Every Inch Upstream – An Inventure Academy Changemaker Challenge

Why do we need Changemakers?

A quick glance around us reveals a world of poor roads, potholes, overflowing drains, frothing lakes and everything seems on the brink of an apocalypse, and everyone seems anxious and stressed. However, change is slow and has to be fostered at all levels in order to bring about lasting change. Our youth are our future and igniting their passion for grappling with the messy problems that they will inherit will help us develop socially responsible citizens of tomorrow. As Richard Branson says, ‘Once a change maker, always a change maker, but only a few swim against the tide.’

We strongly believe that all of us can channel our passions to swim upstream and bring about change in our own spheres of influence. Our goal is to create change makers all around Bengaluru who will be the change they want to see in this world. We plan to use the proceeds from our annual musical production to fund this Challenge and therefore inspire, young change makers all over our city.

About the Challenge:

Every year we dedicate our annual school musical drama to a social cause and this year the theme of our production ‘Every Inch Upstream’ is about change – both personal and social. What brings about internal and external change? What are the things that hold us back from making this change?

As part of our endeavor to nurture Change makers across our city, we invite students of Grades 9-12 to participate in the ‘Every Inch Upstream Challenge’, an exciting and unique city-level change making challenge spanning October 2017 to January 2018. It encourages students to take on a compelling problem/issue they care about and address it constructively – by proposing and implementing solutions in their neighbourhoods and communities.

Contents

Why this Changemaking challenge?                                                                     

Key Dates, Milestones, Awards                                                                             

What to expect at each challenge stage   

ROUND 1: Submit a Changemaking project idea

ROUND 2: Design Thinking workshop for shortlisted teams

ROUND 3: Impact demonstration of projects at Inventure

AWARDS CEREMONY: Top 3 teams present & receive awards

How to choose a Changemaking project idea?     

Why this Changemaking challenge?

• At Inventure Academy, we strongly believe that we can all channel our passion to swim upstream and bring about change in our own spheres of influence.
• Our goal is to create changemakers all around Bengaluru who will embody the change they want to see in this world.
• We will use INR 5 lakhs from the proceeds of our annual school musical drama, ‘Every Inch Upstream’ to fund this Challenge and support young changemakers in our city.
• Our annual school musical drama focuses on the fact that change is a constant and nothing is permanent. However, much of the change we seek is embedded in our environment. Therefore our youth need to have the ability to swim upstream, grapple with these issues and be the change.

Key Dates, Milestones, Awards

Details regarding disbursement of project funds will be intimated to selected teams on 25 January 2018.

As part of the challenge, we would like you to start thinking about issues that you see in the world around you and how you would like to contribute towards making a difference.

What to expect at each challenge stage

ROUND 1: Submit a Changemaking project idea

The application for this round will be accepted through a Google form that is shared along with the invite.

Assessment Criteria:

• Team’s problem is worth solving
• Team has a clear idea of who will benefit
• Team has a clear idea of how many people will benefit and in what way
• Team has identified challenges they expect to face
• Team’s solution is unique and promising
• Team has identified a pilot they CAN successfully execute

Deadline:

Completed form to be submitted online using the Google form provided on or before Saturday, 28 October 2017

Shortlist announcement:

Selected groups/projects will be intimated by Monday, 30 October 2017.

Follow up for shortlisted teams:

The shortlisted teams will be sent a slide deck that can be used for your presentations at UB City. You may also use performing and/or visual arts to present your project in addition to the slide deck.

ROUND 2: Design Thinking Workshop for Shortlisted Teams

The Round 2 event will be conducted at UB City on Nov 4, 17. The 20 selected teams from Round 1 will receive their cash award of Rs. 5,000 on completion of the Design thinking workshop.

ROUND 3: Impact Demonstration of Projects at Inventure

The ten teams shortlisted for Round 3 will begin work on your projects. You will work on your projects for over November and December and will use the budgeted funds of up to Rs 20,000 to make concrete progress on their projects. You will also:

1. Maintain a record of progress made and issues faced – reflective journal
2. Produce a video journal of their experience that includes:

• Your reflections and learnings
• Beneficiary experiences

3. Maintain a record of their expenses that you have incurred in the process using the funds provided during Rounds 1and 2
4. Further refine your project, if necessary

Deadline:
Teams will present their progress and videos on 19 January, 2017, at Inventure
Academy.

Shortlist announcement:

By the end of the day, three projects will be chosen for the Finale.

Follow up for shortlisted teams:

The three final teams will be coached to make a final presentation to the larger community.

AWARDS CEREMONY: Top Three Teams Present & Receive Awards

• The Top 3 teams will be felicitated as “Young Changemakers” and they will have an opportunity to share their work on a larger platform.
• They will briefly present the progress of their project on 25 Jan 2017 and receive awards and the funding to scale their projects and make a bigger change.
• Their unfolding changemaking stories will be showcased to encourage others to become changemakers.

How to choose a changemaking project idea?

We are all concerned about our community and the problems that plague us. As students, you probably feel overwhelmed and maybe even feel that these problems do not concern you. However we believe that engaging with these big, difficult questions will equip you with skills required to face the challenges beyond school and allow you to experience the joy of making a positive change.

This design thinking challenge will allow you as students to not just ideate on issues that you face but also to develop skills required for the world outside school such as resilience, empathetic listening, problem solving, an ability to apply theory to practice, inventive thinking, communication and collaborative teamwork. We have been successful in guiding our Changemakers at Inventure Academy through projects such as ‘Our Lakes, Our Voice,’ (http://www.inventureacademy.com/sahithi-pingali-inventure-academy-milkyway-planet-win-intel-isef/) and we are keen to develop similar skills in more students across Bangalore.

Think about the ‘big questions’!

A quick glance around us reveals a world of poor roads, potholes, overflowing drains, frothing lakes, stressed teens, anxious adults, hungry stray dogs, road rage and everything seems on the brink of an apocalypse. However, change is slow and has to be fostered at all levels in order to bring about lasting change. As students you are the future of our country and igniting your passion for grappling with the messy problems that you will inherit will help you evolve into being socially responsible citizens of tomorrow. As Richard Branson says, ‘Once a changemaker, always a changemaker, but only a few swim against the tide.’ We believe that this challenge will develop your stamina to deal with the complex problems and become changemakers who seek these challenges throughout life.

So start thinking about:

• What are the causes that you care about?
• Do you care about the wider world that you live in and why?
• What are you so passionate about that you will take the time and effort to painstakingly, inch by inch swim upstream when all others are in stagnant water or even moving downstream?
• What are the problems you see around you?
• What solutions can you implement in your own sphere of influence?

At the heart of it, the ‘Every Inch Upstream Challenge’ is about doing.
What can you do and what will you do to drive change?

As part of this challenge we would like you to ideate on these categories:

• Socio economic issues
• Infrastructural problems
• Environmental concerns
• Personal health and well being

Here are some ideas and questions that may help you form your own teams and develop your ideas. These are just examples that will help you to define the scope of your project within your sphere of influence. You can use these examples to further explore ideas that are relevant in your community. This could be in your school, your neighborhood or even an organisation that you are part of.

Socio Economic issues:

As of a 2009 report by UNDP1, there are over 81 million indians living below the poverty line in our cities and our urban poverty rate is above 25%. Can you do anything to help change this? Consider what you can do in your sphere of influence as you ideate on your projects:

For example:

1. Can you help skill the next generation of workers by teaching English or Maths or vocational classes in your neighbourhood?
2. Can you help the drivers and domestic help in your apartment complexes live healthier lives?
3. Can you think of ways to help construction workers in your neighbourhood?
4. Can you help improve the living conditions of the workers living in the temporary “blue tent” housing we see all over Bangalore?

Infrastructural problems:

The average speeds on our roads is already as low as 14 km/h and continues to decline. Our city’s residents are spending longer and longer commuting. Less than half our city’s sewage is being treated. Water supply from BWSSB is spotty and difficult to predict.

1. Can you think of ways to improve our city’s crumbling infrastructure or help us deal with it?
2. Can you start carpooling clubs?
3. Can you monitor Sewage Treatment Plants in your community?

Environmental concerns:

Our lakes have become sewage pits which catch fire and froth. Our air is so polluted that 37% of our students fare in the poor or bad category of lung health screening tests2. BBMP continues to find it difficult to pick up the 4000 tons of trash we generate daily. What can you do about this?

1. Can you encourage your resident chai wallas and their customers to switch from disposable cups to steel and reusable cups?
2. Can you work with local vendors in your neighbourhood to reduce plastic liners when they serve their food and instead switch to banana leaf liners?
3. Can you implement a waste segregation plan in your neighbourhood? Your school?
4. Can you help monitor air quality in your neighbourhood?
5. Can you find inventive ways to stop trash being burnt?
6. Can you encourage rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge in your neighbourhood?
7. Can you do anything to take care of stray dogs?

Personal Health and Well being:

Incidents of teen depression and their alarming repercussions have shocked many of us. The government reports that 1 in 5 people in India need counseling – either psychological or psychiatric. According to a recent study3, ‘Around 65% youth between the age group of 22-25 show early signs of depression’. We are spending longer and longer on our screens and perhaps losing touch with our humanity. What can you do about this?

1. Can you start a youth support group for teens in your neighbourhood/school?
2. Can you start an exercise / free play program for yourself and your friends? A yoga program?
3. Can you share the benefits of yoga with the poor in your neighbourhood?
4. Can you make time spent in the school bus more enjoyable and productive for you and your fellow student commuters?

Hope you found these suggestions useful and happy changemaking!!
For any further queries on the project please contact info1@inventureacademy.com.

References (articles covering social issues.)

http://www.citiesalliance.org/node/408

http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report-bangalore-ranks-second-in-the-list-of-cities-with-highest-air-pollution-levels-in-india-2083209

http://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/nfhs-4-highlights-india-has-become-obese-more-than-doubled-in-one-decade-only-52527

http://www.hindustantimes.com/health-and-fitness/65-indian-youngsters-show-early-signs-of-depression-study/story-9JJoIWNn0FsRINKcHFYnwM.html

http://yourdost.com/blog/2017/03/depression-statistics-in-india.html?q=/blog/2017/03/depression-statistics-in-india.html&

Here is the form that you can use to apply.

Participating teams will have the chance to vie for a total of INR 5 lakhs to fund their projects.

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