Wisdom from the Learner.

 “Just because a man lacks the use of his eyes doesn't mean he lacks vision”

-Stevie Wonder

Retina India is a national non-profit trust, registered in 2009 in Mumbai. It was started to offer a platform for everyone connected with retinal diseases, including patients and their families, to come together to help in finding solutions to the problems of people with visual impairment.

Project Seshpath is one such initiative of Retina India. We at Enactus H.R.College are privileged to be a part of this program.

Visually challenged people need a Scribe (also used to describe a volunteer who is a writer in an examination for the differently-abled) and/or Reader of textbooks or other printed material in their quest for climbing the educational / knowledge ladder.

 In order to volunteer, I was first asked to register online as a scribe. To read or write was a personal choice that had to be made.  Once the registration was completed, I received a phone call from their branch office where in I was provided with the details of the centre and the timings where a student required my help.

I was asked to read for a girl named Ankita, in St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai who was preparing for her final exams. Ankita was of 20years of age and was in her second year of BA(bachelors of Arts). At first, I was extremely apprehensive because there was a huge responsibility on my shoulders. I read to her several chapters and also made notes for her (which were read to her by her parents) for personal reference. I read to her twice a week after which she appeared for her examination. I was not shocked when I learned that she did exceedingly well, considering how hard she worked.

 I entered the room with the mind-set of helping someone learn but it was me indeed who learned much more. Ankita narrated to me the incident which caused her to lose her vision. It brought tears to my eyes. Her strength, willpower and determination is truly commendable.

Most of us tend to criticize when things do not go the way we want them to instead of accepting things the way they are. What I learnt from Ankita’s life was to never give up despite the many hurdles that we face.

It gives me immense pride in saying that I was a part of this project. I have Enactus HRC and Retina India to thank for giving me an experience of a lifetime.

My dream of helping others fulfil theirs just came true!

If you wish to be a part of this initiative, please visit: http://www.seshpath.org/

-Yash Mehta

Member

Enactus H.R College.

The IIM Indore Feels.

We all started with that one dream, and came back with much more.

Winning Kalpravriksha'14 at IIM Indore will always be counted as one our team's greatest achievements, while we all worked hard to transform lives, we couldnt help but notice how Enactus transformed us.

Here are snippets from our members who represented Enactus HRC at IIM and brought the trophy home!

"Its overwhelming to see what Enactus does to you. You think that you're transforming lives, but it lands up transforming you. I couldn't be more grateful for this amazing opportunity of presenting Project Saarthi at a national level. You never realized when those nervous chills at the beginning of the presentation turned into goosebumps at the end. If nothing else, you discover yourself in this journey and isnt that more than what one can ask for? Thank you to the (youngest but the brightest) team for giving me memories to last a lifetime. We are Enactus H.R College. And we believe, in India's growth story!
#EatSleepBreatheEnactus"

-Priyanka Shah.

"Enactus isn't just a club, it's a way of life. Grateful would be too puny a word as to express how much I owe Enactus for transforming me. Cohesiveness, time management and self-belief were a few of the many qualities I learned during this 3 day journey. Hard work always pays off and Team work makes the Dream work. 

In the end, the Journey is the Destination. Enactus really did bring out my best self on the plate because that's what it does to us, it makes us see things through a complete different lens. We are Enactus, and we all win."

-Priyal Shah.

"That feeling you get when everyone appreciates your hard work cannot be described. What I experienced in these three days was unbelievable. The happiness you get when you decided to run that extra mile, not for yourself, but for others."

-Tushar Ahuja

"IIM Indore, the place where everything changed. Presenting in a room full of judges didnt scare me anymore when I spoke about what I have done to bring a change. A place where fellow members changed to best friends, a place which gave me a lifetime worth of memories. If only we could go back again and relive all of it."

-Rohil Gandhi.

"Never knew few days can change one's perceptions so much. Every moment spent was an experience worth cherishing. I am back with a bag full of learnings, a spirit of winning and some amazing friendships.

A new achievement has been added towards our endeavour to bring Project Saarthi on the global map."

-Sanjoli Malani

"We participated, prepared, brainstormed, slogged, presented, experienced, bonded, and CONQUERED."

-Shrey Sottany.

"The journey to & from Indore was the first one of its kind for me and the team. An absolute pleasure to present our efforts at a national level and get feedback from the finest of the Industry. A broader vision and a new and exciting adventure awaits us."

-Akash Kakkar.

"Its beautiful to see how ten people in three days can give you memories for a lifetime. Standing there and presenting in what you believe in, what you put your soul in for the last few months, suddenly, it all seems worth it. When the clapping wont stop, you know you've done your bit."

-Divya Sanbhwani.

"Enactus has changed so much in us, it's not about how we grew, it's about how we grew together... And indore did exactly that for us. Here is to what we can change and what we cannot! Here is to us and everything we believe in."

-Rohan Panchmatia.

"What I felt then somehow cannot be put into words, Perhaps a mix of awe and pride. Probably, a bit more of pride. Actually, make that alot."

-Rushi Shah.

Journey of a lifetime.

There are not enough words to describe the best experience in ones life. But we have many instances, many moments and many memories that we are proud of or that have changed our lives for the better. Those moments that will stay with us, long after they are left behind.

Enactus has been such an experience, a memory for me.

From the very moment, I heard of Enactus, I knew then, I had to be a part of it. I had to make my life and that of others more meaningful. Not just to exist, but to make a difference.

Walking into my interview, I could feel my heart in my mouth, my legs were wobbly, because for me, this wasn’t just a club, it was that opportunity to give my best for something that I felt strongly about.

Enactus HRC, has always focused on putting their best foot forward. We have always been united as one strong unit, working towards a common goal- “Making A Difference”, but with an entrepreneurial approach. 

On a personal note, giving up on internships or holidays, just to stay back and work on our projects is so much more rewarding. These three years are not enough, they will never be enough: So, why waste any time on something that I can still do, once I’ve graduated?

With that in mind, I’ve given it up all for this organization and the results have been tremendous, just not as a project milestone, but as an individual to achieve those milestones.

But failure is always a part of success. We learn from our mistakes. That’s exactly what we have tried to do with both our projects. Learn from our mistakes and make it successful.

So, why exactly is it “Journey of A Lifetime”?

Its simple: These three years are going to be the best of your life. You’re not going to only stick to classroom learning, but you’re going to step out into the real world and try and apply actual business models and concepts to the existing problems in our society.

Along the way, you will see yourself transform as an individual and learn so much more than what any textbook or classroom in the world can teach you. I don’t mean that statement to be offensive to our education system, but Enactus is a platform where we can bring out our best, which may not be possible by sticking to bookish knowledge. So make the best of it.

One of my best memories will always be that of Kival Village the ‘Pilot Chapter’ of Project Saarthi, started 20^th October 2013.

I like to call it 'My Baby', Its something I’ve worked on day and night. The feeling of seeing a chapter you’ve personally been attached to, become successful is something each one of the budding entrepreneurs in Enactus hopes for. These individual chapters add on to the success of the Project.

Certifying 5 Teacher Entrepreneurs in Kival and then following up with them regularly for a period of 6 months, to understand their difficulties, ideas and solving it with our approach has been exhilarating. Setting up classrooms for over 190 students is another such achievement.

Kival has been the success story, the push that every new project could hope for, that any Enactus Team could dream of. 190 students, in a matter of few months and seeing the difference in their lives, in their studies, was a milestone.

So, start making those memories today.

Start contributing to the society today.

It all begins now, in this moment and it begins with you.

Remember- “Be the change you wish to see”

“I am doing my turn, what about you?”

-      - Saachi Jain Jaiswal

      Vice President 

Enactus H.R College.

My Experience as a CACR Volunteer.

The computer literacy programme in BMC schools is one of the most important programmes of the Citizens Association for Child Rights (CACR). It aims to educate the youth with regards to computers and their widespread practical applications, which can simplify several aspects of our life.

We at Enactus H.R College of Commerce and Economics are privileged to be involved in this programme. It enabled us to embark on a memorable journey of discovery and unadulterated joy and it inspired me to such an extent that I will fondly remember this experience till my last breath.

Volunteering at the Adarsh Nagar municipal school at Worli and teaching the students of the 6^th Standard reassured my faith in a brighter future for this generation and our country as a whole. The enthusiasm and zeal of the students was truly breathtaking!

HOW WAS IT DONE?

Our first step was convincing the headmaster about the manner in which our programme would benefit the students, so we spoke to him about our two day programme of introducing them to the ‘LibreOffice’ software. He was receptive to our ideas and gladly agreed to co-operate. We were subsequently introduced to the computer teacher, who would be present during our programme and who would assume responsibility for the rest of the days once we had played our part. The 6^th standard children were surprisingly well versed with the basics of computers. They were familiar with the components of a computer and were adept at basic functions such as ‘Cut Copy Paste’, but when asked to come forward and demonstrate, they were hesitant and appeared slightly perplexed about the procedures to be followed.

DAY 1-We started our session on the same day with a few videos on how to manoeuvre the software. We would pause it at regular intervals and explain it to them, and then show them a demonstration .This was held in the school’s Audio-visual room. The students took down notes and made a list of all the steps and instructions shown to them, since they were told that they would have to do it themselves the following day. They were also told that they would be marked on it. They had a smile on their face every time they answered one of our questions. The look of achievement in their eyes was truly overwhelming. 

DAY 2- The Practical session. It was time to put the knowledge that they had acquired on the previous day into action. We divided them into groups of two and started it off step by step. A vast majority of the students had their books open and were tirelessly trying to achieve the desired result, although some of them were reluctant to do anything unless ‘Didi’ or ‘Sir’ was standing next to them! It soon turned into a jolly competition as to who could format their document better. They used our teachings to good effect and we noticed that they knew a lot more on their departure as compared to their arrival. They were all given exercises in which they had to create a document containing their names and addresses. We helped them initially but once they got a hang of it, they started doing it on their own. They helped each other and once all of them had created the document, we conducted a mini test. We asked them to show us how they did it, and surprisingly all of them were able to answer our questions satisfactorily. They smiled everytime they heard a "very good" or a "bahut acha". Subsequently they saved their documents and rushed to the AV room where we had a small quiz session. Every correct answer fetched them a couple of chocolates...and we witnessed a marvellous sight! All the students had their hands raised up, ready to answer and even demonstrate if necessary! Their computer teacher sat there with a smile on seeing his class. He said they were never that enthusiastic about studying before.

END OF THE PROGRAMME

We reached the conclusion of our programme. The principal, who was present during the quiz, said that he was glad to see us make a difference in the lives of his students in just 2 days. He clicked a few pictures for his school book with the chirpy children and as we left he said “Ek din yeh bache asmaan chuyenge aur apke jaise log us muskaan ke liye jimedar honge”. We were ecstatic at hearing these words from such a reputable and dignified man.

In conclusion, I would like to say that CACR through their CLP are changing lives and building future entrepreneurs. Computers are the basis of today’s modernised and technologically fast-moving world. By introducing these little children to the basics, we feel like we are making a huge difference to their lives by giving them a brighter and promising future.

It gives me great pride in saying that I was a part of this initiative and I hope a lot more of us are able to contribute to projects like these. Watching eager students with their unquenchable thirst for knowledge reminded me of my youth. If our programme has inspired even one child, then I will regard it as a success. 

Was it a success? According to the response we received from the children, the answer is a resounding YES!

I love the work WE do, and I am glad I'm a part of something bigger than myself. How WE at Enactus do what we do, without counting hours, benefits or rewards. WE do what we do, because we believe that there is good in this society everywhere! And we just need to trigger it! 

-Rochelle Soares

Member

Enactus H.R College.

Kaleidoscope of Memories.

When you start your year as a freshman, you don't really carry a to-do list around, especially the one that includes joining Enactus.
Enactus happened to me. One of the things I'm grateful for, actually.

Just giving you the heads up, this post is not a five hundred word story of how I being part of Enactus, changed people's lives, it's a five hundred word truth of how Enactus changed me.

When I registered for this, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Enactus, is not just a club, it's a way of life, once you're in, you can't possibly get out of it.
If someone asks me what Enactus means to me at this stage, I cant really answer, how do you describe something that means so much? Today, I have given it a try to put it into words, so here it goes,

Enactus helped me explore, not just the world outside, but inside. It has made me do things I never knew I was capable of. For a person who has never seen an annual report, designing one can be quite a task. Now every time I walk on the road, yellow-bordering random things, I ask myself one question, What do you see?

Enactus encouraged the idea of teamwork. Working in a team, especially when your ideas are a tad bit different from others, can be hard. You know you've changed when you still can stab the person you secretly dislike and call it names, only this time, it's all in your head.
Getting to know different people, from strangers to fellow members and from fellow members to family, you practically live half your life working on projects with them. Don't be surprised when they unlock your phone or order your usual from your favorite eatery, both, without you knowing.

Enactus taught me how to convince a person to use something they didnt know they need. How do you walk into a slum and prove to them English is the obstacle that is standing between their child and his dreams? And then convince them that we, a bunch of college students, would help him work towards achieving this dream?

Enactus gives your college life a whole new meaning, being Social Entrepreneurs while studying for a degree, isnt easy. Working hard to fulfill someone else's dreams at the same time as your own, isnt easy. Making someone believe you work to improve their life and living up to their expectations, isnt easy.

But you know what is? Cherishing all these memories.
All those village visits, late nights on working out business models for a project, preparing for the nationals presentation, early morning trainings, brainstorming on marketing campaigns and most importantly, working as a team for something much larger than all of us. One day, all of this will come back to you, like a kaleidoscope of memories, make sure you're ready for it.


-Divya Sanbhwani
Director, Marketing and PR
Enactus H.R College.

Enactus Files.

When life gives you lemons, throw them back at life, hard, and demand to see the life manager because you can do way more than making lemonade or squeezing the lemons in people’s eyes. This is what Enactus is about- say no to bandwagon effect, think out of the box and do something different.

     

We all have already established the dynamic platform provided to us and how it actually forms a strong base to bring social change. Being a part of Enactus, here are a few things, in my opinion, every Enactus member should do and leverage upon:

a.       It’s always a good idea to take your brain for a ride.

-          Every situation can be viewed and weighed from various angles and it is always an excellent choice to let your brain sweat and struggle till it reaches the peak of the best possible solution. It’s also time to make sure that same mistakes are not repeated; rather be wise to commit new mistakes and explore the possibilities of making new mistakes. There is always a good outcome with every mistake. Think smart and act smart.

b.      Think beyond the competition.

-          There is no denying the National Competition and World Cup are the best experiences and memories to cherish for eternity. But throughout the year, when you are striving to make your project “Competition Perfect”, take a different route and achieve milestones by making your target audience sustainable and independent. This could be summed up as- Don’t work for an opportunity, give your best shot and opportunity will be served with wine and cheese and all the perks because you deserve it and the universe owes it to you for all the hard work you’ve put in.

c.       Say hello to the entrepreneur in you.

-          We are a part of an organisation where we can create a business with having nothing at stake. It’s the most apt time to test the waters and build your own business out of things we didn’t even consider, sometimes, to be important. Wake up the entrepreneur in you and enhance the skills while still in college. Make yourself ready to face the world and be street-smart.

d.      Convince or get convinced.

-          It is very important to stand up for yourself and voice out your opinions. It might stupid in your head but it all comes to the first point mentioned- it is a different perspective and people ought to know and think about it, too. At the same time, don’t force your opinions on others and be calm while speaking about them. Ideas and opinions can be put forth without being rigid or aggressive about them. Our team follows the policy of “Convince or get convinced”, where we make sure no thought is rejected without the person being satisfied with the reasons. The point is quite self-explanatory, actually.

e.      Build contacts and explore networks.

-          Enactus is one of the only platforms which gives us immense scope to explore our networks. All teams of a particular country should come together and socialise apart from the National Competition. Also, a measured and a perfect use of global network with 1600 universities through Internet or other means should be built upon. I genuinely think we all should genuinely consider this and act upon it. Also, a healthy relationship with the people we meet from the corporate world should be maintained.

f.        Give your inputs but make sure you make the most of the time you invest.

-          This point is kind of the gist of this entire piece. Make sure to observe everything. All of us are at least a part of Enactus for more than two years and if you actually observe and look back, there will be a drastic change in you- in the way you speak, present yourself and the way you think. Always be happy to welcome change and will do wonders for you in long term.

g.       You have a fairy tale to tell.

-          This is the best and my most favourite part. Your project impact is because of your efforts and it becomes your story which you always tell with lot of pride. It is a story with a happy ending and a strong and real life story. Your beneficiary is the real Disney princess or the prince charming.

I am sure you are aware of most of this but not many of us make the most of it. Observe all of this in all meetings and field work. It’s the elaborated pledge every Enactus member should take and should adhere to. Cheers!

-Jimisha Dalal

President, Enactus H.R College.