BACKGROUND
India has one of the youngest populations on an ageing planet. In comparison to 37 years in China, the US, 45 years in Western Europe, and 49 years in Japan, the median age in India will be 28 years old by 2022. But there aren't enough capable leaders in India who are driven to advance a peaceful, just, and sustainable society.
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In comparison to nations like China (24%), the US (52%), the UK (68%), Germany (75%), Japan (80%), and South Korea (96%), India has an extremely low proportion of skilled workers (4.69% of the total workforce). Studies show that less than 50% of young individuals who graduate from educational institutions are employable.
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Do people also talk about the leadership dilemma while discussing the shortage of trained workers?
This leadership gap among our youth is something that we at “Ignite India” take very seriously.
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“Communities must work together to solve the issues and threats facing our society in order to address the problems and transform our world into one that is more equal, peaceful, and sustainable for all.”
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The government, international organizations, NGOs, and other stakeholders should be aware of the important role that young play in resolving these issues if the Global Goals are to be achieved. Sadly, young people have not always been viewed as change agents and champions. In a nation like India, where half of the population is under 25, two-thirds are under 35, and the country is predicted to have the largest workforce in the world by 2027 with a billion people between the ages of 15 and 64, an effort should be made to identify, train, and equip these workforces.
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“One of the world's youngest democracies, India wants to take advantage of its demographic dividend, empower its youth, and create jobs, yet it still struggles to involve them in decision-making.”
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Even the current educational system has limited ability to address these issues due to high rivalry, an imbalanced distribution of curricular and extracurricular activities, a lack of discussion places for educators, and other problems.
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Many bright young people want to go to industrialized countries for a greater quality of life, or they lack the time to contribute to the development of their communities. Furthermore, success is defined in terms of what “I” have accomplished, rather than concentrating on what “WE” are achieving.
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Are our educational institutions fostering social change leaders? Do social changemakers in their communities have a support system? Are they receiving care for their wellbeing? Do social activists support one another?
The “Ignite Change Agents Network Summit(ICAN SUMMIT)” is being held by Ignite India in this instance.
WHY “iCAN SUMMIT”?
THE LACK OF A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY, A FAILURE TO BUILD CAPACITIES, AND FINANCIAL SECURITY
Changemakers frequently experience loneliness as they develop their initiatives and businesses because they lack like-minded peers with whom they can share their struggles as major stakeholders of organisation. With 66%* of changemakers claiming they can only pay themselves a token amount for their job (41%* cannot at all), and only 9%* able to fully support themselves through their work, "Changemaking" is also not financially rewarding. Additionally, 90%* of Young Changemakers feel they need more skill development, and 89% of them agree that having a peer group was helpful.
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BURNOUT AND SELF-CARE
59%* of young changemakers have reported feeling burnt out in some way since beginning their projects, according to our research. Self-care, resilience, and wellbeing are still frequently overlooked in the social impact field even though awareness of the issue is growing.
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PARADIGM OF THE HERO
Many changemakers fall prey to the alluring "heropreneur" paradigm, which exalts the founder or leader role, and the traditional growth paradigm (i.e., the idea that one must expand an organisation to be successful rather than growing one's effect). Frequently, greater collaborative systemic impact is sacrificed in order to achieve this.
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LOST POTENTIAL FOR IMPACT
Beyond personal hardship, we think the aforementioned issues also have a tremendous untapped impact potential on society as a whole and the social impact sector.
WHAT IS “IGNITE CHANGE AGENTS NETWORK”?
Ignite Change Agents Network is a platform that connects and encourages collaboration among young (18-35 year old) entrepreneurs, co-founders, and key decision makers of social companies, community organisations, and non-governmental organisations.
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In the India that iCAN envisions, everyone is a part of welcoming communities, where they form strong bonds and work together to take effective action for the welfare of both people and the planet.
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The Change Agents Network's soul would be the community that would emerge from the iCAN Summit each year, working on a wide range of social issues. 20 to 25 change agents would join the networks during a three-day summit, building lifelong human connections, improving wellbeing, and enabling significant peer-learning and partnerships.
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After that, they receive support for their work as well as lifelong, ongoing community involvement and capacity building.
The first ICAN Summit is slated to take place from November 25th to November 27th, 2022.
VALUES THAT WE HOLD ON IN CHANGE AGENTS NETWORK
COLLABORATION
We perceive cooperation where others see competition. To capitalise on one another's influence and spur systemic change, we exchange resources and have aims that are in alignment.
TRUST
We trust one another with our thoughts and emotions, and we occasionally share untold information about change-making. We are aware that everything we divulge to the community remains there.
SHARING AND ORIGINALITY
We welcome our diversity fully and freely communicate our opinions and feelings. We are free to be our authentic, vulnerable selves.
WELLBEING
We take responsibility for our own wellbeing and actively support others around us. We are mindful for their welfare and make every effort to be of support.
JOY & CREATIVITY
Through the work we do, we recognise the value of creativity and fun in igniting positive change.
ACTIVITIES
TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION
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The opportunity for the iCAN Summit will be fully funded. The organisers will cover your lodging, food, and accommodations.
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Participants must arrive at the location by Day 0's evening or Day 1's early morning.
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There will be a pick-up and drop-off service at the closest railway station at a particular time.
