Overview
Uchitam Yuvan (Correct Youthful Strength) is an initiative of Ek Dharani Foundation aimed at nurturing purpose-driven young leaders through intense, real-world social immersion. By embedding university students into dynamic community settings, the program blends mentorship, problem-solving, and impact implementation to cultivate leadership, empathy, and systems thinking.
It is designed as an accelerated learning experience where participants take on real responsibilities—like raising funds, identifying pressing issues, designing and delivering solutions, and measuring outcomes. Think of it as a startup-like sprint for changemaking.
Full Program Proposal
Key Features
Participants immerse themselves in real community issues—not simulated case studies—to drive authentic impact.
Each group is mentored by professionals who act like social startup founders, offering high-touch guidance and evaluation.
Objective metrics ensure transparency and skill recognition, feeding into long-term student portfolios.
Projects are documented and shared publicly for accountability, learning, and future replication.
Five Core Components
Participants are encouraged to approach fundraising as an opportunity to build persuasive communication, ethical judgment, and financial planning. This may involve both online and offline efforts—crowdfunding, sponsorship outreach, or mobilizing community contributions. The goal is not just to collect funds but to engage the ecosystem in shared ownership of the social initiative.
This stage develops students' ability to research local or systemic challenges, interact with real stakeholders, and articulate a compelling project vision. It is where problem-discovery meets design-thinking. Teams must present convincing logic for why their selected area is urgent and suitable for a short-format yet meaningful intervention.
Execution is where action takes place. Teams roll up their sleeves and engage directly with the community, executing their interventions. This is done with safety, local buy-in, and ethical practice at the core. Teams are expected to iterate as they go, balancing ambition with humility and resourcefulness.
Teams will define and capture evidence of outcomes: qualitative and quantitative. They’ll interview beneficiaries, create visual records, and use rubrics aligned with SDGs or local indicators. The aim is to critically evaluate whether they made a dent—and to what extent.
The final deliverable is a transparent, structured, and open-source record of the entire project. This includes reports, media coverage, stakeholder feedback, and learning reflections. These records become part of a growing ecosystem of documented student-led social innovations.
View Measurement Rubrics
Mentors: Lead Like Founders
Mentors play a transformative role—guiding, evaluating, and shaping project journeys.
- 10–30 day commitment
- Actively involved in all phases
- Eligible for honorarium based on impact
Outline for Mentors
For Student Groups
College, university, or volunteer groups can apply to experience a transformative, real-world social innovation project.
- Team size: 5–10 participants
- Faculty or mentor linkage required
- Program Duration: 10–30 days
Apply via Email
Partnering Institutions
Institutions benefit from NEP 2020 alignment, enhanced student employability, and social reputation. Faculty may co-mentor.
University Proposal
