6th National Social Enterprise Idea Challenge By Azim Premji University Won By Students of PES University, B'lore

Students of PES University, Bangalore won the 6th edition of Azim Premji University’s National Level Social Enterprise Idea challenge organized at University Campus, Bengaluru

The Social Enterprise Cell of Azim Premji University organizes the Idea Challenge event every year with a purpose to provide students of Colleges and Universities across India an opportunity to explore social entrepreneurship and share their innovative social impact ideas in a rigorous and competitive manner. The event also acts as a great networking platform for young minds to meet each other, exchange thoughts and showcase their talent and skills to some of the early stage mentors and funders.

In the 6 year of the event, more than 100 teams participated and submitted their innovative social impact models in the first round. The submissions were broadly in the domains of education, livelihood, health, sustainability and governance. 16 teams were shortlisted for the finale round which was held in the University campus on 30th April Saturday.

The jury members for the event were 1) Dr. Gayathri Vasudevan, Executive Chairperson, LabourNet 2) Dr.Suresh Nair, Chief Technology Advisor, Foundation for Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship, an initiative of Tata Trust and 3) Dr. Richa Govil, Director, School of Development, Azim Premji University.

Team Sitara from PES University, Bangalore won the 1st Prize in the 6th National Idea Challenge event

Team Members: 1. Shriya Shankar 2. Srushti Jayaraman 3. Ananya V

Summary of the Idea: Sitara is proposed to be a for-purpose nonprofit organization working towards helping children from underserved communities become self-sufficient, through an equitable education. They want to leverage their processes through YouTube and WhatsApp, and use the power of local language communication, to bring about improved learning outcomes in the children.

The 2nd Prize went to Team Abyaan from College of Vocational Studies, Delhi university

1ST RUNNER UP

Team Members: 1. Riddhi Oberoi 2. Shrutika Gambhir 3. Arsh Bhatia 4. Pranav Hoon

Summary of the Idea: Project Abyaan aims to address the problem of disposal of Used Cooking Oil 
(UCO), which usually ends up blocking drainage pipes or sewers, contaminating landfills leading to soil pollution. They aim to use this to make soaps and other products.

3rd Prize went to Team Khwab from Ramjas College, Delhi

2ND RUNNER UP

Team Members: 1. Manya Vats 2. Vanshikha Gourisaria

Summary of the Idea: Khwab aims to fight the menace of plastic pollution and unsustainable consumption. They create a range of sustainable products for personal care, substantially reducing non-biodegradable waste. They make “zero-waste” alternatives to everyday alternatives like shampoo, deodorants, etc.

Nazrul Haque, Mentor for the Social Enterprise Cell at Azim Premji University noted that "It is always encouraging to see that young students are disturbed by social issues around them and are not only complaining but actively thinking how can they contribute towards solutions. In the last 5 years, the Idea challenge event has become a brand name in the social enterprise ecosystem."

Out of the 18 winning teams from the past 5 years, 11 have gone on to pursue their ideas after they completed their studies. The ones who do pursue the entrepreneurial journey benefit from the media coverage and the award resulting from the competition and most have gone on to receive additional financial or mentoring support from incubators and other organizations such as IIT Kanpur, IIM Bangalore, YCombinator etc.” 

Rotary Clubs in India and Tata Trusts to Collaborate on Multi-Thematic Interventions to Advance Socio-Economic Indicators Across India

Work in Healthcare, Cancer Care, Nutrition, Rural Uplift, Livelihoods, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene, and Education

Collaboration to supplement efforts towards strengthening the nation

Bengaluru, July 13, 2021: Rotary and Tata Trusts today announced a five-year collaboration to advance socio-economic indicators through multi-thematic interventions across India. The collaboration will scale efforts in multiple areas like Healthcare, Cancer Care, Covid Care, Nutrition, Rural Uplift, Livelihoods, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene and Education, among others.

The announcement follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed by Mr. Mehrab Irani, Group CFO, Tata Trusts, and Mr. Ashok Mahajan, Chairman, Rotary India Humanity Foundation (RIHF), in the presence of Rotary International’s President (2021-22), Mr. Shekhar Mehta, and Mr. N. Srinath, CEO, Tata Trusts, among other dignitaries on 17 June 2021.

Mr. Shekhar Mehta, Rotary International President (2021-2022), said, "Solving real problems takes real commitment and vision. Each year, Rotary members invest hundreds of millions of dollars and countless volunteer hours to promote health, peace and prosperity in communities across the globe. We are proud and privileged to partner with an organization that shares similar values and ethos to serve the world. The partnership between Rotary and Tata Trusts will focus on quality interventions for significant development across water and sanitation, health, education, Covid-19 relief, economic empowerment, and education with an added focus on women and children across India. Rotary has successfully worked in these focus areas before and with this partnership with Tata Trusts, we are excited to scale our impact and reach to communities in most need."

Mr. N. Srinath, Chief Executive Officer, Tata Trusts, said, “For Tata Trusts, it is a matter of great pride to be able to come together with Rotary in India. We share a common vision, value system, commitment to society and a common willingness to do better. Both of us are working in areas of national importance, particularly for citizens at the bottom of the pyramid.”

Since more than a century, Tata Trusts and Rotary have endeavoured to contribute to the larger goal of nation-building through multi-thematic programmes executed at scale in geographies that require immediate intervention. The interventions, designed with the communities, aim to enhance socio-economic welfare and aid the transition to more ecologically cohesive practices in a sustainable way.

Addressing all 17 SDGs of the United Nations, and in line with the Government of India’s vision, Rotary and Tata Trusts’ programmes are driven by their desire to create impact that is deep, wide and sustainable by strengthening communities through pointed interventions, supplemented by technology and data, relevant to their needs.

About Tata Trusts:

Since inception in 1892, Tata Trusts, India’s oldest philanthropic organisation, has played a pioneering role in bringing about an enduring difference in the lives of the communities it serves. Guided by the principles and the vision of proactive philanthropy of the Founder, Jamsetji Tata, the Trusts’ purpose is to catalyse development in the areas of health, nutrition, education, water, sanitation and hygiene, livelihood, digital transformation, migration and urban habitat, social justice and inclusion, environment and energy, skill development, sports, and arts and culture. The Trusts’ programmes, achieved through direct implementation, partnerships and grant making, are marked by innovations, relevant to the country. For more information, please visit http://tatatrusts.org/

About Rotary:

Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. We connect 1.2 million members from more than 36,000 Rotary clubs in almost every country in the world. Their service improves lives both locally and internationally, from helping those in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world.