“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” – John F. Kennedy.
With the aim of inspiring individuals to internalise inspiration and ensure that it leaves an “indelible mark in your life, helping you set clear meaningful goals”, the Deshpande Foundation rolled out its annual leadership journey for youth aged 18-26.
LEAD (Leaders Accelerating Development) Prayana is an annual leadership journey for youth aged 18-26 hosted in Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.
With the aim to “unleash your leadership potential”, the programme is an 1800-km, two-week leadership journey. The participants will meet and hear from influential public personalities and speakers, see their extraordinary work, visit many destinations, take part in panel sessions, and explore and interact with unique organizations, institutions, MNCs, and industries.
The hundreds of participants participated in the following:
Travel around Karnataka. Visit many unique destinations. Meet inspiring leaders and understand their work. Visit industries and MNCs. Take part in panel sessions and team-building activities. Develop leadership qualities.
“Inspiration is everything. If you are inspired, you can find ways to get things done. 150 of you young people are the future of this country. So I want you to leave inspired at the end of the 14 days and do great things in your lives.“ – Founder of Deshpande Foundation Gururaj Deshpande.
Armed with guidance, exposure, networking opportunities, financial assistance, and encouragement from LEAD, students from over 200 colleges, 14 districts, and 5 states (Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh) unleashed their leadership potential to go on inspiring and improving those around them.
The Deshpande Foundation is an investment in promoting entrepreneurship and innovation as catalysts for change. The Foundation dedicates its efforts to foster social, economic, and intellectual growth in the northwest Karnataka and beyond.
“It’s always very energetic to be in the presence of so many young people, and I see the LEAD Prayana students asking a lot of questions, not easy ones, about the system and about how to advance their own careers and passions. These are all subjects of great interest to me … If there is any words of advice I can give to Prayana participants it is to keep an open mind, be open to interesting stimuli, and with your openness of mind you can come up with creative ideas and translate all of them into innovations that benefit yourself and society.” – Agastya International Foundation Founder Ramji Raghavan.
To find out more, visit their website or write to them at [email protected]
