Who We Are

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School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) India was launched in February 2016 www.the-sseindia.org and delivers customized learning programmes for improving well-being of every individual in the society so they can reach their full potential. We invest in people.

We work to promote social entrepreneurship by offering fellowship programmes, trainings on social leadership development, capacity building of small & medium NGOs and social enterprises and work with the government to enhance livelihoods, entrepreneurship development and localising SDGs.

At SSE India, we mobilise the experience of people who have identified an unmet social need and support them to use entrepreneurial approaches to create a sustainable solution to addresses the issues. We look for great ideas from people with first-hand experience of social issues because we believe personal experience builds a strong foundation of practical knowledge.

Our Philosophy

Focus on the individual. For us, human interaction leading to individual transformation is at the core of the SSE India programme.

Our Vision

We want to live in a world where social inequality no longer exists. Where every individual is born with the power and the means to change the world.

Our Objective

Support initiatives of social entrepreneurs who want to bring about social innovation in its truest sense.

WHAT MAKES SSE UNIQUE?

Alternative methodology honed over 25+ years, proven effective through independent evaluations
Focus on “un-learning” limiting beliefs and behaviours
High-trust classrooms and hands-on learning
Exceptionally diverse community, a rich environment for break-through thinking, and social solidarity
Connection to a network of social innovators in India, UK, Canada and Australia

Global Network

Empowering Changemakers to Tackle Society's Biggest Challenges

The School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) empowers individuals to tackle society's biggest challenges through inspiring, action-based learning. With a global network of social entrepreneurs, SSE is transforming communities and improving lives.

SSE's innovative approach to learning is not confined to traditional classrooms; it is inspiring, action-based, and accessible, empowering social entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into reality.

SSE's impact extends beyond its direct beneficiaries. By supporting social entrepreneurs, the organization helps create a ripple effect of positive change, transforming communities and improving the lives of millions.

With a global network of over 5,000 alumni, SSE is a driving force in shaping a more just and equitable world.

SSE's commitment to social entrepreneurship extends beyond training and education. The organization provides a range of support services, including funding, mentoring, and networking opportunities, helping social entrepreneurs navigate the challenges of starting and running their ventures.

SSE's work is a testament to the power of individual action and the transformative potential of social entrepreneurship. By empowering individuals to become catalysts for change, SSE is making a lasting impact on the world, one social entrepreneur at a time.

Meet the Directors

Discover the Faces Behind Our Success

" I believe SSE India plays a critical role in facilitating social entrepreneurs to sharpen and refine their purpose into a clear vision and approach. It then commits to enabling social entrepreneurs in building their ideas into actionable enterprises. We have invested in developing learning programmes that help in building key capabilities for entrepreneurship, developing a strong peer network for support, and bringing in mentor support in an effective way so that early-stage ideas have a real chance of survival and growth.

Only when we create a large pool of such potential enterprises and leaders can we hope to have a few well scaled up enterprises creating deeper and wider impact. But we can't do this alone. Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes an ecosystem to raise impactful social entrepreneurs. Our work at SSE India needs the support of others in the ecosystem-corporate foundations, institutional funders and philanthropists who are also keen to help a thousand social enterprise bloom and are willing to collaborate in meaningful ways to achieve impact. " -Parvathi Menon

Parvathi Menon - Chairperson

Sharmila Karve - Director

Ness Wadia - Director

Gurprriet Singh - Director

Advisors: Jaivir Singh, Alastair Wilson, Richard Collier Keywood

Glossary

What exactly is a social enterprise? And what is a social entrepreneur?

Our glossary will help explain the key terms used in the social enterprise sector.

What is a social entrepreneur?

In its simplest definition, a social entrepreneur is someone who applies entrepreneurial traits and abilities for social benefit.

It is a new term for something that has existed throughout the ages rather than a new phenomenon itself.

A social entrepreneur identifies and implements practical solutions to social problems through innovation, resourcefulness, persistence and pragmatism. They have a clear understanding of their overall goal and the primacy of their social mission, and combine hardheadedness with idealism, choosing whichever models, governance and revenue streams best help them achieve their vision.

What is a social enterprise?

A social enterprise is a business that trades for a social and/or environmental purpose. It will have a clear sense of its ‘social mission’: which means it will know what difference it is trying to make, who it aims to help, and how it plans to do it. It will bring in most or all of its income through selling goods or services. And it will also have clear rules about what it does with its profits, reinvesting these to further the ‘social mission’

Social enterprises come in many shapes and sizes from large national and international businesses to small community based enterprises. But they all:

Are businesses that aim to generate their income by selling goods and services, rather than through grants and donations
Are set up to specifically make a difference
Reinvest the profits they make in their social mission

Examples of social enterprises include: Mirakle Couriers, Metta Spa, Goonj, Safe Hands 24×7, Janta Meals, Sakha Cabs, Green Cobbler, Super 30, Desi Crew.

What is social impact measurement?

Social impact measurement is calculating how much of a difference your organisation is making. Measurement of your impact will enable your organisation to improve by identifying areas of strength or weakness. Read this blog post: ‘5 key lessons from our Measuring Social Impact course’

What is social franchising?

Social franchising is the process of using franchising to scale social impact. Social enterprises can be franchises just like a commercial business, however instead of scaling to increase profits they use a franchise model to achieve greater social impact.

What is corporate social responsibility?

Corporate Social Responsibility – commonly referred to as CSR- is the social activities a corporate organisation chooses to engage in. CSR encompasses financial donations, staff volunteering and pro-bono support. Read more about how social enterprises can work with corporates.

Who We Are

Our Philosophy

Our Vision

Our Objective

WHAT MAKES SSE UNIQUE?

Jobs

Meet the Team

Global Network

Empowering Changemakers to Tackle Society's Biggest Challenges

Meet the Directors

Glossary

What is a social entrepreneur?

What is a social enterprise?

What is social impact measurement?

What is social franchising?

What is corporate social responsibility?

DOING LEANRNING

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