Overview

Our February 2011 social entrepreneurship journey will immerse participants in a once-in-a-lifetime 9-day experience in India.

Joining a select group of senior leaders from some of the world’s top private, public and civil society organisations, participants will get first-hand lessons in innovation, entrepreneurship and leadership from some of Delhi and Rajasthan’s leading social entrepreneurs. The journey will include interactive site visits, discussion around local and national issues, and personal and group reflection time.
 

Provisional highlights

• A visit to Barefoot College (www.barefootcollege.org), which trains rural poor to innovate their way out of poverty. It does this through ‘barefoot solutions’ including solar energy, water, education and health care. Since launch, Barefoot College has served three million people who live on less than $1 per day. Its founder, Bunker Roy, received the Schwab Social Entrepreneurship Award in 2002, the Ashden Award for Sustainable Energy in 2003 and the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship in 2005.
   
• A visit to D.Light (www.dlightdesign.com), whose mission is to enable households without reliable electricity to attain the same quality of life as those with electricity. They work towards replacing every kerosene lantern with clean, safe and bright light. D.Light recently won the Ashden Award for Sustainable Energy 2010 and is an Acumen Fund investee.
   
• A visit to Jaipur Foot (www.jaipurfoot.org), the world’s largest provider of aids and appliances to the physically challenged. Mr. Metha, the founder of Jaipur Foot, won the Goverment of India's third Highest Civilian Award, The Padma Bhushan in 2008.
   
• A visit to Goonj (www.goonj.org), an innovation waste recycling organisation. Starting in 1998 with 67 items of personal clothing, Goonj is now channelling more than 40,000 kgs of material every month for disaster relief and making recycled products. Anshu Gupta, the founder of Goonj, is an Ashoka Fellow and won the World Bank’s Development Market Place Award in May 2007.
   
• A visit to Dhriiti (www.dhriiti.org), which builds entrepreneurial capacities of young people rural and semi urban communities in India. It aims at reducing unemployment in the country by setting up sustainable small-scale enterprises. The founders of Dhriiti won Paragon Fellowships at Asia Pacific Level in 2009.

Participants

We will be selecting approximately 15 leaders to take part in the experience. Previous participants have included senior leaders in the private, public and civil society sectors, social entrepreneurs, entrepreneurs, policy makers, philanthropists and academics.

What you can take away from the experience

• Actionable insights on innovation, leadership and new business models to accelerate your career and your organisation’s growth
• Inspiration and space for personal growth and renewal
• New opportunities for international partnerships and collaborations, through high-value relationships with senior leaders from a broad range of organisations across the world
• A unique view into India’s culture and a greater understanding of its role as an increasingly powerful global player

How to apply

Places are strictly limited, so we strongly recommend registering your interest early to avoid disappointment. Please click the button below to do so.