DoCC SPJIMR and EDHEC collaborate for social impact in India
The Global Impact Project (GIP) is a distinctive collaboration between the Development of Corporate Citizenship (DoCC) at SPJIMR and EDHEC Business School, France. This initiative offers EDHEC students the opportunity to spend 3 to 6 months working with SPJIMR DoCC’s partner NGOs across India.
By engaging with grassroots organisations addressing critical issues—ranging from education and healthcare to sustainability and livelihoods—students gain first-hand insight into social challenges while developing empathy, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
The experiences of the inaugural GIP 2024–25 cohorts highlight the programme’s success in driving meaningful local impact and shaping socially responsible leaders with a global outlook and a strong sense of purpose.
What is the significance of this collaboration?
This initiative offers international students the opportunity to work with partner NGOs of DoCC-SPJIMR for the duration of 3-6 months. Through hands-on experience, these students develop a deeper understanding of pressing social issues, ranging from education and healthcare to sustainability, climate change, and livelihoods. By engaging with communities and tackling real challenges, the students cultivate empathy, leadership, and problem-solving skills. The GIP 2024-25 is a testament to the global collaboration in driving local impact and inspiring future leaders to create meaningful change in society while broadening their worldview and professional acumen. With two cohorts tentatively scheduled in June and September 2024, the programme provides selected students from EDHEC Business School France an opportunity to engage with grassroots organisations across India.
Objectives
Strengthening institutional partnerships between SPJIMR and EDHEC business school
Cross-cultural collaboration and global understanding
Experiential learning and real-world impact
Programme structure
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Part 1: Delving into the commercial capital of India – Mumbai
The EDHEC cohort’s journey commences with a weeklong orientation that explores India’s social, economic, and political landscape. They spend a week absorbing the unseen side of Mumbai with curated experiences that include:
Exploring spirituality and cultural aspects of Indian society:
This includes visiting several landmarks like the Gateway of India and popular shrines in Mumbai with Siddhivinayak and Mahalaxmi temples to learn about the social, cultural, and historical significance of the city.
Discovering the potential of social enterprises:
This includes visits to:
Asia’s largest slums, Dharavi to understand the hidden economy of one of the largest informal settlements in the world.
Lijjat Papad Co-operative to learn about women empowerment through social entrepreneurship
Mumbai Mobile Creches, an NGO supporting the children of migrant construction workers to understand the work structure of NGOs in India.
Interaction with founders and representatives of Salaam Bombay Foundation and Aftertaste Foundation, to learn about the challenges and impact of social enterprises.
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Part 2: Fieldwork with DoCC partners in social sector
- The next step in social immersion entails travelling to and interning with DoCC partner organisations working at the grassroots level across India for 12 to 16-week fieldwork.
- The participants live with communities across multiple locations and work on real-world projects.
- This hands-on experience allows them to make a tangible impact while developing a deeper understanding of social change.
Journey so far
In 2024-2025 SPJIMR DoCC hosted two cohorts from EDHEC Business School. The participants were placed in six DoCC partner organisations nationwide: CORD, Tarun Bharat Sangh, Gayatri Seva Sansthan, El Shadai, Om Creations, Manjari Foundation. The students were meticulously mapped to DoCC partner organisations to align with the thematic areas of their projects, such as education, environment, climate change, water conservation, disability, integrated child development, agriculture, livelihoods and animal husbandry, social entrepreneurship, and women empowerment.
As the project ended, these students reflected on their experiences. Each organisation taught them invaluable lessons about the strength of the community, the importance of sustainability, and the power of education and empowerment. They came as students, but they left as global citizens, deeply connected to the stories of resilience and change they had witnessed. The experience showed them that social impact knows no boundaries and that actual change begins with understanding, empathy, and action.
Cohort 1 Cohort 2 Cohort 2025
Stories of change and inspiration
The CORD experience of Apoline, Arthur, Charles Malo, Sebastien
At CORD (Chinmaya Organization for Rural Development) in Himachal Pradesh, Apoline, Arthur, Charles Malo, Sebastien engaged with villagers to understand rural development and the significance of community-led initiatives. They observed how self-help groups played a role in improving women’s lives by providing skill training, financial education, and entrepreneurial opportunities. Through interactions, they understood the impact of collective efforts in addressing economic and social challenges. Their experience highlighted the importance of grassroots-level empowerment, where communities take charge of their growth, fostering long-term self-sufficiency and resilience in rural areas.
Celia’s expedition of water conservation with Tarun Bharat Sangh
In Rajasthan, Celia, one of the students joined Tarun Bharat Sangh, an organisation renowned for its work in water conservation. Walking through dry, barren lands, they saw firsthand the effects of water scarcity. But she also saw a hopeful village transformed by traditional water harvesting techniques, reviving rivers and restoring livelihoods. The experience deepened their understanding of sustainable environmental practices.
Hope in every lesson: Victoire, Prune-Gayatri Seva Sansthan, and Leo and Ellen’s story
Victoire and Prune were assigned to work with Gayatri Seva Sansthan in Udaipur while Leo worked with El Shaddai in Goa as their projects were based on children from underprivileged backgrounds. They spent time teaching, playing, and understanding these children’s hopes, dreams and aspirations. These interactions were heartwarming and informative. They understood that education was not just about books; it was about giving children the confidence to dream of a better future.
Empowerment through art: Julia and Alixane at Om Creations
Om Creations, the social organisation, works with differently abled individuals. Here Julia and Alixane witnessed how art and creativity are tools for empowerment. The organisation helped individuals with disabilities create beautiful, handcrafted products, giving them financial independence and dignity.
Roots of sustainability: Luca’s experience in organic farming
With the Manjari Foundation, Luca recognised how sustainable farming and organic agriculture were transforming the lives of rural farmers. There he learnt about natural farming techniques and how eco-friendly practices could improve food security and environmental sustainability.
Testimonials
“My social internship under GIP has been an incredibly enriching experience. At Gayatri Seva Sansthan in Rajasthan, I explored ecotourism while working closely with the local community and my colleagues. This hands-on experience deepened my understanding of Indian customs, work practices, and the significance of inclusive development for sustainable change. It also helped me enhance my linguistic and cultural skills.”
– Victoire Guyon
“The Global Impact Project was an experience that will stay with me forever. DoCC social immersion at OM CREATION taught me not to be afraid of meeting new people. As the days went by, my bonds with the students grew stronger. Living in India was so different from my own allowed me to gain independence and be amazed every day by a new aspect of the culture I was discovering.”
– Alixane De Mougins
