About HELPERs

Helm’s internship program engages youth leaders, consultants, practitioners, and resource persons to collaborate in teams, emphasizing quality and timely outcomes. It focuses on Communications and Operations tracks to address priority tasks for our Partner Organisations.

Helm of Eight is undertaking the facilitation of leadership training and human resource development of the youth as HELPERs (“Helm Emerging Leaders, Practitioners and EnableRs”) - to support the partner organisation at the ‘Helm’ of what they do, to create meaningful and sustainable impact.

The program spans 8-12 weeks and is guided by Helm of Eight, enhancing the leadership and competency of young leaders while managing assignments for partner organisations. The programme comprises learning modules, interactions with experts and thought leaders, and an activity phase with predefined objectives.

Our Objectives

Execution Support: Help organisations execute priority projects by providing capable teams.
Ecosystem Engagement: Connect participants with a variety of stakeholders, including experts, ecosystem enablers, and resource persons.
Experiential Learning: Create a practical learning journey for young professionals, exposing them to diverse client environments, experts, and thought leaders.

Programme Design - Learning & Doing

The program aims to enable participants to apply their skills in real-world settings, shifting from a task-based to a project-based perspective.

Work Track: Partner Organisations present live projects, interact with participants, and collaborate on assignment-based tasks in the Communications and Operations tracks.

Participants work in teams with Helm of Eight members, and progress is monitored through feedback, work reports, and reflection processes. Mentoring and coaching expand their perspectives and skills. The program combines learning, interaction with stakeholders, and hands-on project work to create a comprehensive experience for participants.

Learning Track: We introduce change-makers to the social impact ecosystem through expert-led interactive modules, masterclasses, mentorship sessions, and case studies.

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Our Projects under Batch I

HELPERs pilot batch was operational from June to August 2023. Thirteen students from India’s top liberal arts / humanities colleges - Ashoka University, Krea University, and Shiv Nadar University participated in the first batch.

Projects

Borderless World Foundation: Borderless World Foundation (BWF), a Pune based NGO established in 2002 working in Jammu & Kashmir, working on health, education and conflict resolution in the remote conflict-prone regions between the borders of India, China, and Pakistan. BWF has helped change the lives of hundreds of girl children orphaned in the conflict alongside working with all local stakeholders. BWF has managed to provide a safe haven for the girls and establish trust to promote peace and wellbeing through its several initiatives.

Our Role:

• Created a new set of branding and design guidelines for BWF, in collaboration with various stakeholders and external designers.
• Developed BWF’s Annual Report and Organisation Brochure.
• Initiated discussions with potential partners for community building.
• Conducted grant finding research, grant fit analysis, and grant proposal writing for various grants.

Uplift Mutuals: Uplift Mutuals is a distinguished NGO with a longstanding commitment to providing mutual health policies for low-income communities across India. Established in 2004, their mission revolves around making quality healthcare accessible and affordable for all.

Our Role:

• Mapped health protection needs of domestic workers employed in housing societies through telephonic interviews, using questionnaires developed by the Helm team, and HELPERs.
• Created an outreach strategy for business owners and housing societies, in order to increase subscriptions for Uplift’s product, Uplift Plus.
• Organised a health camp with Uplift Mutuals to help enhance subscriptions to Uplift Mutuals health products.
• Conducted a communications analysis for Uplift Mutuals and presented a gaps analysis report.

Head Held High: Head Held High Foundation (HHH) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to eradicating poverty in India and globally. Since its establishment in November 2011, HHH has effectively demonstrated poverty-alleviating solutions through capability-building initiatives. Focusing on marginalised youth aged 18-25, especially girls, with limited education from rural and underprivileged backgrounds, HHH has impacted over 200,000 lives across 19 states and 100+ districts through community-based centres. Their vision is to empower individuals and communities with resilience, enabling them to lead lives they truly value, and aspire to a world of abundance.

Our Role:

• Helm engaged in research and field work for an internal codification exercise for Head Held High to facilitate and streamline community engagement.

Vitaliz: Vitaliz is a team of professionals, including Microbiologists, Food Technologists, and Nutritionists, working to combat malnutrition globally. They leverage technology and metabolic innovation to create functional ingredients for food fortification that promote nutrition security and sustainability. Vitaliz is committed to making a positive impact on society by creating a healthier and more nourished world through their innovative approach to food fortification.

Our Role:

• Helm supports Vitaliz by providing business development and fundraising advisory services. Helm is facilitating access to markets, food security and public food distribution programs, via linkages with public institutions and civil society organisations.

NasihaCo: NasihaCo is a boutique advisory specialising in legal, branding & communications, and DEI services for SMEs, MSMEs, and pre-revenue startups. With 20+ years of combined experience in law, marketing, advertising, social impact, and public health, NasihaCo’s team of experts bring a diverse set of skills to help businesses thrive.

Our Role:

• Helm engaged in DEI and ESG research for NasihaCo.

Testimonials

Danaysha Tulsiani: “The Helpers program by H08 Ventures, guided by Kiran, has been a transformative experience for me, fostering both personal and professional growth. Delving into India’s developmental challenges, I gained real-life insights into the impact sector, while contributing meaningfully to grassroots organisations. Working with Drava within Helm’s structured environment was enriching, leaving me equipped and inspired for future endeavours in India’s development landscape.”

Sidharth Wagle: “My experience at Helm was eye-opening, particularly engaging with Uplift Mutuals. It fueled my interest in financial inclusion, alongside my economics background. Combining structured projects with spontaneous assignments enriched my internship at Helm, fostering valuable learning experiences.”

Why Choose The HELPER Way

By adopting the HELPER approach, your organisation benefits from:

• Dedicated support for your organisation’s priorities - a combination of Helm of Eight core team’s expertise and HELPERs.
• Our diverse team of experts with 40+ years of combined experience will support you at the helm of your impact journey.

Interested in developing and inspiring a new generation of change-makers? Let’s do it together with HELPERs.