By- Enactus SRCC
Enactus, formerly known as Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) is an international non-profit student-run organisation in 39 countries around the world and has over 70,000 students as active members. Enactus brings together a diverse network of university students, academic professionals and industry leaders around the world with the shared mission of creating a better and more sustainable world.
Enactus SRCC since its inception in 2007, has taken up 14 community outreach projects till date, of which 12 have been completed and 2 are continuing. Their two running projects are Project Asbah and Project Virasat.
Project Asbah is an initiative aimed at providing clean drinking water to rural households and urban slum dwellers at highly affordable rates i.e. Rs 4/- for 20 litres by setting up community water filtration plants. The project has impacted more than 26,000 lives and created 18 women entrepreneurs by establishing 9 plants till date. Project Asbah won the World Water Race 2019 and has been lauded by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Sh. Narendra Modi and the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Project Virasat is an umbrella organisation that aims to revive the age-old craft forms of India. Our endeavour began with the Thathiyar community of Jandiala Guru, Amritsar. We established P-TAL (Punjabi Thathera Art Legacy) to revive the dying art form of handcrafting copper and brass utensils using hammering techniques, by mobilising artisans and providing them contemporary designs and better demand avenues.
During the coronavirus pandemic, we identified an opportunity and launched a 2-week social entrepreneurship development programme (SEIP), an initiative to help develop the entrepreneurial spirit in the young minds around us.
In order to provide frontline gears to the communities in need and simultaneously generating livelihood opportunities, we started an initiative called Aavaran. Through this COVID response initiative, we distributed over 6000+ khadi and cotton masks in just a span of one month, which in turn financially supported 6 women. We joined hands with Chintan to provide face shields, reusable masks and rubber gloves to waste collectors and segregators which ensured their safety against the health hazards. Through our collaboration with the Human Welfare Foundation and Dr. Batra’s Homeopathy Clinic, immunity boosters were distributed to 600 families in the Masoodpur Village.
During these uncertain and testing times, the pandemic took a huge toll on various sectors of the society. With the urge to throttle into the ‘New Normal’ and the desire to go ‘VocalforLocal’, innovation and creativity are of supreme importance.
Project Virasat, through its design innovation, robust digital marketing and most importantly, perseverance has generated sustainable revenues for our artisans during these unprecedented times to ensure that they don’t have to suffer in any way.
Similarly, in Project Asbah, the women entrepreneurs are the real heroes who are not just selflessly working for the community but also redefining the spirit of social entrepreneurship. Each day, water is being provided to the community by operating the plants with all the safety norms being followed religiously.
This way Enactus has taught us to find the ray of light in the darkest of times and that nothing can ever beat belief, trust and passion. Enactus has given us an opportunity to become a part of something bigger than ourselves. Nothing compares to the pride that we get when we make someone’s life better. Enactus has built an emotion in all of us which helps us convert problems into opportunities for a brighter future for all.
