Making More Health

Making More Health (MMH) is a flagship program of Boehringer Ingelheim in collaboration with Ashoka Foundation. There are many initiatives under the umbrella of MMH. One of them is Leadership Week. In April'18 I got an opportunity to be a part of Leadership Week. I was pleasantly surprised to see the work we are doing in rural parts of South India in association with Karl Kubel Institute for Development(KKID), Coimbatore.

As per Program design, 15 selected participants from Boehringer Ingelheim across the globe come to Karl Kubel Institute for Development for a week. This batch had participants from Germany, France, UK, US, Argentina, Mexico & India. This diverse batch of 15 individuals became part of one big family during this week. I am sure they will continue to cherish and reflect on the memories made during the program. 1st Day is Orientation & Field Work starts from 2nd Day. Each Field Work is followed by Reflections/Learning Sessions. Field Work includes visiting different blocks, villages, interaction with local communities, Self Help Groups, Schools. The objective is to understand the cultural/social background and co-create self-sustainable Social Entrepreneurial solutions. The discussions are guided to expand participant’s self-awareness along with better understanding of Social Context. Leadership Week is internally facilitated & led by #MMH team. Yoga is an integral part of this week and every morning starts with it.

Karl Kubel Institute for Development is located in the middle of three mountains at heart of Nilgiris. It is surrounded with natural beauty. It is surreal experience to be part of something like this. The air is so fresh. You can hear birds humming in morning and evening. It’s quite easy to spot peacocks in institute garden. The mess food is equally simple and authentic. The cook ensures richness of south Indian flavors with balanced spices. Stay is more like Hostel and an experience worth having. If you can stay without AC and looking for a place where you can connect with yourself in middle of nature, this is the place. If you love elephants KKID is a must visit!

On a personal note, it was quite an enriching experience. It was nostalgic indeed as it took me back college days where Social Entrepreneurship was part of the curriculum. I felt grateful for the pedigree and education received during my formative years which helped me gain a better understanding of Social Sector and challenges associated with it.

I will always be thankful to Boehringer Ingelheim for providing me this excellent exposure. If you want to read more about MMH you can click on following the link: MMH HomePage

#LeadershipTrails.