A ‘LIVE’ project by management trainees is an opportunity for experiential learnings which develops most required skills like project management, team work, communication skills as well as presentation skills. If the project is done in collaboration with an NGO, students get additional benefits like developing problem solving attitude, developing better understanding of social issues. Meaningful LIVE projects also amplify the organization’s reach and effectiveness.

Recently seven girls of first year PGDM course of IESMCRC successfully completed a LIVE project for ‘Mata Balak Utkarsha Pratishthan’ (reg. no F-781 Solapur), Sangola. The NGO had conducted a training for housewives of neighborhood for making hand-crafted ‘rava noodles’ (shevaya) and hand-pounded peanut chutney. They wanted d to understand whether these products have market for these products in Mumbai. The NGO gives training to women for making different food as well as non-food product, tap the markets and explores the possibility if having many small profitable businesses so that these ladies will get a strong source of livelihood. Thus, they also wanted to create a brand for them. The NGO approach Dr. Sucheta Pawar, their mentor with the project. IESMCRC director had shown interest in taking this as a LIVE project. A group of seven girls took up the project under the guidance of their faculty members, Dr. Sucheta Pawar, Ms. Ritika Kathuria and Dr. Suhas Pai the marketing functional head. The project took three months’ time. It was initiated on 24^th February and was completed by 18^th April 2024. The project results and the brand created was handed over to the NGO over an online session on 1^st May 2024 and the team received a letter of appreciation from the NGO on 9^th May 2024.

A robust market research was done for both products by students. The research had shown the lack of product market fit mainly due to high labour cost factor. Results of the research were shared with the NGO. However, the team created a brand for the NGO, with the name “HOUSE OF SANGOLA’, which becomes one brand for any product the NGO makes in future.

Students got a chance to do a one-to-one session with the great marketing expert Mr. Shri Bharambe, who highly appreciated the brand created by these students.

Students got a chance to do a one-to-one session with the great marketing expert Mr. Shri Bharambe, who highly appreciated the brand created by these students.

Students who completed this project successfully are –

·      Keziah Thomas Dsouza

·      Siddhi Sandesh Patil

·      Tanaya Kishor Tanawade

·      Sakshi Chandrakant Kadam

·      Hinal Vasant Mistry

·      Shruti Ramesh Salian

·      Sayali Sanjay Chaudhari

The NGO acknowledged their efforts by giving an appreciation letter to them.

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