Idea Contest on "Youth for Social Entrepreneurship"

Submitted for:"Idea Contest" on "Youth for Social Entrepreneurship", to be organized as a part of the National Youth Conference at G. B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar from 12th to 15th January 2014.

Submitted by:Shri Gopal Krishna SharmaLecturer, Computer Science DepartmentDev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, Gayatrikunj-ShantikunjHaridwar - 249411 (Uttarakhand)Ph: 9258360858 Email: gopalkrishnasharma@outlook.com

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Youth for Social Entrepreneurship

Youthfulness ensures the presence of vigour, passion, fervour and endeavours towards contributing for the development of others along with mere oneself. India is the youngest country in the world having larger potency for providing solutions to widespread canvas of society. Society confronts many questioning fronts and complaints. Out of the crowd, Youth is one who ensures, by saying the following - I am the solution; Developing inner potentials by identifying, exploring and calibrating self in order to excel at personal level to move a leap ahead towards the will to work for the society.

Future of a nation gets shaped in classrooms. Education is the medium through which major changes in society can be brought. The sprouting young mind is the fertile land on which the seed once sown paves the way on which the society moves on. Present definition of value only signifies money matters and material prosperity as a progressing index. It must be brought to its original meaning of inculcation of good qualities and virtues in individuals which could further lead to moral conduct. Value addition in education is the mode through which the welfare thought can be deep rooted as a way of better exploring the self. Education at various levels starting from schooling till university degree courses can be made an effective means to inculcate moral values among youngsters.

There is a need for an educational institution which can mold its students into noble, enlightened, selfless, warm-hearted, compassionate and kind human beings.

An educational setup is needed, which has a mission for inspiring the leaders of tomorrow to be compassionate, just and kind. It focuses on uniting contemporary education with spiritual training to cultivated holistically developed, competent and personally uplifted graduates who have a science based understanding and experience of spiritual transformation and a powerful drive to use their gifts to promote the greater good of society. To do this, a unique blend of modern research and pedagogy with a broad spectrum of ancient Indian practices for raising the level of consciousness and character development is needed. Development of culture and commitment is the prime focus and competency development is the by product.

Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya (DSVV) is a unique University that is focused on inculcating divine virtues in human beings. It is an outcome of the divine vision of noted saint-scholar-philosopher

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Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya (1911-1990), the founder of All World Gayatri Pariwar (www.awgp.org). Acharyashri had great expectations from the youth. He used to say with extreme confidence that if the consciousness of the youth could be enlightened, we would readily usher in the new era of peace and harmony. He had envisioned a University where holistically developed, truthful and divine human beings could be created who would be devoted to uplifting the humanity and creating a value based society; a University that would combine the precepts of practical knowledge (shiksha) and righteous spiritual education (vidya) to create enlightened human beings. In this University, the students would have the benefits of both the state-of-the-art facilities and the wisdom of ancient traditional practices. In order to fulfil this vision, DSVV has been established at Haridwar. This University is continuously creating torchbearers for the Cultural Renaissance of the world. Promoting and inculcating social entrepreneurship among youths is the way through which the untapped energy of youths can be better channelized, and a practical demonstration of this can be seen at DSVV.

Now let us look at the definition of social entrepreneurship in detail. Social entrepreneurship is the process of pursuing innovative solutions to social problems. More specifically, social entrepreneurs adopt a mission to create and sustain social value. They relentlessly pursue opportunities to serve this mission, while continuously adapting and learning. They draw upon appropriate thinking in both the business and non profit worlds and operate in all kinds of organizations: large and small; new and old; religious and secular; non profit, for-profit, and hybrid.1

Business entrepreneurs typically measure performance in profit and return, but social entrepreneurs also take into account a positive return to society. Social entrepreneurship typically furthers broad social, cultural, and environmental goals and is commonly associated with the voluntary and not-for-profit sectors. Profit can at times also be a consideration for certain companies or other enterprises.1

Educational institution in itself is a nursery where a seed is sown, which if nurtured well sprouts into a Banyan tree committed to social entrepreneurship. The strategy being followed at DSVV to nurture the spirit of social entrepreneurship is as follows.

Strategy

The primary approach taken is self, family and social development consecutively parallel to each other, as shown in the following figure. An individual with self sustaining state of living can contribute in a better manner than others.

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Flow of Execution

Selection

Invocation

Orientation

Skill Set Identification (SWOT Analysis)

Grouping Skill Sets (Team Building)

Spiritual Study Circles Formation

Area of work identification

Survey

Identifying the areas of work

Plan of Action Preparation

Operation (weekly basis, monthly basis)

Feedback

Experiential learning sharing and training

Project Report Submission

Project Evaluation and further recommendation

The above flow of execution ensures that individuals undergo systematic phases of development, in which firstly he/she identifies his/her strength and further channelizes it for the social endeavours.

The details of this execution plan at DSVV are as follows. At DSVV, the Invocation ceremony (Gyandeeksha) is the first step through which Vedic rituals scientifically convey to the students their responsibility towards the society. Through this Gyandeeksha, the mind of the student is prepared for receiving knowledge and to think of living a life aspiring for positive return to society through his/her conduct. The environment of this ceremony, at the very beginning of the session, in itself triggers the student’s thought process and gets initiated as a stable thought in the young minds. Environment plays a vital role in shaping anything, or it can be said, everything happening in the world. The mission, vision, plans and strategy operating behind the institution creates a co-operative environment for moving a step ahead in life in all aspects.

Students are oriented towards a rational thinking of observing each and every aspect of life as a Yagyiya Process (selfless living for society). For deepening this feeling, the orientation program consists of various techniques of understanding, practicing and training them about it. Rituals which are generally considered limited to particular sect or religion are not only that as it is thought of.

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Young minds are provided with a better understanding towards rational thinking about these. Training ensures inclusion of scientific spiritualistic vision towards life and its various practices. It further leads to holistic development of life because science enhances logical thinking while spirituality fills life with empathy and emotions. The neo-educational model thought for holistic development of the students must include vidya along with shiksha. For better understanding we can understand vidya as a part of soft skill and hard skill. It is the phase of behavioural learning for better conduct in daily life. The curriculum of teaching includes the agenda of professional as well as personal development too. During the course of study they get continuously involved into social internship activities as a part of their course of study. While taking admission SWOT analysis of the students gives them a chance to understand to which part of the society they can learn to contribute the most. Areas identified mainly are: education, health, de-addiction, woman emancipation, environment protection, entrepreneurship. Students firstly surveys nearby areas or even far apart regions and identify the segments of their work. Spiritual Study Circles (SSCs) are specialized groups of similar skill set youngsters who review the surveys and on the basis of identification of prime problems design their plan of action. Sundays are the operational days when time bound small initiatives are initiated and worked out. During various courses – certificate (six months), diploma (one year), graduate (three years), post-graduate (two years) students are required to submit their project report at every semester end. Meanwhile they share their experiences and learning, and get their queries solved, and also get lots of next to-dos through regular Life Management classes. The process as a whole is a part of their social internship aimed at returning back to the society what they are getting since birth.

Credits are counted on weekly basis and every student mandatorily fulfils these credits. Degrees are awarded only and only after the evaluation of the consecutive project report submitted after every six months. During the course, students are given an opportunity to enhance their skill sets through various training programs spanning from a long range of rural development activities to technical advancement. Regular feedbacks taken from these lead to positive impact on students’ overall development. They can be seen to start inculcating strong desire to work for the society as a part of both their leisure and pleasure activities, as well as full time commitments also. The value system better operates on them with a regular follow up of their daily routine and noble deeds. Special classes on Scientific Spirituality, Life skill enhancement and development through learnings of Geeta and Dhyan strengthen their value system. It is found that even in tenure of six months the breakeven point comes very early when they start feeling the necessity to work for the society on the regular basis even for their better life. This is the reason why it is found that interest towards social activities gets an epoch rise in their mindset.

At the end of every course, one month tenure is specially fixed in which students are sent in various parts of the country, different from their native place, to have a better learning experience of adjustment along with work. The tasks includes activities related with health awareness camps, cleansing activities, literacy camps, village adoption and ideal village development, professional training on health, life skill enhancement and management, tree plantation and caring, etc.

The legacy of learning by doing carries throughout the life span; even after a student passes out of the institution. Bonding between individual and institution leads towards expansion of social projects even afterwards. Alumni network of the institution channelizes the professional experience of the individuals further. DIYA (Divine India Youth Association) is the mentoring body which supports youngsters to work fluently and effectively for social work. While further orienting the students before completing their course of study in the institution, they are trained with Diya Social Responsibility (DSR). DSR model further gives them a way to become aware of two principles of donation (i) Time donation (ii) Resource donation. Time donation is about donating few hours or days weekly, monthly or yearly for social work, while resource donation is another interesting way of working for society. Resource does not limit to material or money, rather human skills in it are the best resource. Expertise of an individual can be donated for progress of others. Youths at various fronts can perform better only and only when they possess these basic attributes: healthy, educated,

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self reliant, sensitive and well behaved. That could lead towards a youth that could be considered as an agent of change for the society.

Social entrepreneurship is the process of pursuing innovative solutions to social problems.1 It is not necessary to work full time; time donation can still be a wonderful solution. Some such tasks that have been taken up by DSVV students, both present and past, are compiled below.

Social Problem Innovative Solution

Process

Illiteracy Bal SanskarshalaElder Schools

Regular and alumni students manage these

Education Value added education

For better training such course modules have been worked out

Employment Entrepreneurship Plans

Especially for rural areas - cow urine and cow dung based products, horticulture, hand-made paper, handloom, handicraft, bee keeping and few other training programmes

Pollution Cleanliness Campaign

On small and large scale after survey - river, land, society area and other places are chosen and as a project process is initiated and operated

Population Awareness about small family

People raise small families and work for holistic development of all the family members - this serves as a model to be followed by others

Corruption Awareness – Self Pledge

Starting from self, the practice of living an ideal life leads further to the level of corruption-less society

Deforestation Vriksh Ganga Abhiyaan

Making a tree friend, and gifting, planting on auspicious occasions and taking care

Moral Degradation

Training Courses Various training courses like 'Life Management' and lectures on Gita and Meditation train people about importance of culture and morality, and inspire them to live life accordingly

Evil Customs Campaigning Eradication of evil social customs like dowry, extravagant marriages, etc. by spreading awareness. Striving for Women Empowerment

Addiction Deaddiction camps

Successful models of dedication are applied and operated

In the course of the study, the environment becomes the most effective medium of transformation. Further the moral teachings imbibed with the curriculum, like teachings of life management, geeta and dhyan pave the positive way ahead. It is more important to develop a mindset than to initiate the work. Generally it happens that people initiate the tasks but due to lack of will and mindset sustenance never lasts long. The positive aspect of DSVV is to work towards developing the mindset of youngsters and this can be seen happening too. All courses taught here incorporate value system teachings and employment deployment approach.

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Following is a flow diagram of the various skill sets that are needed to further the cause of social entrepreneurship.

Youth at the front of social entrepreneurship must at least work to possess these abilities in the present scenario. An individual who wants to develop himself as well as wants to develop others will definitely possess the above abilities. This is an integrated cycle of personal development.

Present age of Information Technology has paved a way further in social service through leveraging the offerings and crossing all barriers in the direct reach of the provider and the recipient. Various other e-governance schemes, e-chowpals, EduSat and other NIC projects are operational. They serve individuals and groups. The skill mix in the form of Hard Skills and Soft Skills, added with Information Communication Technology (ICT) leads towards Rural and Urban development of the society, as shown in the following flow diagram.

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Youth for social entrepreneurship is a thought which must be treated with lot more sincerity and efficiency. No model can be operational with sufficient efficacy in absence of a perfect training and deployment platform.

Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalya is a working model of Value Based Education, not only limited to a subject or course, but rather to every youth undergoing any course. Starting from the initiation of admission, till course completion, at every step the purpose is to develop a mindset of a sense of reverence and a feeling of paying back to the society for all what we avail from it since birth. The inclusive training yields better results throughout.

Reference

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_entrepreneurship

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