Social Shapes Foundation

Enabling choices for rural youth

Fostering aspiring communities, encouraging informed decision-making

Young Adults

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Villages

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Gram Panchayats

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We assist young individuals in understanding themselves and their environment, exploring career options, and making informed decisions that enhance their well-
being and benefit their communities.

Focus groups

We focus on rural adolescents, youth and communities

The Age of Transition

01

→ Objective: Build self-esteem, expand thinking horizon, and support enrolment into higher education.

→ Outputs and outcomes: Increased self-confidence and cognition levels, increased academic enrollments, and enhanced understanding and meaningful articulation of aspirations.

→ Engagement period: 24 months (250 hours)

The Age of Opportunity

02

→ Objective: Provide a foundation for smooth school-to-work transition and informed career decisions, enhance job readiness, and provide awareness and support for employment opportunities.

→ Outputs and outcomes: Increased awareness about educations streams and institutes, increased enrolments in higher education and training, informed transition into productive employment, and increased number of community leaders in the villages.

→ Engagement period: 12 months (120 hours)

Families and Community

03

→ Objective: Encourage better parent-child engagement, increase participation of parents and community in the learning cycle of young individuals, and work with the community on critical issues faced by its youth.

→ Outputs and outcomes: Enhanced collective decision-making, increased participation of youth in community matters, and increased awareness among parents about current and future goals of their children.

→ Engagement period: Every two weeks during the engagement period.

“ When you give, you empower.”
Join us in making a meaningful impact.

Advancing the Sustainable
Development Goals

No Poverty

Quality Education

Gender Equality

Decent Work and Economic Growth

Reduced Inequalities

Sustainable Cities and Communities

Partnerships for the Goals

How we work

We operate through four key programs

Vikalp

We help young people from low-income households in remote rural villages discover their identities and explore their options while setting life goals. We focus on supporting them as they transition from school to work, move from unstable jobs to further education or enhance their skills, or aspire to community leadership and stable and productive careers.

Vikalp

Maargdarshan

We help young people in residential schools shape their academic and career paths. Our program encourages the exploration of various options and highlights the benefits of pursuing passion with enthusiasm and discipline. We empower them to identify opportunities aligned with their interests, enabling them to build their futures independently.

Maargdarshan

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Aspirations Index

This tool helps measure the presence and effectiveness of an aspiration ecosystem at the community level.

Aspirations Index

This tool helps measure the presence and effectiveness of an aspiration ecosystem at the community level.

The Shapes Network

Through this technology platform, we are curating a digital Aspirations Ecosystem.

The Shapes Network

Through this technology platform, we are curating a digital Aspirations Ecosystem.

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मीटिंग में जो लैपटॉप सिखाया गया था, उसने बच्चों की बहुत मदद की है| आजकल लैपटॉप और कंप्यूटर चलाना सीखना बहुत ज़रूरी है, क्योंकि अब सब कुछ इसी से होता है| हमारे यहाँ कंप्यूटर सीखने के लिए कोई साधन नहीं है| तो “विकल्प” में जो सिखाया जा रहा है, वह बच्चों के लिए बहुत ही बढ़िया हो रहा है|
स्कूल में भी जब बच्चे कंप्यूटर सीखते हैं, तो वे बहुत अच्छा कर पाते हैं|”विकल्प” की मीटिंग में पहले से सीखने के कारण स्कूल में वे बिना डरे कंप्यूटर पर ज़्यादा अच्छा काम कर पा रहे हैं|”विकल्प” की मीटिंग में जाने वाले सभी बच्चे अच्छे से और बिना डरे कंप्यूटर चला पा रहे हैं, जबकि बाकी बच्चे ठीक से नहीं कर पा रहे हैं|

The laptop training provided during the meeting has been extremely helpful for the children. Nowadays, learning to operate a laptop and computer is very important because everything relies on it. Here, we don’t have any resources to learn computers. So, what is being taught through ‘Vikalp’ is incredibly beneficial for the children. Even at school, when children learn computers, they perform really well. Thanks to the prior training in ‘Vikalp’ meetings, they are now able to work on computers more confidently and effectively in school. All the children attending the ‘Vikalp’ meetings can now operate computers confidently, while others struggle to do so.

Bimala Munda

Mother of Padmini and Tikseswar, Mundapada

मैं यह देखकर खुश हूं कि हमारे पंचायत के सभी गाँवों की लड़कियाँ, लड़कों के साथ मिलकर विकल्प कार्यक्रमों में भाग ले रही हैं| लड़कियों के लिए विभिन्न गतिविधियों में भाग लेने के लिए आत्मविश्वास महसूस करना बहुत महत्वपूर्ण है| हाल ही में एक खेल कार्यक्रम के दौरान, मैंने देखा कि कैसे युवा लड़कियाँ हर पहलू में भाग ले रही थीं और समुदाय बड़े पैमाने पर एकत्रित हुआ था| ऐसे और कार्यक्रम आयोजित करना जो युवाओं को आगे आने और अपने घरों से बाहर निकलने का प्लेटफ़ॉर्म प्रदान करें, उनकी वृद्धि में मदद करेगा| ग्राम पंचायत कार्यालय इन प्रयासों का समर्थन करने के लिए जो भी कर सकता है, करेगा|।

I am happy to see girls from all villages, even the most interior ones, participating in Vikalp events along with boys. It is important for girls to feel confident in participating in different activities. During a recent sports event, I saw how young girls participated in all aspects and the community came together in large numbers. Conducting more events that provide a platform for youth to come forward and out of their homes will help them grow. The GP office will do whatever we can to support these efforts.

Arti Padhan

Sarpanch, Lakhanpur Gram Panchayat

10वीं पूरी करने के बाद आर्थिक समस्या के कारण बरखा और प्रदीप 11वीं में प्रवेश नहीं ले पाए थे। बिना पढ़ाई किए घर में थे| बरखा का पढ़ाई में बहुत मन था, लेकिन वह कुछ पढ़ाई नहीं कर पा रही थी|
उस समय में विकल्प कार्यक्रम में दोनों जुड़ गए| हफ्ते में दो बार बैठकें होती थीं। बैठकों में जाकर दोनों ने बहुत कुछ नया सीखा, जैसे कि कंप्यूटर चलाना| दोनों को बैठक में जाना बहुत अच्छा लगता था|
11वीं के प्रवेश के समय, विकल्प के स्टाफ ने ऑनलाइन आवेदन करने से लेकर प्रवेश और विषय चयन तक हर प्रक्रिया में बहुत मदद की| दोनों बच्चों का अच्छे कॉलेजों में प्रवेश हो पाया। बरखा का कॉलेज बहुत अच्छा है| अगर विकल्प नहीं होता तो हमें बरखा के कॉलेज के बारे में कभी पता नहीं चलता|

After completing 10th grade, Barsha and Pradeep couldn’t enroll in 11th grade due to financial issues. They stayed at home without studying. Barsha was very eager to study, but she couldn’t focus on her studies.
At that time, both joined the Vikalp program. They attended meetings twice a week. In the meetings, both learned many new things, such as how to operate a computer. They really enjoyed attending the meetings.
When it was time for 11th-grade admission, the staff of Vikalp helped a lot throughout the process, from applying online to the admission and subject selection. Both children were able to get admitted to good colleges. Barsha’s college is very good. If it weren’t for Vikalp, we would have never known about Barsha’s college.

Rebati Kisan

Mother of Barsha Kisan and Pradeep Kisan, Bandipahad

2 साल तक लॉकडाउन की वजह से सभी स्कूल बंद थे| बंदीपाहाड़ स्कूल में वैसे भी ठीक से पढ़ाई नहीं होती थी। अचानक स्कूल बंद हो गया, तो बच्चे पढ़ाई छोड़कर इधर-उधर घूमने लगे| पढ़ाई से सबका ध्यान हट गया|।हमें पढ़ाई करनी है, यह सब भूल गए थे| इधर-उधर के कामों में समय बर्बाद कर देते थे| जो कोई पढ़ाई करने के लिए बोलता था, उनकी बात नहीं सुनते थे|
कोविड के बाद “विकल्प” आया| बच्चे कार्यक्रम से जुड़े। हफ्ते में 2 बार जाकर एक जगह पर बैठने लगे| ऐसा हर हफ्ते करने से, एक जगह बैठने का इंटरेस्ट डेवलप हुआ| गेम्स के माध्यम से पढ़ाई करने में उन्हें मजा आने लगा| वे “विकल्प” की मीटिंग कभी भी मिस नहीं करना चाहते थे| इस तरह पढ़ाई में उनका इंटरेस्ट डेवलप हुआ| जब पढ़ाई में रुचि बढ़ी, तो स्कूल खुलने के बाद वे खुद अपने मन से स्कूल जाने लगे|

Due to the lockdown, schools were closed for two years. In Bandipahad, even before that, studies in the school weren’t up to the mark. When schools suddenly closed, children stopped studying and started wandering aimlessly. They completely lost focus on their studies and forgot that they needed to study. They wasted their time engaging in random activities and didn’t listen to anyone who encouraged them to study.
After COVID, Vikalp was introduced. Children joined the program and started gathering at a designated place twice a week. Gradually, this regular habit of sitting together developed their interest in staying focused. Through games, they began enjoying learning. They never wanted to miss a Vikalp meeting. This helped them develop a renewed interest in studying. When their interest in studies increased, they started going to school on their own after schools reopened.

Shanti Bhoi

Mother of Sunita Bhoi, Sadakpada

Bimala Munda

Mother of Padmini and Tikseswar, Mundapada

Arti Padhan

Sarpanch, Lakhanpur Gram Panchayat

Rebati Kisan

Mother of Barsha Kisan and Pradeep Kisan, Bandipahad

Shanti Bhoi

Mother of Sunita Bhoi, Sadakpada

Stories from the field

The quiet power of belief, opportunity, and resilience

“One day, I want to sing on a big stage. I know it will happen – I just have to keep going.” – Pratima Nayak, age 11.

Back to school at 24

After a 7 year break from studies – marked by failure, migration, marriage and motherhood – Guri Badaraita has returned to the classroom.

From herding goats to building dreams

Mo Kahani (my story) – Pradeep’s journey

The power of exposure and information

“Didi, aap Police Officer kaise bani? Main bhi banna chahti hoon… Aap please guide karo.”

Enabling choices for rural youth

Focus groups

The Age of Transition

01

The Age of Opportunity

02

Families and Community

03

“ When you give, you empower.”
Join us in making a meaningful impact.

Advancing the Sustainable
Development Goals

No Poverty

Quality Education

Gender Equality

Decent Work and Economic Growth

Reduced Inequalities

Sustainable Cities and Communities

Partnerships for the Goals

How we work

Vikalp

Vikalp

Maargdarshan

Maargdarshan

Aspirations Index

Aspirations Index

The Shapes Network

The Shapes Network

Bimala Munda

Arti Padhan

Rebati Kisan

Shanti Bhoi

Bimala Munda

Arti Padhan

Rebati Kisan

Shanti Bhoi

Stories from the field

Quick Links

Programs

Get in Touch

Enabling choices for rural youth

Focus groups

The Age of Transition

01

The Age of Opportunity

02

Families and Community

03

“ When you give, you empower.”Join us in making a meaningful impact.

Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals

No Poverty

Quality Education

Gender Equality

Decent Work and Economic Growth

Reduced Inequalities

Sustainable Cities and Communities

Partnerships for the Goals

How we work

Vikalp

Vikalp

Maargdarshan

Maargdarshan

Aspirations Index

Aspirations Index

The Shapes Network

The Shapes Network

Bimala Munda

Arti Padhan

Rebati Kisan

Shanti Bhoi

Bimala Munda

Arti Padhan

Rebati Kisan

Shanti Bhoi

Stories from the field

“ When you give, you empower.”
Join us in making a meaningful impact.

Advancing the Sustainable
Development Goals