse for her every year during the rainy season during the flood season she
rainy season during the flood season she
rainy season during the flood season she has left with no access to water to
has left with no access to water to
has left with no access to water to electricity again because all the local
electricity again because all the local
electricity again because all the local resources are washed away due in 2014
resources are washed away due in 2014
resources are washed away due in 2014 she talked about how she had no access
she talked about how she had no access
she talked about how she had no access to electricity in those areas we had to
to electricity in those areas we had to
to electricity in those areas we had to change it for Maria at this point so we
change it for Maria at this point so we
change it for Maria at this point so we went into the communities and talked to
went into the communities and talked to
went into the communities and talked to her how we could truly help her she was
her how we could truly help her she was
her how we could truly help her she was a truly amazing woman she was able to
a truly amazing woman she was able to
a truly amazing woman she was able to bring village schools together set up
bring village schools together set up
bring village schools together set up hospitals for the kids
hospitals for the kids
hospitals for the kids and bring those community kids into
and bring those community kids into
and bring those community kids into education
education
education now she started working with the kids to
now she started working with the kids to
now she started working with the kids to be able to go to school and help rebuild
be able to go to school and help rebuild
be able to go to school and help rebuild their shelter maria is an incredible
their shelter maria is an incredible
their shelter maria is an incredible woman it is and it is her journey that
woman it is and it is her journey that
woman it is and it is her journey that has inspired me to go this far while
has inspired me to go this far while
has inspired me to go this far while Maria grew up in rural India I grew up
Maria grew up in rural India I grew up
Maria grew up in rural India I grew up in the city of Bangalore after I
in the city of Bangalore after I
in the city of Bangalore after I finished my education in Bangalore I
finished my education in Bangalore I
finished my education in Bangalore I moved to Madras to do my Electrical
moved to Madras to do my Electrical
moved to Madras to do my Electrical Engineering at Indian Institute of
Engineering at Indian Institute of
Engineering at Indian Institute of Technology
Technology
Technology after I finished a few years in India I
after I finished a few years in India I
after I finished a few years in India I moved to the US to become a computer
moved to the US to become a computer
moved to the US to become a computer architect while my professional career
architect while my professional career
architect while my professional career kept me truly inspired and motivated I
kept me truly inspired and motivated I
kept me truly inspired and motivated I was always looking for a way to give
was always looking for a way to give
was always looking for a way to give back I wanted to do something for the
back I wanted to do something for the
back I wanted to do something for the people in the rural areas not only in
people in the rural areas not only in
people in the rural areas not only in India but for people in other parts of
India but for people in other parts of
India but for people in other parts of the world too I started with a simple
the world too I started with a simple
the world too I started with a simple marathon to fundraise then I did a full
marathon to fundraise then I did a full
marathon to fundraise then I did a full marathon ultra marathon and a 50-miler
marathon ultra marathon and a 50-miler
marathon ultra marathon and a 50-miler all of it to fundraise for projects in
all of it to fundraise for projects in
all of it to fundraise for projects in India there were two projects that I was
India there were two projects that I was
India there were two projects that I was really passionate about one was helping
really passionate about one was helping
really passionate about one was helping model labourers to come out of the cycle
model labourers to come out of the cycle
model labourers to come out of the cycle of bonded labor and second is setting up
of bonded labor and second is setting up
of bonded labor and second is setting up an organic farm for people in rural
an organic farm for people in rural
an organic farm for people in rural communities the farmers cannot be
communities the farmers cannot be
communities the farmers cannot be expected to change into an organic
expected to change into an organic
expected to change into an organic farmer if he does not have the basic
farmer if he does not have the basic
farmer if he does not have the basic infrastructure when we talk to the women
infrastructure when we talk to the women
infrastructure when we talk to the women they constantly talked about how they
they constantly talked about how they
they constantly talked about how they were living in atrocious living
were living in atrocious living
were living in atrocious living conditions they were paying off for the
conditions they were paying off for the
conditions they were paying off for the debt that their parents had borrowed the
debt that their parents had borrowed the
debt that their parents had borrowed the women talked about how they had to go
women talked about how they had to go
women talked about how they had to go back into the communities work in the
back into the communities work in the
back into the communities work in the rice mills two hours after they
rice mills two hours after they
rice mills two hours after they delivered the babies leading to number
delivered the babies leading to number
delivered the babies leading to number of deaths in the community they also
of deaths in the community they also
of deaths in the community they also talked about how every day they would
talked about how every day they would
talked about how every day they would get raped in the night I grew up in
get raped in the night I grew up in
get raped in the night I grew up in urban city of Bangalore and I myself
urban city of Bangalore and I myself
urban city of Bangalore and I myself faced issues with safety and have been
faced issues with safety and have been
faced issues with safety and have been in really vulnerable situations if I who
in really vulnerable situations if I who
in really vulnerable situations if I who grew up in herb
grew up in herb
grew up in herb India face this imagine how much worse
India face this imagine how much worse
India face this imagine how much worse it would have been familiar at this
it would have been familiar at this
it would have been familiar at this point I had to stop and ask myself a
point I had to stop and ask myself a
point I had to stop and ask myself a question what can I do for Maria what is
question what can I do for Maria what is
question what can I do for Maria what is the powerful tool that I can put into
the powerful tool that I can put into
the powerful tool that I can put into the hands of Maria so that she not only
the hands of Maria so that she not only
the hands of Maria so that she not only changes herself but she’s able to be the
changes herself but she’s able to be the
changes herself but she’s able to be the force of power for women in the
force of power for women in the
force of power for women in the community I wanted to be part of the
community I wanted to be part of the
community I wanted to be part of the solution at this point I wanted to start
solution at this point I wanted to start
solution at this point I wanted to start a social enterprise which provided two
a social enterprise which provided two
a social enterprise which provided two solutions one more opportunity for women
solutions one more opportunity for women
solutions one more opportunity for women in the community and second is
in the community and second is
in the community and second is technology solutions which can improve
technology solutions which can improve
technology solutions which can improve the life of people in these communities
the life of people in these communities
the life of people in these communities at this point I decided to go to Babson
at this point I decided to go to Babson
at this point I decided to go to Babson College to do my MBA while in Babson
College to do my MBA while in Babson
College to do my MBA while in Babson College I was a part of an incubator
College I was a part of an incubator
College I was a part of an incubator called as the wind lab which is the old
called as the wind lab which is the old
called as the wind lab which is the old women’s accelerator and I met my
women’s accelerator and I met my
women’s accelerator and I met my co-founder Sharon hunt the old women
co-founder Sharon hunt the old women
co-founder Sharon hunt the old women accelerator provided the right ecosystem
accelerator provided the right ecosystem
accelerator provided the right ecosystem for me to be able to take the problem
for me to be able to take the problem
for me to be able to take the problem that I had seen Maria facing and find
that I had seen Maria facing and find
that I had seen Maria facing and find solution for other women like Maria who
solution for other women like Maria who
solution for other women like Maria who were ambitious and wanted to be the
were ambitious and wanted to be the
were ambitious and wanted to be the positive change in their community I
positive change in their community I
positive change in their community I wanted to give them more opportunity
wanted to give them more opportunity
wanted to give them more opportunity means and guidance so that they can take
means and guidance so that they can take
means and guidance so that they can take that simple changes that they are doing
that simple changes that they are doing
that simple changes that they are doing in their community to larger impacts at
in their community to larger impacts at
in their community to larger impacts at this point I decided to give a clean
this point I decided to give a clean
this point I decided to give a clean solution which should handle all these
solution which should handle all these
solution which should handle all these issues as an engineer my solution was
issues as an engineer my solution was
issues as an engineer my solution was renewable energy I took five big steps
renewable energy I took five big steps
renewable energy I took five big steps in this direction first was safety of
in this direction first was safety of
in this direction first was safety of women in the community we gave them
women in the community we gave them
women in the community we gave them simple solar lanterns to do this change
simple solar lanterns to do this change
simple solar lanterns to do this change that you see here once these solar
that you see here once these solar
that you see here once these solar lanterns were given to them
lanterns were given to them
lanterns were given to them we call them three months later and ask
we call them three months later and ask
we call them three months later and ask them what do you think is the effect of
them what do you think is the effect of
them what do you think is the effect of these lights in your community and they
these lights in your community and they
these lights in your community and they were like
were like
were like for three months a man has not touched
for three months a man has not touched
for three months a man has not touched me you have actually returned my dignity
me you have actually returned my dignity
me you have actually returned my dignity back to me we knew that there was a
back to me we knew that there was a
back to me we knew that there was a change here that we can make for the
change here that we can make for the
change here that we can make for the rest of the women but he came back to us
rest of the women but he came back to us
rest of the women but he came back to us and said I want to take the solution to
and said I want to take the solution to
and said I want to take the solution to sixty other women and 60 other villages
sixty other women and 60 other villages
sixty other women and 60 other villages she wanted to do it for 60 villages
she wanted to do it for 60 villages
she wanted to do it for 60 villages which means we had to train Maria we had
which means we had to train Maria we had
which means we had to train Maria we had to teach it about human rights and solar
to teach it about human rights and solar
to teach it about human rights and solar power cultural barrier is one of the
power cultural barrier is one of the
power cultural barrier is one of the biggest of the obstacles that women face
biggest of the obstacles that women face
biggest of the obstacles that women face in poverty alleviation and in bringing
in poverty alleviation and in bringing
in poverty alleviation and in bringing electricity into their communities we
electricity into their communities we
electricity into their communities we gave her activity-based soft skill
gave her activity-based soft skill
gave her activity-based soft skill training with the help of community
training with the help of community
training with the help of community leaders in that area which helped her
leaders in that area which helped her
leaders in that area which helped her break down the constraints she was
break down the constraints she was
break down the constraints she was facing and take the solution to become a
facing and take the solution to become a
facing and take the solution to become a decision maker and a leader in her
decision maker and a leader in her
decision maker and a leader in her community now that these renewable
community now that these renewable
community now that these renewable energy lamps were given to them it was
energy lamps were given to them it was
energy lamps were given to them it was not only bringing light into the global
not only bringing light into the global
not only bringing light into the global population but also bringing solar power
population but also bringing solar power
population but also bringing solar power into the whole community and women power
into the whole community and women power
into the whole community and women power creating positive impact once Maria had
creating positive impact once Maria had
creating positive impact once Maria had these tools she said let me act so we
these tools she said let me act so we
these tools she said let me act so we gave her a small 150 dollar fund to act
gave her a small 150 dollar fund to act
gave her a small 150 dollar fund to act on it providing money and funding is
on it providing money and funding is
on it providing money and funding is very critical to women entrepreneurs
very critical to women entrepreneurs
very critical to women entrepreneurs these lamps that the community saw is
these lamps that the community saw is
these lamps that the community saw is not for personal use alone they’re also
not for personal use alone they’re also
not for personal use alone they’re also for creating businesses this women spent
for creating businesses this women spent
for creating businesses this women spent in sold solar lamp into the neighboring
in sold solar lamp into the neighboring
in sold solar lamp into the neighboring community and made some money out of it
community and made some money out of it
community and made some money out of it once the women started making money they
once the women started making money they
once the women started making money they become decision-makers in their home
become decision-makers in their home
become decision-makers in their home particularly if they are earning a
particularly if they are earning a
particularly if they are earning a little more money than their husbands
little more money than their husbands
little more money than their husbands now we are talking about a level playing
now we are talking about a level playing
now we are talking about a level playing ground for women but he was very happy
ground for women but he was very happy
ground for women but he was very happy till December that here the floods hit
till December that here the floods hit
till December that here the floods hit the community again we had to find a
the community again we had to find a
the community again we had to find a long-term solution for Maria so Y we sat
long-term solution for Maria so Y we sat
long-term solution for Maria so Y we sat down with the community leaders and came
down with the community leaders and came
down with the community leaders and came up with the concept of low cost
up with the concept of low cost
up with the concept of low cost housing for these women the community
housing for these women the community
housing for these women the community had a lot of talent within within them
had a lot of talent within within them
had a lot of talent within within them once we brought the community leaders
once we brought the community leaders
once we brought the community leaders some of the experts from the neighboring
some of the experts from the neighboring
some of the experts from the neighboring University architects from India and
University architects from India and
University architects from India and Mexico together they came up with a
Mexico together they came up with a
Mexico together they came up with a really clean solution to take care of
really clean solution to take care of
really clean solution to take care of their personal needs in the village it
their personal needs in the village it
their personal needs in the village it was really beautiful to see these people
was really beautiful to see these people
was really beautiful to see these people come together and rebuild their whole
come together and rebuild their whole
come together and rebuild their whole village after the homes we built we
village after the homes we built we
village after the homes we built we bought expert electrical engineers like
bought expert electrical engineers like
bought expert electrical engineers like Sir Allah who taught the other women
Sir Allah who taught the other women
Sir Allah who taught the other women about solar powering the homes the solar
about solar powering the homes the solar
about solar powering the homes the solar power help them provide lighting air
power help them provide lighting air
power help them provide lighting air circulation television and cell phone
circulation television and cell phone
circulation television and cell phone charging December in 2016 we got a call
charging December in 2016 we got a call
charging December in 2016 we got a call again at 5:00 in the morning and said
again at 5:00 in the morning and said
again at 5:00 in the morning and said where the people told us that these were
where the people told us that these were
where the people told us that these were the only homes that had electricity in
the only homes that had electricity in
the only homes that had electricity in that neighborhood for three weeks when
that neighborhood for three weeks when
that neighborhood for three weeks when the National Power had come down we had
the National Power had come down we had
the National Power had come down we had really created a change and these people
really created a change and these people
really created a change and these people felt like rockstars
felt like rockstars
felt like rockstars Marina was not alone in this process
Marina was not alone in this process
Marina was not alone in this process Marina had many people help her out she
Marina had many people help her out she
Marina had many people help her out she had women from six different countries
had women from six different countries
had women from six different countries working on that project at times at the
working on that project at times at the
working on that project at times at the same time she had help from community
same time she had help from community
same time she had help from community leaders like Sudama my family was able
leaders like Sudama my family was able
leaders like Sudama my family was able to support me in rebuilding this village
to support me in rebuilding this village
to support me in rebuilding this village we had experts in the area in civil
we had experts in the area in civil
we had experts in the area in civil engineering like Indian Institute of
engineering like Indian Institute of
engineering like Indian Institute of Technology we work with us and women
Technology we work with us and women
Technology we work with us and women from six different countries which came
from six different countries which came
from six different countries which came down to work with us there’s a truly
down to work with us there’s a truly
down to work with us there’s a truly memorable experience to see these rural
memorable experience to see these rural
memorable experience to see these rural women work empower themselves and see a
women work empower themselves and see a
women work empower themselves and see a change educating and empowering women is
change educating and empowering women is
change educating and empowering women is truly critical for women’s participation
truly critical for women’s participation
truly critical for women’s participation in leadership of climate change it is
in leadership of climate change it is
in leadership of climate change it is not enough to sit down at a table and
not enough to sit down at a table and
not enough to sit down at a table and make decisions and hope that these
make decisions and hope that these
make decisions and hope that these changes will trickle down to the
changes will trickle down to the
changes will trickle down to the grassroots I truly believe we must
grassroots I truly believe we must
grassroots I truly believe we must empower women like Maria to act to
empower women like Maria to act to
empower women like Maria to act to become decision decision-makers not only
become decision decision-makers not only
become decision decision-makers not only in their homes but also in the community
in their homes but also in the community
in their homes but also in the community and
and
and action and what we have started here is
action and what we have started here is
action and what we have started here is to build a global community of women
to build a global community of women
to build a global community of women working together to achieve that we have
working together to achieve that we have
working together to achieve that we have here an opportunity to take the problem
here an opportunity to take the problem
here an opportunity to take the problem of energy poverty and convert it into an
of energy poverty and convert it into an
of energy poverty and convert it into an entrepreneurial opportunity for women
entrepreneurial opportunity for women
entrepreneurial opportunity for women across the world for me the journey
across the world for me the journey
across the world for me the journey started with Maria who is that going to
started with Maria who is that going to
started with Maria who is that going to be for all of you
be for all of you
be for all of you [Applause]
”
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