“A Door to Social Sector”
From exploring dentistry to finding his calling in social entrepreneurship, Santosh, founder of Svatah – an NGO empowering rural women and students with financial literacy – has had a rather exciting journey. His journey is a testament to the power of embracing unconventional paths and the transformative power of mentorship. Santosh’s story highlights the importance of exploration, mentorship, and self-belief, which catalyzes success. Let’s see what his journey entails.
Building Svatah
Studying dentistry, little did Santosh know that he would leave this profession to do something different. He got involved with Teach for India (TFI) and worked towards educating young minds. And that was his calling – education. Supported by TFI, Santosh ran pilot projects on financial literacy with rural women and children.
“One of my interns sent a poster of the Changemaker 2020 fellowship inviting applications with funding for changemakers. I applied for the fellowship and was selected for it. When I joined, the program had already begun, and Neha inducted me to the program.”
Santosh shares that Rubaroo was among the first believers in his idea of change, and since then, has impacted the lives of 600+ women and 400+ children from different states.
“As a young social entrepreneur without any background, you need confidence and people saying you’re on the right path. That’s what Rubaroo did for me. I go back to all the reports, see the presentations, reflect on how we’ve grown, and think about the organisation in the long run.”
Expanding Horizons as a Door to the Social Sector
Currently working for two state governments – Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh; Santosh and his team have conducted several sessions on financial literacy.
“I expanded my horizons by meeting people from the impact sector, which helped me understand different initiatives and expand my organisation. Those invaluable mentorship conversations with Shubhi, Neha, and Monisha have helped me push myself.”
Reflecting on the mentorship, Santosh shares that Rubaroo is a door to the social sector and a window for youth to find themselves. He further adds that opportunities for youth are scanty, and Rubaroo is filling the gap by providing diverse opportunities.
Stressing the importance of agency and accountability, Santosh believes that while being inclusive, it’s also essential to hold them accountable to the highest possible standards. Valuing time and putting systems in place of compassion and accountability will help organisations prosper.
A Word for the Young Changemakers
When asked about his advice for young changemakers joining Rubaroo, he says,” It’s different for different people. Rubaroo works best if it’s your first platform as a motivated individual – that way, Rubaroo provides you with a bigger window. However, if you’re a seasoned person, you’d have figured out several things Rubaroo does. It happens organically while working in the social sector. Go with an open heart, have fun, and do your best.”
Santosh’s insider perspective sheds light on how it’s about the initiative, not how the organisation (Rubaroo) functions. For him, the support stood out – the belief in his idea. He signs off by saying a few words on Rubaroo’s 10th anniversary.
“10 years look small in the bigger scheme of things. I think Rubaroo is a startup en route to making a larger impact. And I hope they tap more into tier 2 and tier 3 cities as people have a lot of motivation and passion to learn there.”
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