Akhsitha Embarks On An Entrepreneurial Journey

Akshitha Reddy Thota , Project Associate, pens her thoughts on the recently concluded E4 Social Impact Leadership Program organised by VOICE 4 Girls in association with Australian Consulate General, Bangalore. The programme brought together a cohort of 17 young women from diverse fields together and united them on a social impact journey.

In this blog, Akshitha talks about her experience of participating in this programme, her intentions in the field of social development and her dream project that she presented during the week-long in-person programme.

I participated in the E4 Social Impact Leadership Program for women. As someone new to the sector, I was hoping to gain insight into how the social sector's functioning. But what I didn’t expect was how deeply this programme would shape my understanding of the sector and my role in it. The social development sector is a vast one, the more one involves themselves the more they are likely to discover.

I graduated in 2023 with a degree in Computer Science and explored an opportunity with VOICE 4 Girls as an intern. The stories of change that I heard during my internship made me reconsider my career path and embrace on a journey in the social development sector.

Dreams and learnings

One of the most valuable aspects of the programme was the encouragement to reflect on our inner selves and passions. This reflection helped me identify both my strengths and areas for growth, giving me a clearer sense of purpose. My gains from the programme are immeasurable but learning the use of practical tools like the ‘Theory of Change’ and ‘Logical Framework Analysis (LFA)’ brought out a fresh perspective in me.

Dreams of changing the world come often to me, but I don't really know how. This programme helped me discover the ability to design something meaningful and impactful.

For me personally, stories or rather books played a significant role. Every day, I wish I was introduced to books at an age much younger than I finally found them. This simple thought evolved into a concept. Add to this the workshops, connecting with like-minded professionals and the concept developed into a dream: a goal.

Entering the world of stories

I only found joy in books a tad bit later in life when I developed the ability to explore them myself and at my own choice. This joy often comes at different times and phases in one’s life.

Fast forward onto my graduation years, setting foot in the VOICE classroom gave me a sense of strength that was new to me. But one that I longed for since I was a student – to explore teaching and learning as a two-way process fostering questions from the curious and inculcating the power of imagination onto the rest. Now, I could.

“I always had an inkling towards alternative education. I believe alternative education methods provide quality to the lives of people where they actually learn and live. This can translate into a better future for them through quality education. My project is a fragment contributing towards this belief.”

This project intends to facilitate the joys of reading, dreaming, learning, improving vocabulary, and hopefully creating one's own narratives of the stories that they read. I attempt to inculcate creative thinking, story-telling and reading skills through this project. One story at a time.

I think of these stories from my perspective and do my best to narrate… I hope that the children enjoy and take it in the spirit that I intend them to.

Embracing the unknown

The E4 programme helped me connect with women working in various social impact spaces. These women, driven by passion and determination, had all faced significant challenges, yet they continue their work and strive to be a changemaker. They inspire me deeply.

Presenting my project to a panel was a significant milestone for me personally. The feedback helped refine my ideas, broaden my perspective and understand what more I can do. One piece of advice that stood out for me was from Ms. Priya Pillai (CEO, Wordmatter Communications). She said, “Embrace opportunities with a simple ‘yes’, even if the details aren’t clear.” This resonated with me because, like much of my own journey, it reminded me that moving forward often means embracing the unknown.

Written by: Akshitha Reddy Thota, Project Associate at VOICE 4 Girls