How We Do It

Over the course of a one-year fellowship, we provide the support, mentoring, and resources young people need to create real social impact.  Here’s how it works:

The one-year fellowship cycle.

The Program Cycle

Outreach

To find potential Venturers, we lead outreach sessions throughout high schools, colleges, universities, and youth organizations.  We ask young people two questions:

1. What burns you?  What about the world do you want to change?
2. Do you have the courage to stand up and do something about it?

Current Venturers then share their own stories of change and extend an invitation to the first still-building workshop of the cycle.

Pre-Panel Phase (2 months)

In order to take action, potential Venturers must first identify the social problem they care most about, then understand it at its root level.  To do so, they do guided groundwork - community surveys and hands-on research of the problem, its causes, and its impact.  A series of skill-building workshops helps the Venturers build teams of committed peers and create comprehensive action plans.  During this phase, Venturers are paired with adult mentors who will provide individual support throughout the rest of the year.

Panel

Once they have developed their plans, Venturers present their ideas and work done so far at a day-long Panel event.  Panelists represent a diversity of backgrounds and attitudes- they are leaders from the private, public, and social sectors who are passionate about youth-led social change.  They provide feedback and guidance to each Venture Team.  If the Panel feels that a Team is ready and able to implement its plan, that Team will receive the first of two installements of Rs 5,000.  If not, the Panel will provide conditions for the Team to meet before receiving its seed funding.

Post-Panel Phase (10 months)

During this phase, Venturers take their ideas full steam ahead.  Youth Venture regularly brings the community together for  capacity-building workshops, sessions with social and business entrepreneurs, exposure trips, and networking events.  Once they accomplish goals they set for themselves, Venturers receive their second Rs 5,o00 seed funding installment.  Through site visits, social networking, and regular communication, Ashoka’s Youth Venture provides continual support.

Celebration

At the end of the year-long cycle, Ashoka’s Youth Venture hosts a public celebration of Venture stories and achievements.  This is a platform not only to recognize the Venturers’ amazing impact, but to inspire mainstream society with the power of youth-led social change.

Beyond Year 1

We provide continued support for Venturers who want to scale their projects beyond the year-long cycle.  We also help them seek out opportunities with other organizations that can support them in scaling, including UnLtd India, Edelgive, and Pravah - Changelooms.

We are designing a program to empower alumni Venturers with the responsibility to lead our marketing, outreach, and community-building efforts.   Alumni develop their own real-world skills as they work to take Ashoka’s Youth Venture forward.