When Learning Doesn’t Feel Like Living
Let’s be honest—most classrooms still haven’t changed much. Students take notes, sit in rows, and get ready for tests. They commit dates, definitions, and formulas to memory, but they hardly ever have the opportunity to ask themselves, “Why does this matter to me?” For many children, especially in government schools, education can feel distant. It doesn’t connect with their lives, their families, or their realities. And that gap has real consequences—over 80% of young people in India say they don’t feel ready for the real world. They know how to solve equations, but not how to speak with confidence. They can write answers, but not take decisions. That’s the problem Kaushalam is trying to solve.
Udhyam Shiksha: Helping Students Discover Who They Are
At the heart of it all is Udhyam Shiksha—a belief that every child should be empowered to shape their own path in life. Through the Entrepreneurship Mindset Curriculum, students begin to explore not just what they know, but who they are. It’s not about starting a business for marks or rewards. It involves cultivating mindsets such as resilience, empathy, bravery, and teamwork. The lessons are insightful, entertaining, and useful. One day, students might read about a fruit seller and run a mock stall in the classroom. Another day, they may write about a challenge they overcame and share it with their peers. There’s no “perfect answer”—just honest learning. Facilitators don’t lecture. They ask questions. Students don’t compete. They collaborate. And slowly, something shifts. Children who were once shy begin to speak up. Teams start forming naturally. Ideas begin bubbling up from the back benches.
Kaushalam in Uttarakhand: Turning Ideas into Action
In Uttarakhand, this shift is already underway. Through the Kaushalam Entrepreneurship Program, government school students are stepping up as real decision-makers. It starts small. A question. A thought. “What if we could sell something in our school?” “What if we reused waste to create art?” “What if this could actually work?” And then the doing begins. A group of girls in Dehradun hand-crafted eco-friendly rakhis and sold them in their neighbourhood. A team in Almora came up with a “Snack Box” service for teachers—earning over ₹7,000 in just two months. One student-led venture created natural soaps using forest leaves. These are real businesses—planned, executed, and run by the students themselves. They come up with the idea, do the budgeting, create the product, handle customers, and reflect on what worked (and what didn’t). It’s messy. It’s exciting. And it’s real. And through it, students begin to realise that they can solve problems. That their ideas matter. That they are capable of leading, not just following.
Here’s what that impact looks like:
- 92% of students say they feel more confident in making decisions
- 74% say they now work better in teams and express themselves more clearly
- Nearly 70% of student businesses make profits within a few weeks
But more than numbers, it’s the stories that stay with you. Like the parents in Bageshwar who once thought this program was a distraction. Now? His daughter helps him manage their family store and even teaches her younger siblings how to save money. That’s not just entrepreneurship—it’s transformation.
FAQs About the Kaushalam Program
What is the Kaushalam Entrepreneurship Program?
The Udhyam Learning Foundation’s school-based Kaushalam program assists students, particularly those attending government schools, in launching legitimate businesses while fostering life skills like self-assurance, creativity, and decision-making.
What is included in the Entrepreneurship Mindset Curriculum?
Self-awareness, empathy, resilience, communication, and financial literacy are the five main themes that the EMC emphasizes. Stories, games, role-plays, and group activities are some of the entertaining and relatable ways that these are taught.
How does project-based learning work in Kaushalam?
Students work in groups, choose an issue or opportunity in their environment, and develop a business plan around it. Like actual entrepreneurs, they plan, budget, carry out, and gain knowledge from actual customer feedback.
What is Udhyam Vyapaar for Students?
It’s Kaushalam on a higher level. Students receive mentorship, seed money, and chances to expand their businesses into new markets. Additionally, it links them to online marketplaces and alumni networks.
Who can be part of this program?
Students in grades 6–12, primarily attending government and low-income schools, are the target audience for Kaushalam. It is adaptable to tribal, rural, and urban environments. Families and teachers are also very important.
The Future is Already in the Classroom
Kaushalam isn’t just about creating entrepreneurs. It’s about helping students discover their voice, their choices, and their courage. When a student learns to say, “I can do this,” that belief doesn’t fade—it grows. So the next time someone says “kids can’t start businesses,” just tell them about the ninth grader in Uttarakhand who made ₹3,000 from handmade candles. Or the girl who used to sit silently in class—now leading a team of five. Because the truth is, the future of innovation isn’t waiting in boardrooms. It’s already growing in classrooms.
Want to bring Kaushalam to your school or community? Partner with us at Udhyam.org
