Social Impact Projects

Orion’s Leadership and Service Learning is a muti-staged program for activating our future generation towards empathetic action. Students are sensitized to realities beyond themselves and are connected with people and environments different from them. They are provided with an opportunity to not only develop themselves, but also enhance their interpersonal skills through meaningful yet enjoyable social impact projects.

The aim of ESL projects is to create a sustainable improvement in society and equip students with the tools to bring about a change, through active engagement in initiatives of their choice.Given this opportunity to lead, young people rise to the challenge and take on projects where they can make a difference. Each project is uniquely tailored to meet specific learning outcomes and community needs. 

The 3-6 months sessions (twice a week online ) entails 

• Effective Altruism- relationship with future
• Social innovation & growth using education
• Sustainable Development goals- issues around us
• Research Publications & using Artificial Intelligence for good
• Using creative and solution-centric strategies for change

 BENEFITS

Through ESL, students

• extend learning beyond school and enable students to enhance their skills.
• apply concepts they have learned in their education and utilize experiential insights critically and creatively 
• discover their own leadership style, identify root causes of problems in their community
• strengthen their ability to work together with people from different backgrounds
• hone their planning, execution, problem-solving, and leadership skills

Freedom from Malnutrition- (SDG 2&3)

The World Bank estimates that India is one of the highest-ranking countries in the world for the number of children suffering from malnutrition. The prevalence of underweight children in India is among the highest in the world. More than one-third of the world’s children who are wasted live in India. Our project aims to campaign for Nutrition in daily lives. The students and Orion have been relentlessly doing successful Dus ka Dum campaigns in many slums in Delhi- which include Ten rupees+ Ten-minute recipes. This includes making healthy recipes from sprouts, kale channe etc in ten minutes, talking about the value of nutrition in daily life, and through simulations and exercises showing the effects of malnutrition. The students also took support from MNC’s to ensure kids living in slums get access to nutrition through a better supply chain. They have also tied up with Mother Dairy for free milk at various such slums. The campaign aims to inculcate healthy eating in underprivileged pockets and in turn less dropouts from school (as malnutrition is affecting their focus and intelligence)

Inclusiveness project- Proudly Human (SDG10)

Only two percent of transgender people in India live with their parents, according to a 2018 study, backed by the National Human Rights Commission of India. Trans people are often discriminated against within the LGBTQ+ community and being the most visible, often face increased risks of marginalization and even violence. Proudly Human is the student's initiative to mainstream Transgenders in India. They have created a campaign- Scout and Pout through which they collected makeup for India’s first Trans modeling agency- Bold and have been closely working on skilling the Trans community. The students through an initiative Sashakta also study all the aspects of the employment of the transgender community and provide solutions and equal opportunity conversations to the table.

Reuse, Recycle, Upcycle (SDG 12&13)

Air pollution, water pollution, garbage, and pollution of the natural environment are all challenges for India. Environmental issues and Water are some of the primary causes of disease, health issues, and long-term livelihood impact for India. All these issues are in a closed-loop system — groundwater, agriculture, monsoon, pollution, emissions, trash, energy, climate change, Zero-waste, Recycling — these are all linked. Through this intervention, the students are working on understanding consumption and initiating various reuse and recycling strategies of tackling waste and recycling issues in neighbourhoods, schools, and communities.

Beyond Single-Use Plastic (SDG12&13)

80 percent of total plastic produced in India is discarded. It mostly ends up choking landfills, drains and rivers. Plastics can be recycled. and the materials recovered can be given a second-life. However, this method is not fully utilized, due to difficulties with the collection and sorting of plastic waste. We have very poor waste management facilities.

Even though recycling is the most effective way to deal with plastic waste, its effectiveness is highly depended on public awareness & economic viability. The country which generates 15,342 tonnes of plastic waste every day (TERI, 2018) needs a sustainable solution. Through this project, the students are devising solutions not just about carry bags but about packaging of food, PET bottles, bags, banners, buntings, flex, flags, plates , waste management or conversion of single use plastic and understanding whether other alternatives are as environment friendly.  

Digital Literacy & Dignified Living for Elderly (SDG 3&4)

The number of Indians over the age of 60 has hit an all-time high, accounting for 9 % of the country’s 131 crore population. We have been doing some research in various Old age homes, Day care centers and Senior Citizen clubs. The elderly face a number of problems due to the absence of an assured and sufficient income to support themselves for their healthcare, lack of Technology and other social securities.

In a country like India, safety is of utmost importance. For us, the generation that has grown up with a smartphone in our hands, the process of finding our way around is as simple as opening a map or calling some friends. But what if we did not have these amenities or know how to make use of them? Through this project our volunteer group spend time with elderly, teach them the new age technologies and help them with Income/savings scheme etc.

Music therapy (SDG 3)

Musicerapy is one of the expressive therapies, consisting of a process in which music and all its facets—physical, emotional, mental, social, aesthetic, and spiritual—helps people improve their physical and mental health, release stress and feel good. Our Voluntary band- Musicerapy goes to various places like old age homes, shelter homes, cancer kids and slum schools to perform and  capture everyone's hearts through Music. The project uses research of music on mental issues like depression, anxiety, autism as well as on Alzheimer, cancer etc.

Droplets in Jeopardy (SDG 6)

Population growth, rapid development, widespread pollution and bureaucratic mismanagement are putting tremendous pressure on the country’s depleting water resources. The project looks at whether Day Zero is inevitable and what we can do to create the change. An increasing population and rapid development are fast depleting the water resources it was blessed with:

Rivers are dying, cities are overwhelmed by sewage, surface water has become toxic and underground aquifers are running close to non-usable levels. Across India, 600 million people face acute water shortage, with around 200,000 of them dying every year because they lack access to clean water. This project involves a physical & social media campaign on saving water, grey water management in neighbourhood, schools and homes & a clean water initiatives with Industries and Govt bodies.

Unwasting Project (SDG 12)

We all need to support biodiversity and the preservation of natural resources. This projects includes both hands-on conservation work and community outreach. It includes environmental conservation projects like planting trees with local community members to prevent erosion, support community recycling efforts, Support Unwasting of food, gifts, clothes. Encourage repeat of clothes , sustainable living, promote organic gardening, reduce usage of pollutants, and assisted with research projects that aim to protect and preserve the local environment.  

Social and Economic Inclusion of Children (SDG 4&10)

The physical environments of Indian slums present many challenges to residents, particularly children. The slums typically lack proper sanitation, safe drinking water, or systematic garbage collection; there is usually a severe shortage of space inside the houses where the children live, and no public spaces dedicated to their use. Inadequate living conditions are the most pervasive violation of children’s rights, and can exacerbate and underpin the failure to realize many other rights.

Our program ASHA ( Aptitude, Social inclusion, Health & Aspiration) aims to help kids to better able to enjoy their fundamental human rights of education and growth.

Diversity and Inclusion (SDG 5&10)

India is a vibrant nation whose strength lies in its commitment to equal rights and to speech, religious and economic freedoms that enrich the lives of all citizens a secular, pluralistic society committed to inclusive growth. India is a boiling pot of cultures, ethnicities and practices. But we need an inclusive culture to help us progress, bringing equity and opportunity and making sure that differences are celebrated 

Our students have researched through diverse audiences and used story telling to bring a change. They have created various short films on this subject. The first you tube short film Soch created by students got rave reviews from various pockets. Its about the lack of Inclusion in Urban India. The second story- The others, is about class and caste issues in Urban India. The third story series is putting together thots and stories by eminent personalities doing significant work in their areas. Through these stories, campaigns and vision, the students are attempting to showcase the strength that we as a nation can be, if we become more Inclusive and accept Diversity

Upcycling by Nani (SDG 8&12) 

Upcycling by Nani is an initiative that supports design and development of eco friendly products generated through waste and recyclable material. Whether its festivals or regular gifting. Instead of giving brand-new, store-bought gifts, we urge people buying handmade and upcycled crafts. We are attempting to reduce landfill waste and supporting independent artists at the same time. This project is being mentored by our 70 year old Nani and supporting senior girls at the slum who are curating these wonderful products and increasing their meagre monthly incomes. We are using everyday items like Wine bottles, Waste cloth, Tetrapack etc in innovative ways to gift beautiful products  

One United World- SDG 5&10

The world needs empathy more than ever in today’s day and age. It is our mission to make people more empathetic to each other. We believe that by taking small steps of kindness, we can co-create a better world for everyone

The students are collaborating with a team of students and sensitizing everyone to the overlooked sides of special education needs children. They are also are creating a platform to encourage women to embrace their natural traits which make them much more capable and powerful than what the world has been making them believe. If men respect and treat feminine traits equal to masculine traits, they will feel empowered.

Proudly Human- School Diversity (SDG 4&10)

Issues like bullying, Social media trolling, Gender bashing on whatsapp , disrespect of specially abled, underprivileged, LGBTQI and old is increasing in schools in India. The core cause of such behaviour is lack of appreciating diversity and lack of respect of another caste, class, gender, sexuality, age, ableism. It’s a form of aggression between individuals or groups that have different levels of power.

Through this project , we aim to sensitize the youth through Initiating discussions, role plays, activities and projects about tolerance, awareness, and the importance and benefits of diversity.  This project encourages students and schools to embrace diversity and hence allows students to be more successful in life, and human beings who are kind to others and respectful of people’s differences.

Sustainability in Fashion (SDG 12)

The fashion industry has a disastrous impact on the environment. In fact, it is the second largest polluter in the world, just after the oil industry. And the environmental damage is increasing as the industry grows. As consumers worldwide buy more clothes, the growing market for cheap items and new styles is taking a toll on the environment. What's more, 85% of all textiles go to the dump each year. And washing some types of clothes sends thousands of bits of plastic into the ocean. Through this project the students are advocating ethical and responsible shopping, recycling, organic fibers and sustainable brands. They are also organizing FB & Insta clothes exchange events.

Sports for Underpriviliged (SDG 3&10)

As well as being a great benefit to participants’ physical and mental health, and providing economic benefits in the long run, sport and physical activity can be extremely valuable in the context of social inclusion and integration. Such activities provide opportunities for marginalized and underprivileged groups, such as migrants and people at risk of discrimination, to interact and integrate with other social groups. Our students have enabled basketball, cricket and other sports training for economically disadvantaged children. The students are using sports as a springboard to channel the energies of underprivileged kids and help them get access to a better life.

Women Harassment at Public Places (SDG 5)

The issue of women harassment has long been spoken about and shall continue to exist if we as a community don’t accept responsibility of the same. Through this project the students after doing a primary and secondary research on the issues surrounding the above found that all the respondents were molested atleast once in their lifetime and 80% of the time it was in broad day light with a lot of people around (including young men). In the case of public harassment against women (like eve teasing, lewd comments, groping, molesting etc), empathy, gender inequitable attitudes can go a long way to deter the offenders. The students and Orion have designed a Bystander Intervention & Sensitization webinar for young men who can play a critical role in this important issue. The sensitization and action program is for men who can discourage, deter or deviate the harassment at public places and workplaces. The same is being implemented at Universities and RWA’s.