Applications open for kanthari Course

Many people are searching for what they want to do in life, however, kanthari is for those who have already decided to initiate an organization/NGO that makes a difference. For them, kanthari is the last stop before getting started!

The twelve-month scholarship-based program will help participants develop all the necessary skills to effectively run CSOs/NGOs, Social enterprises, or social ventures.

kanthari Colors

• At kanthari they differentiate social change makers into 5 different categories.
  • Initiator – Green kanthari
    • kanthari initiators want to create ethical social change by starting grass-root projects with alternative/new approaches. Schools for marginalized, training centers for the blind, environmental projects – these are only some of the many examples of initiatives that positively impact society.
    • Some characteristics of green kantharis are:
      • Teamwork: They enjoy working with people and have a strong team spirit.
      • Creativity: They have fun creating new concepts and innovative approaches to solve social problems.
      • Spice: They challenge the status quo and swim against the stream.
      • Passion: It helps them to continue work even if it is challenging.
      • Organization: They keep the overview and are able to plan and structure activities while motivating people in the team.
    • Green kanthari projects provoke a mind set or structure change to solve the problem at the root level, instead of treating the symptoms. Green kantharis can help catalyse their capacities in the areas of
      • Innovation: How to develop creative project ideas
      • Project management: How to structure processes and execute plans
      • Presentation: Convince donors and supporters with clear and passionate proposals and speeches
      • Fundraising: How to communicate with potential partners and donors and research for funding opportunities
      • Legal matters: How to start an organization.
  • Inventor – Yellow kanthari
    • Yellow kantharis are inventors who create new products, strategies or concepts for social change. They can be active in the areas of environment, computer technology, accessibility for people with disabilities, agriculture, education and many more. The goal of their invention is to improve the living conditions of marginalized groups or protection of the environment.
    • Some of their characteristics are:
      • Thinking out of the box: Inventors come up with unconventional and alternative ideas.
      • Problem solving: Inventors take problems as an opportunity to find new solutions.
      • Open to share: Inventions are accessible for the public without restrictions of copyright or high costs.
      • Risk taking: Inventors see risk as an adventure and are not afraid of failure.
      • Convincing: They are able to convince even skeptical people. kanthari inventors bring vision and technical skills. kanthari provides them with the skills to go public and make inventions accessible to a broad range of users.
    • kanthari Inventors learn
      • Communication: How to explain complicated matters in an easy way.
      • Production processes: From the invention to the prototype to industrial production
      • Law: Copyright, patents, etc.
      • Finances: How to attract potential supporters and manage finances.
      • Environmental Awareness: How to make inventions environmental friendly.
  • Social Entrepreneur – Orange kanthari
    • Orange kanthari entrepreneurs use business as a tool for sustainable social change. The main goal is to create a positive social impact and not to focus only on profit, but to use business ventures to find ways to create structures that benefit those who are usually left out.
    • Some of their characteristics are:
      • Structured thinking: They are able to analyze and plan processes
      • Vision: They are driven by a strong vision for social change that is more important than profit
      • Risk taking attitude: They leave the certainty of conventional business
      • Transparency: In process, goals and motivation
      • Logical thinking: They understand numbers and business processes
      • Informed: They know about needs, markets and opportunities for starting a business in their community.
    • For orange kantharis, business is only a tool to achieve their vision of social change. To be a kanthari entrepreneur it is not necessary to have a business background. A general interest in business processes is sufficient if combined with a strong vision and intrinsic interest for ethical social change.
    • kanthari can help them to develop their capacities and skills in the areas of
      • Communication: Clear and understandable writing and passionate presentation in public speech.
      • Basics of business: The knowledge that is necessary to start a business.
      • Business administration: How to run the business.
      • Financial management: How to deal with budgeting, bookkeeping etc.
      • Business for social change: How to use business as a tool to fulfill the vision for social change.
      • Marketing: How to detect markets, organize events and use social media.
      • Innovation: Strategies to create alternative approaches.
  • Advocate – Red kanthari
    • Red kantharis are advocates/activists who stand up for a world free from discrimination, negative attitudes or harmful norms. Their goal is to provoke a mindset change in their communities through advocacy.
    • Some of their characteristics are:
      • Courage: They have the guts to voice unpopular truths
      • Spice: They have fire in the belly, so they are authentic and convincing about their cause
      • Clear communication: They are able to explain even difficult matters in an easy way. It is the aim of the training to develop the qualities and characteristics of red kantharis to a new level so that they are able to advocate for their cause and create a successful social movement in their societies. The final goal is a mindset change to stop discrimination or harmful norms and practices. Therefore the training includes:
        • Public speech: How to get every audience off their chairs and convinced
        • Communication: How to write creative and spicy emails or press releases that pass the message
        • Media contacts: How to make the best use of media and deal with difficult questions
        • Campaigns: How to plan and implement campaigns to spread the message about the cause
        • Social marketing: How to use social media and build networks
  • Artist – Purple kanthari
    • kanthari artists use their creativity and art as a tool for making a difference. Musicians, painters, authors, filmmakers and many more, provoke a positive mind set change through their work.
    • Characteristics of purple kantharis are:
      • Expression: They are able to explain situations through understandable metaphors
      • Independent thinking: They are not afraid of public criticism and stand strong in their own opinion and style. Even when it gets tough they have the power to persevere and follow through a strong vision. There is a clear connection between arts and the dream of social change,
      • Creativity: in arts, thoughts, speech and writing
    • kanthari provides a space to exchange ideas with other artists, advocates and change makers.
    • Major training areas are:
      • Communication: In writing and public speech
      • Event and campaign management: Planning and organizing an event, an exhibition or a campaign Networking and social marketing
      • Media contacts: How to work with media
      • Financial planning: Fundraising and attracting supporters
      • Planning and organization: Structured thinking, action planning and self publishing

What they offer?

• Selected participants will qualify for a scholarship provided by the donors to cover the training fee and accommodation.
• Graduates of the program will have access to a network of change-makers from 50+ countries worldwide.

Duration

• Kanthari offers a 12-month lasting course.
• The course is split into an online and an on-campus part.
• Every year, the course starts online in the beginning of April (6 weeks). This is a preparation that lays the foundation for the on-campus training.
• Then, the on-campus part will start around the end of May (7 months).
• Usually, this part ends around mid-December and you will return home.
• After the on-campus part is over, you will start or continue your social/environmental venture on the ground. For 3 months you will be guided by a local mentor, a kanthari alumni who has already started an organisation. Once these 3 months are successfully completed, you will become an official kanthari graduate.

Eligibility Criteria

• You will need to have an idea for a social and or environmental project/venture that will create a mindset change and/or a positive impact in your community, or you are running your venture already and you are at a point where you need new input and/or additional skills & tools.
• You will need to be 22 years of age or older (Please note: there is no upper age limit)
• Intermediary knowledge of English (reading, writing and speaking)
• Basic knowledge of using a computer
• You will need to be flexible, open to unlearn and relearn, creative, intrinsically driven, bring a high level of motivation, energy, and ownership
• For persons with physical or visual impairment: Independent mobility and daily living skills. By-standers for persons in wheelchairs can possibly be accepted if absolutely necessary, however the costs of their stay will not be covered by the scholarship.
• Blind and/or partially sighted persons need to have excellent mobility skills, being able to use the white cane, and independently use a computer with speech synthesizer or Braille display.

For more information, visit kanthari.