This document summarizes social entrepreneurship initiatives in India that aim to provide education and opportunities for underserved populations. It discusses how social enterprises are addressing needs in sectors like agriculture, healthcare, education and more. It then focuses on challenges in India's education system and how one organization is working to promote literacy and creative skills among children through programs like a literary festival, student mentoring, and experiential learning platforms led by authors and artists. Scaling these efforts and securing support from partners, schools and funding remains an ongoing challenge.

1. South AsiaWomen’s Entrepreneurship Symposium
SAWES
Presented by
Richa Sethi, INDIA

2. Social Entrepreneurship – India
• India – 2nd most populous country, 5th largest economy, BUT $3600 is per capita
income, Adult literacy at 63%, 41% of population lives below poverty line
• SE are reaching underserved markets with new business models. Key sectors:
Agriculture, healthcare, education, energy, financial services, housing, sanitation
water.
Size of investments increasing – GIAN (1st non profit socially minded investment VF),
Avishkaar (1st for-profit VF), Omidyar network, Acumen Fund, Elevar equity
Government role: MSMEs engagement, government backed
venture capital funds, policy formulation

3. Education Landscape – India
Problem
•Our education focuses on input rather than the learning outcomes
• Children progress Grade-wise (based on age) instead of Level-wise
• Focus on cognitive rather than a combination of cognitive + non cognitive
skills
• Children have no choice in pursuing their interests till K-12
Motivation
•219 mln – school going kids (40% private,
60% Government)
• Out of total school going kids in rural India
– 27% go to private schools -> Parents want
to invest in good education for children.
• Growing Indian middle class & increasing
their spend on education -> Share of wallet of
education increasing to 9%
ASER 2013

4. Equipping children with creative, literary & life skills by
• Creating experiential learning platforms
• Providing mentoring to support and groom children for the future
• Creating visibility and advocacy platforms for creative art
TheTEAM
The team is lead by Richa & Priya and a passionate group of people
comprising of professionals artists & experts who wish to share their craft
with children.
Advisory Board
Anil Dharker –A well known journalist and Festival director of Lit Live – annual literary festival
at Mumbai
Gauri SharmaTripathi – well known danseuse, artist in residence at South Bank Centre, part of
theAlchemy team at South Bank
Vinitha Ramchandani – Editor of Popular Prakashan and children’s
writer of 17 books
PreetiVyas – Founder of FunOkPlease, a start-up children’s publishing
house focusing on contemporary Indian content for children

5. JuniorWriter’s Bug festival
for children
The festival celebrates stories and promotes reading, writing & literature amongst
children. It brings together children, books, authors, storytellers, illustrators,
creative artists, theatre on the same platform.
City: Mumbai
Sessions: 70 sessions over 2 days, 50 renowned speakers
Participation: 3000 children & parents
Schools: 42 Highlights
Festival lead by students: Young Author Handlers (YAHs)
managing the speakers & sessions
Young microbloggers – live updates #writersbugfest
STORYSCAPE – Creative writing contest
AGON – Inter School Debate

6. Student Mentoring Program
To create a platform which will identify, support, groom and mentor talented
children in the field of creative writing and illustration. They will learn from
experienced writers and illustrators in one to one interactions.
City: Mumbai
Schools: 34
Students: 16,000
Final Mentees: 10
Partners: Champak – Largest read children’s magazine in India
Mentors: Abhijeet Kini, Bhairavi Parekh, Katie Bagli, Kavita Singh Kale, Priya Kuriyan,
Santhini Govindan, Sowmya Rajendran,Tanvi Bhat

7. Learning platforms
• Long term engagements on :
– Creative writing
– Art appreciation
– Storytelling
• Engagements that give children the freedom of expression
while bringing innovative strategies to create learning.
• Programs designed by professional writers, authors,
creative artists, storytellers

8. Making of a festival!
• Art is in the execution of an idea
• You have all the resources that you need
• Reach out
• Build a network
• Share your experience
• Persist

9. Challenges
• Making the mentoring program scalable
• Shortage of trained teachers & mentors
• Entry into schools – resistant to change
• Availability of professionals who fit in a startup cost
structure
• Lack of Financial support for platforms like the literary
festival