FAQs

Social Entrepreneurs are individuals who use innovative and sustainable business solutions to address society’s pressing social and environmental challenges. They are entrepreneurs who build enterprises that focus on a triple bottom line – people, planet and profit.
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Social Intrapreneurs are professionals who work with existing social enterprises in critical roles. They bring in the entrepreneurial skills and mindsets to implement a project in that enterprise. They create solutions which multiplies the enterprise's impact.
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Reimagine Livelihoods for India (RLI) Sprouts Program is a 2 year Post Graduate Program in Social Entrepreneurship that will equip you to establish enterprises of scale or join an existing social enterprise that will solve the most pressing challenges that are facing the country today. Even as you create a successful and rewarding life for yourself, you will benefit the marginalised and work towards transforming India into a country where everyone has access to a decent life. If you are someone who wants to transform yourself and learn to solve the most pressing problems facing the country today, RLI is the place for you.
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RLI is looking for individuals with perseverance, passion, a learning outlook and an exploratory mind who are looking to chart their own path and earn a living, even as they are transforming the lives of the marginalized. All applicants should be graduates, with any additional education/experience being an advantage.

Under exceptional cases, Non-graduates are also considered for the program. Write to us at rliselections@alcindia.org to know more
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While it is true that RLI is a challenging programme, it ensures that seekers are well equipped to start their own enterprise at the end of the programme. And RLI seekers are supported through the process by a peer mentor who will work with them on the ground and are guided by a team of experienced professionals. They will also be a part of a strong network of seekers who will navigate the programme together.
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Our pilot program had 25 seekers joining the program from 2017-2019. 9 of our seekers from the pilot program have graduated. These aspiring social entrepreneurs are interested in enterprises across the development sector: Education, livelihoods, sanitation, waste management, agriculture, micro-finance and others.

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With its unique design, curriculum and structure, RLI is a one-of-its kind programme in many ways. But there are two critical ways in which RLI is different from other academic institutions offering programmes in social entrepreneurship:
  • Experiential Learning & Focus on Self Transformation: RLI integrates both into a programme that provides classroom training, experiential learning, practitioner interactions and also placement/incubation support.
  • Space to discover, dream and design: Most social entrepreneurship and incubation programmes expect you to have an innovative idea for a social enterprise as you enter the programme. But a lot of youngsters don’t yet have an idea beyond wanting to do some good and benefit society. RLI gives such seekers the space to understand the challenges, develop an entrepreneurial solution, test and evolve the design and establish an enduring enterprise.
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Sprouts Program provides an experience that works on educating the heart, mind, body and soul of the participants. All the activities, practices and learning sessions in the program have been designed with this guiding principle in mind.

Sprouts program has a unique andragogy unlike the current postgraduate or graduate education in the country as it is looking to operationalise self-directed experiential and exploratory learning. It is designed to provide seekers with practical experience of enterprise development.
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RLI seekers will work on the ground with innovative and new enterprises, addressing some of the most pressing challenges in India, helping them grow in size and scale creating more jobs and adding more wealth for everyone.

And while doing so, seekers also gain entrepreneurial skills through practice-oriented training modules, reflective practice, and interactive sessions with practitioners and conversations with mentors in the field. In 24 months, you will have all the skills and mindsets required to be a responsible entrepreneur.
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On completion of the programme, seekers can choose to establish social enterprises or work with organisations in the social enterprise ecosystem as intrapreneurs.
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Yes, you will receive an experience certificate from RLI. You can definitely count the two years of program as work experience.
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Applicants go through a four-step selection process:
  • Online Application
  • Aptitude Tset
  • Telephonic Interview
  • Two-day direct Assessment
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Any individual applying for Sprouts Program is required to be a graduate. Other than that, we are looking for people and not their resume. We are looking at what you have learned and experienced, rather than where. So if you are passionate about making a difference, have grit and persistence, and want take the road less taken, you are an attractive candidate for Sprouts Program.
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As part of the application process(if needed), candidates need to provide two recommendations from people who they have worked or studied with.
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No, the reputation/value of your educational institution will not affect your selection in any manner.
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Refer to the "About us" page for details
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Please refer to the "Apply Now!"" page
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In case of any clarification on the application, candidates are advised to contact RLI's admission cell at rliadmissions@alcindia.org.
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Sprouts Program's seekers are expected to have functional proficiency in English as the program will be delivered primarily in English this year.
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During the program, seekers will be placed with collective, women’s, social or green enterprises. The practicum enterprise will be dependent on the interests of the seekers, requirements of the enterprises and a comprehensive assesment by the RLI team. Previously, seekers have been placed with enterprises such as:QUEST Alliance, Head Held High, 1 Bridge. Accion Fraterna, Rural Development Trust, SAFA, Kriti Foundation, Maval Dairy Producer Company, Swasti Foundation & Access Livelihoods Group for the practicum.
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The facilitated learning component will be conducted at the 20,000 sq. ft Access Livelihoods building in Hyderabad. The seekers will be placed in different rural/urban/semi-rural locations for the 18 month practicum. Facilitated learning and Practicum are spread over the two years and requires candidates to travel to and from their placement organization and Access Livelihoods.

The placement location will be dependent on the enterprise where the seekers will be placed.
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The seekers will be mapped to the placement enterprise, based on their skills, strengths, interests and aspirations. After a comprehensive assessment at the end of three months of the program, our team initiates the process for placement of a seeker.
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While the seeker’s preferences will be taken into account, RLI cannot guarantee that seekers will be placed only in an enterprise of their choice. The seekers will be expected to join any enterprise in which they are placed.
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As part of RLI, some social enterprises will receive acceleration support. If you are a mid-level social enterprise looking for acceleration support, please write to us at rliacceleration@alcindia.org. And RLI will provide incubation support to RLI seekers for six years following the completion of the program. The incubation support is not open to other social enterprises.
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RLI is designed for all round development of the seekers involving the mind, body, heart and soul to create successful entrepreneurs. Keeping this in mind, RLI seekers will be exposed to various extra-curricular activities like Parkour, Yoga, Rock climbing, and engagement with nature clubs among several others.
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Yes, seekers will be provided with accommodation and food facility during the facilitated learning module. A maintenance allowance is given to the seekers during the practicum to take care of their boarding & lodging.