South Asia Women’s Entrepreneurship Symposium

SAWES

Presented by Richa Sethi, INDIA

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

Education Landscape – IndiaProblem

•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

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

The TEAMThe 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 BoardAnil Dharker – A well known journalist and Festival director of Lit Live – annual literary festival at MumbaiGauri Sharma Tripathi – well known danseuse, artist in residence at South Bank Centre, part of the Alchemy team at South BankVinitha Ramchandani – Editor of Popular Prakashan and children’s writer of 17 booksPreeti Vyas – Founder of FunOkPlease, a start-up children’s publishing house focusing on contemporary Indian content for children

Junior Writer’s Bug festival

for childrenThe 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: MumbaiSessions: 70 sessions over 2 days, 50 renowned speakers Participation: 3000 children & parentsSchools: 42 HighlightsFestival lead by students: Young Author Handlers (YAHs)

managing the speakers & sessionsYoung microbloggers – live updates #writersbugfest

STORYSCAPE – Creative writing contestAGON – Inter School Debate

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: MumbaiSchools: 34Students: 16,000Final Mentees: 10

Partners: Champak – Largest read children’s magazine in IndiaMentors: Abhijeet Kini, Bhairavi Parekh, Katie Bagli, Kavita Singh Kale, Priya Kuriyan, Santhini Govindan, Sowmya Rajendran, Tanvi Bhat

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

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

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