Traveling Across Rural India on a Grassroutes Fellowship

Grassroutes Fellowship Program identifies promising youth with a passion for social entrepreneurship, and sends them on a travel across rural India on a one-month road trip. The fellows discover and work with local change makers during the trip, and get ideas and inspiration for their own social action projects.

Srikrishna Mamidipudi, an engineer turned social entrepreneur in India, recently became a Grassroutes Fellow. The fellowship enabled him to work with Vayali Folklore Group based in southern India, which endeavors to preserve the traditional art and craft and knowledge of the region by involving youth into traditional programs.

Mamidipudi was assigned to the Eco Bazaar marketing project with a goal to help the traditional sellers expand their market rather than limiting themselves to sale at just local exhibitions. Mamidipudi's task was to identify eco-stores across India with like-minded goals as that of Vayalis and connect both of them for mutual gain. Such integration would help local Vayali artisans to learn about the latest market trends and get trained for selling in a wider and competitive market.

Mamidipudi spent the first half of the month in Vayali to understand the operations of the Eco Bazaar and interact closely with the artisans. He realized the common challenges that the handicraft sector in rural India faces, and how such challenges can be overcome by integrating the sector with urban business. Mamidipudi identified a list of potential urban clients across India and began engaging with a few of them on behalf of the Vayali Eco Bazaar.

Along with these social entrepreneurial efforts, Mamidipudi also came to experience and understand the real essence of rural living. He had to write human stories and photo essays, which took him closer to the village folks and helped him understand their problems and their aspirations to improve their communities. He also involved himself with community based activities such as a plastic-free drive and a green plantation campaign in the area.

Photo Credit: GERAS