Bhubaneswar: Dharmananda Bhoi and Shanti Murmu, students of Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) Bhubaneswar have been selected as best Youth Venture by Ashoka Foundation. The national contest was held in Bangalore in August month where both tribal students presented their social venture projects. Dharmananda and Shanti are the first ever tribal youth ventures in India selected by Ashoka.
The project presented by Dharmananda was titled ‘UNNATI. He explained his idea to engage rural people in sports as it is not only a source of recreation but also a career. Dharmananda is interested to promote sports in his community. Shanti presented her project ‘PARIVARTAN’, regarding development of society through life skill education. The rural people could live a healthy life through various life skills.
After getting selected, these two students will receive support in the form of extensive mentorship and training through a structured programme, and shall become a part of Ashoka’s Global network of Social Innovators and Entrepreneurs.
Commenting on their achievements, Dr Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT and KISS said, a new era has started after selection of two tribal students of KISS as best social entrepreneurs. Dr Samant congratulated Dharamananda and Shanti for their success. As many as 19 short-listed students from various states from across the country participated in the discussion where Dharmananda and Shanti were selected as best social entrepreneurs.
Ashoka is one of the largest networks of social entrepreneurs worldwide, with over 3,000 Ashoka Fellows in 70 countries creating large-scale impact through new innovations. Founded in 1980, it is an international network that is driving the social sector and offering a platform for people dedicated to changing the world. Each year, through the programme the foundation recognizes a very small number of students as “Youth Ventures”.
Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) based in Bhubaneswar is the largest residential institute for the tribals in the world, providing accomodation, food, health care, education from Kindergarten to Post Graduation, vocational training and all other basic amenities of life absolutely free with a job after completion of education. KISS is a part of Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) University.
