dfp1indiaDeshpande Foundation has initiated various programmes with a vision to create Social Entrepreneurs. One such innovative programme is Fellowship programme. Fellowship programme is aimed to build the skilled based of individuals & convert their knowledge into action. Youths selected from various parts of India with diversified education background are trained here. The fellowship programme stands apart from other programmes because it breaks the myths towards development sector. Fellows are tested for their character & actions through various modules. One such module is village stay. Through village stay fellows understand the real crux of development & sees villages through their first hand experience
Events
Challenges represented by Deadly Devils
Are you really independent? Do ask this question seriously from yourself. You might find that your answer is “no”, we are not independent from hunger, poverty, terrorism, and so on. We, the fellows of Deshpande Foundation, felt strongly about it and got the platform to express our feeling in the form of a Dance-Drama (PRERNA) on the occasion of Independence Day in Hubli-Dharwad, Karnataka.
The story was old, but it was presented by the fellows differently. It was good exposure for many of the new talents at a state level. The story was aimed at spreading the message that life is a challenge and if there is a will; there is a way, the darkness is followed by light.
It has given us a deep understanding of people’s behaviors and how to tackle challenging situations that emerge.
Ultimately we defeated devils
Reward by Hubli-Dharwad Muncipal Corporation (HDMC)
Livelihoods
Khadi stalls prior to Khadi Day
Deshpande Fellows organized sale of Khadi dress on 23th, 24th & 25th October 2008 at BVB Engineering college, Vidyanagar, Hubli and celebrated Khadi Day on25th, October 2008 by wearing Khadi dresses.
Two Khadi dealers from Hubli & Dharwad displayed their products for three days. More than 350 people visited the stalls. A total sale of Rs.20,025/- was made. Students, staffs & employees of the BVB College showed keen interest towards Khadi products.
People purchasing Khadi dresses
Major learning we got from this activity was that Khadi has a huge potential to grow, if we market it aggressively by taking Khadi products into customers doorsteps with varieties and not sitting in one centralized place looking forward customers to come.
By seeing the enthusiasm and response we got by the people towards Khadi, we decided to celebrate every Saturday as Khadi day.
Cheers Khadi,
Deshpande Fellows in Khadi
Civic Amenities
Flame Orange Team
Flame Orange, a group of 22 fellows of Deshpande Foundation started working on the model approach to clean and maintain public parks. The model is being put into practice at Nrupatunga Betta adjacent to Unkal Railway Station, Hubli. The Deshpande Fellows started to work at this site more than two and half months ago to make the place litter free. We are campaigning to create awareness about eco-friendly and systematic disposal of garbage from the hillock.
Every Saturday morning, we visit Betta and pick up the litter followed by further activities such as placing dustbins, painting shelter, fund raising to sustain the Program.
Cleaning Nrupatunga Betta
Our project is aimed at involving local people contribution to keep the hillock environment clean. As the money spent to implement this project is from our pocket. So once heart beats for environment can contact us for fiscal contribution and the one who visits ‘Nrupatunga betta’ are requested to use dust bins to keep visiting place clean.
This Program is also associated with several activities such as awareness Programs, hari-ya-ali, cycle rally and others which have been exposed in the blog further.
Painting the premises
Fundraising
FUND RAISING FOR BIHAR FLOOD RELIEF
Fellows raised funds for Bihar flood relief in the month of September. Planning was done and whole team was divided into 5 groups. Each group selected different areas in Hubli covering trade market, colleges, public places, petty shops, railway station and temples.
Students contributing for a nobal cause
Strategies followed:
Each team of 4 members was divided into a sub-group of 2 to reach more donors,
· Use of slogan that “If we don’t then who will” made the readers to think and donate for the cause.
· Contacted the class representatives of all the departments in BVB and asked them to help in raising funds
· Use of pictures has helped in convincing the donors
It was wonderful and learning experience for us in raising funds. Initially we faced challenges such as convincing the people and getting more fund. Then we reworked on our strategies and gained experience we could able to collect Rs.64, 416/-. The amount was send via 2 DDs and to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, Patna, Bihar.
Fund raising in Hotels
Rights
Workshop on Right to Information Act
Explaining about RTI Act 2005
A workshop on Right to Information (RTI) was conducted on 18/10/08 in Kanakdas Shikshan Samiti’s Bachelor of Social Work College, Hubli. A session for 15 BSW students and both theoretical and practical orientation was provided.
It focused on use of the RTI tool in development work, the meaning and scope of the tool and types of documents that can be collected from public authorities, modes of fee payment and details of addressing authorities were explained to the students.
Training on RTI Application writing
News
Glocal stands for Global+Local. It means the application of global perspectives in the ‘Sandbox’ (Belgaum, Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri and Uttar Kannada districts of Karnataka) area. The publication was initiated by Deshpande Fellows to publish ongoing activities of Deshpande Fellowship program.
The intention is to bring out the innovations and activities undertaken by the Deshpande Centre for Social Entrepreneurship to a global audience.
The Glocal committee consists of 3-4 members, with the members changing every month. It is to highlight the Deshpande Foundation Fellows’ (Cohort – I) talent, skills and knowledge used to solve local problems. It is intended to share knowledge in the field of Social Entrepreneurship among academicians, students and field practitioners. It briefs about the classroom teaching and fellow-led activities that have occurred during that particular month. Glocal is published on this website: http://dfpfellows.wordpress.com
Exhibition
It was August. All the fellows had just completed their village study and were preparing village reports. Some fellows had shot good village photographs. I thought: can we conduct a photographic exhibition of these village photographs and display it to public? Coincidentally, an Independence Day celebration was being organized by HDMC in Dharwad and Hubli about the same time. This opportunity was utilized to expose the village life of India.
A selection committee was set up to finalize the photographs and best 40 photographs on the basis of clarity and reflection of village life.
The first photographic exhibition was conducted in Kalabhavan, Dharwad on 14 August 2008, and the second one was exhibited at Indira Glass House on 15 August 2008.
The photographic exhibition could attract the attention of people from all walks of life. About 3000 people had look at the exhibition. The photographic exhibition was appreciated by Dharwad M.P. Mr.Prahlad Joshi.
Arts
Theatre is only considered for the acting, but it can be seen as part of personal development; feedback received by one of the participants suggested that this module can be useful training for someone going for a job interview, making a project presentation, or hosting any program, etc. It is a powerful medium to create awareness and involve people in the development process.
The workshop was a half-day long, and covered how to write a story, dialogue delivery, voice modulation, and presentation. Some of the participants wanted to choose acting as a career, or wanted to work in the films or serials. Tips and suggestions were given to all participants. Ten participants attended the theatre workshop. The workshop was interactive and participatory. Only an introductory portion of the content was introduced to the participants. They expressed their interest in continuing the workshop in the future too.
A participant
Health
Awareness about water born diseases
This was an activity conducted by Deshpande Fellows in Bhairidevarkoppa, Hubli. The Program had two main objectives to create awareness among the community people on:
1) Transmission of HIV and its effects
2) Root causes for water-borne diseases.
This activity was organized with the help of youth from Adarsh Yuvaka Manadal, a local club of youths who are concerned about the development of their community. Two skits were performed by the Fellows, among which one skit conveyed the message about the roots for the transmission of HIV and precautionary measures to be taken to prevent the transmission.
The skit on causes for the water-borne diseases conveyed the message that, improper and unhygienic maintenance of water sources lead to the water-borne diseases such as diarrhea, typhoid, hepatitis and others.
It was a great pleasure that Mr. Rajanna Koravi, the corporator, Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation, inaugurated the Program and supported our thoughts and advised community people to maintain the hygiene.
The participation from the community was to a great extent, about 120 to 150 people had gathered for the Program.
Addressing people
Fellows behind screen
