We were two people, Ashutosh and I, reached to Hubli on 19th of June for our Social entrepreneurship fellowship program at BVB engineering college. The Fellowship was given by Deshpande foundation.
I and Ashutosh met in the interview conducted by Mr. Naveen Jha, who is executive director for the fellowship program at Deshpande foundation. Interview was conducted at Delhi and Ashutosh came for an interview from Lukhnow, and I was from Delhi. The fellowship program exited us but we have to wait for a month long for the result of our selection. We were making lots of plan and kept interacting on phone to each other.
Finally, we received a call from the foundation of our selection. The foundation has received 200 applications from all over India and out of that they have shortlisted 60 applicants for an interview. 27 people selected for the fellowship out of 60 applicants. We have to stay during the fellowship program at Hubli for next six month in Sandbox. All selected fellows reached on 23 June 2008. This was the first batch got selected by the foundation for the fellowship. Two of the fellows dropped fellowship program and requested to join next batch due to their personal reasons. Each candidate has got scheduled for a week, in which everyone’s biography, policy of the organization, details of the social entrepreneurships programs was attached. Along with fellowship program there was some innovator and the people came from the USA as global exchange program. They have to work with the various partner organizations of the Deshpande foundation for year at Hubli. So, the orientation program jointly scheduled from the 23rd of June.
Everyone has their own dreams and expectations from the program. Each individual wanted to achieve success as social entrepreneur at the end of the course. The first task for fellows was to create a poster by using photographs, drawings, etc. We all have to present our work, done in the past. There were sessions of interaction, ice breaking with both sandbox fellows and for the sandbox exchange program. The barriers of language, beliefs, uncomfertness etc., were broken in the orientation sessions
The group has visited some of the organizations. They are Akshay patra, BAIF, Mann Deshi Udogini and Agastya foundation. Each organization was doing so well and unique work that it’s difficult to say whose work is better and whose is best.
Akshay Patra is involved with school children to serve the hot food as their mid-day meal. They are serving 1 lakh 80 thousands children of different government school in Hubli-Dharwad.
The process of food making is based on gravity technology and because of that the process of food preparation is done in 45 minutes in one go. They cook food almost about 13 to 14 tons everyday and they cover 45 miles every day to deliver the hot mid-day meal to the respective school. They have received the ISO certificate for their food quality. It is famous as largest kitchen in the world.
Akshay patra was started in year 2000 and serving hot mid-day meal to 1500 children in Bangalore with small kitchen using traditional medium of cooking. The cost of per child meal is Rs.6/- per day and every day menu is different which is delivered to children by Akshay Patra. At present they are also planning to replicate the idea to other Indian states too.
After having hot, delicious breakfast which was served by Akshay Patra we all moved to our next destination organization which was working in different villages in Hubli-Dharwad area with the farmers and that is BAIF – Bhartiya Agro Industries Foundation. Dr. Mani Bhai Desai was the founder of the organization. The foundation of the organization was laid by the former president of India Dr. Zakir Hussain. BAIF works in 14 Indian states and 29 district of Karnataka.
Mann Deshi Udhyogini was the next organization where group of fellows visited. This Organization is looking after by women. The organization branch was established in 8 month back in Hubli and its main branch exists in Pune (Maharashtra). They have got bus also, which goes to various villages for a month on regular basis. They give training to girls on basic computer operation, stitching and tailoring. The bus was equipped with the laptops and tailoring machines. They also provide loans to the women who are into small business like vegetable and fruits selling, Women who needs help to start new business, for education, etc. these all things is managed by women’s of this organization.
Our Next Destination was Agastya Foundation. As we have entered into the room of the foundation building, we have seen children were involved with the educator, where educator was explaining the concept of air flow through various examples. It was very interesting to saw that, the children were not felt disturbance by the visitors of our group of 50 people.
It’s one organization; I found that has created a platform to understand the science through fun learning and participation. I have noticed children were enjoying and able to understand the concept of science through fun learning. Any magician who does his magic show is based on the science and many children who lives in the villages of Hubli-Dharwad are aware about science behind magic, through the outreach program conducted by Agastya foundation. For outreach program they have also got equipped bus, which goes village to village and conduct show and involve children to understand the concept of science through fun learning.
The week was ended with wonderful experiences, learning and unforgettable memories that one can’t forget this, through out of his life.
