What happens when social innovators come together to reflect, learn, and push the boundaries of collective action? From March 4–6, 2025, Bengaluru became a hub for such collaboration as the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship and ShikshaLokam, along with Enable India, Industree Foundation, Mantra4Change, Reap Benefit and Haqdarshak hosted the first thematic Learning Journey on Collective Social Innovation.

This initiative, building on the first convening in October 2024, is part of the Schwab Foundation’s efforts to deepen the global narrative around collective action —how multiple stakeholders can join forces to drive systemic change. Under the theme: Collective Social Innovation—Restoring Agency for All, 15 collective social innovators from different parts of the globe like Africa, Brazil, India, United States, Venezuela etc., came together to learn, exchange ideas, and witness impactful initiatives in action.

The theme? Collective Social Innovation—Restoring Agency for All
From exploring the power of collaboration in driving change to witnessing leadership at various levels and understanding the role of open technology, the journey was a deep dive into how real transformation happens when different actors come together.

Day 1: Inclusion in Action – Empowering the Marginalised
The participants began the journey with a fundamental question: How do we ensure that no one is left behind? The answer came to life through visits to two organisations working at the intersection of inclusion and economic empowerment.

With Enable India, participants saw firsthand how access to meaningful employment restores dignity and independence for people with disabilities. Through demonstration of inclusive workspaces and assistive technologies (like hearing aid, wheelchairs, etc.), the organisation showcased how shifting mindsets of people and society is needed to create a truly inclusive workforce and achieve organisational goals.

Next, at the Industree Foundation, the participants experienced how women from vulnerable backgrounds get enabled to build self-owned collective enterprises. The visit reinforced the relevance of economic independence in restoring dignity and creating lasting change.

Both the organisation’s work exemplified how inclusion isn’t just a principle–it’s a practice that must be embedded in everyday systems and structures.

At Enable India — gaining insights into the stakeholder ecosystem

At Industree Foundation — where women leadership meets sustainable innovation

Day 2: Leadership and Systems Change in Mysore
The second day took us to Mysuru –150 kms away from the bustling Benglauru– where participants saw Shikshagraha in action. Shikshagraha is a people’s movement to improve 1 million public schools in India, driven by the belief that every child deserves a quality education.

The experience was curated by Mantra4change and ShikshaLokam – the co-builders of the movement.

The day was packed with meaningful immersions and interactions:

• School Visit and Leadership in Action: Education Leaders (officials, school leaders, teachers, community leaders) at schools and the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET), Mysuru shared how they are driving tangible improvements in schools towards enhancing student outcomes.
• A Women’s Collective Meeting: A highlight of the visit was witnessing a women’s collective meeting, where mothers discussed areas of school improvement and co-created solutions—a demonstration of leadership at the grassroots level!
  

  Witnessing leadership in schools and in community
  
  

  Women’s Collective Meeting to discuss school improvements

• Multi-stakeholder meeting at the Mysore Palace: The participants had the unique opportunity to engage in discussions chaired by the King of Mysore, a Shikshagraha ambassador. His vision for education reform in his city left everyone inspired, reinforcing the need for strong local leadership in systemic change.
  

  Multistakeholder meeting chaired by the king of Mysore

  The day wasn’t just about witnessing leadership at play and how diverse stakeholders are joining hands to drive school improvements —it was about getting a slice of Indian culture too! The team explored Mysore Palace, enjoyed a breathtaking evening at Brindavan Gardens, and indulged in local flavours.

  Exploring the grandeur of Mysore Palace

Day 3: Public Problem-Solving and Tech for Good
Back to Bengaluru! The Day was all about action-driven problem-solving. Participants visited Reap Benefit, where they got to become ‘Solve Ninjas’ for a day by observing the Jayanagar streets and identifying improvement areas. The objective was to highlight how youth-led problem-solving can drive positive civic and environmental change—from waste management to water conservation.

Next up, the participants engaged with Haqdarshak, a tech-driven organisation that bridges the gap between citizens and government welfare schemes. Haqdarshak demonstrated their tech solution that enables every citizen with access to government welfare and financial schemes. Their work is a brilliant example of how technology, when designed for accessibility, can amplify impact at scale.

The interactions with Reap Benefit and Haqdarshak reinforced a powerful insight: real change happens at the intersection of community-driven action and strategic use of technology.

At Reap Benefit, channeling our inner Solve Ninjas while exploring the streets of Bengaluru

Haqdarshak in action — making welfare access seamless through tech

At the end of the three days, as participants reflected on their experiences, several key themes or takeaways emerged.

• Collective action creates exponential impact—scaling solutions requires collaboration across sectors, organisations, and communities.
• Technology is a tool, not the solution itself—it enhances efforts, but human relationships and on-the-ground action drive real change.
• Resilience is key: “Alone you can go fast, but together you can go further.”
• Change takes time—collectivisation is a lived experience that builds true agency over time.
• Community-driven solutions work best—alignment among stakeholders leads to effective scaling.

These insights not only highlight the power of collective action but also raise deeper questions about how we can apply these learnings in diverse contexts. Participants also left with thought-provoking questions that will continue to shape their work and drive meaningful change.

Burning Questions Participants Took Back

• How can I better leverage collective action in my work?
• What are the different approaches to collective action, and how do we measure their impact?
• How can we systematise collective action so it can be adapted to different contexts?

These questions will continue to guide conversations and inspire action long after the journey ends.

The Grand Finale: A Special Evening and InvokED
The learning journey closed with a special dinner on Day 3, hosted by Shruti Shibulal from The Shibulal Family Philanthropic Initiatives. Participants got a chance to further build relationships, strengthen their connections and engage with leaders from different industries and communities including Young Global Leaders and Global Shapers.

Making memories at dinner hosted by the SFPI Family

Francois Bonnici, Director of the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, addresses Young Global Leaders, Global Shapers, and Social Innovators at a dinner hosted by the SFPI family

And just when we thought it was over, there was InvokED 4.0—ShikshaLokam’s annual global dialogue on education leadership. Over two days, 100 experts and 700+ participants came together to explore how leaders and organisations can transition from isolated efforts to weaving large-scale movements and improve 1 million public schools in India and effectively serve 127 million children together.

The Schwab Foundation also hosted a session on “The Irrefutable Power of Collective Action in Driving Systems Change”, sparking curiosity and conversations, not just for the Schwab community but for other InvokED participants as well, around how collaboration can truly shift systems at scale.

Collective Social Innovators at InvokED 4.0
Over the course of the week and before while orchestrating this experience, I have learned that a learning journey isn’t just about absorbing knowledge and building an understanding of how relevant tools and solutions work. It’s about experiencing change firsthand, it’s about meeting the people behind the work, feeling the energy of collective effort, and getting an opportunity to be part of a movement bigger than oneself.

As we wrap up this journey, many participants shared and something we were happy to hear – Real change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens when we come together, challenge systems, and take collective action.

I hope the participants of the learning journey and others at InvokED 4.0 will keep this spirit alive, build on the experiences, and continue to empower one another. Every small action, when combined with others, creates a ripple effect that can transform the world.

Here’s to more collaborations, more learning, and more impact!