Southampton Social Innovation Challenge India 2015
Day One:
After a delayed start the group convened without the Pakistani students due to border Visa issues. This was very disappointing as I was looking forward to seeing Indian and Pakistani students mingle and witness them become the future of breaking down the nuclear charged animosity between the two manufactured states. We carried on however, and began with a talk from Pathik Pathak. I had never heard him give a talk or seminar or lecture before and found him very interesting. He made me realize that I was going to be able to use the skills I learned here and they would be transferable. I just had to know how to sell it. Pathik came up with ”multi disciplinary” and ”multi diverse” both of which I will use in future CV’s or interviews. Its something I have always done anyway but now I have a better way of putting it. We then had a talk in relation to the digital side of social innovation and heard how context, scepticism of the internet in general and use of industry specific language were all important. After a well deserved break we gathered again to look at software that was supposed to help us visualise networks and links of people. I found it very confusing as relationship building (a skill I have always felt confident with) has always been a physical thing or at least talking on the phone – not drawing them out. I guess its just not my learning style. The Indian students looked as though they were buying into it. It was then our turn to produce some work and were given new sources of ideas relating to social innovation projects. On http://www.babele.com I found I project in India that I will present to the rest of the group tomorrow. It really stood out to me as at this time I am interested it things that are achievable and related to youth intervention. Something I dabbled in while in Hampshire Police. Socially, we became friends with more Indian students and we are looking forward to speaking to them more in breaks and evenings in the next ten days. Josie Francis (Programme Manager at the Social Innovation Lab at University of Southampton) continues to be inspiring and I only hope I can work with her enthusiasm and energy. My expectations have not fully formed as yet but this worries me not as when the time comes to set myself goals I will do so as a better informed participant.
Alexander Dawson 