LEAP, Harvard Launch Million Designers Initiative in India

New Delhi- The design and innovation organization LEAP and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Design Laboratory (D-Lab) have launched the Million Designers, Billion Dreams initiative to support rural individuals in India.

The project aims to provide rural leaders, frontline change agents, and village entrepreneurs with systems design know-how to address complex societal challenges. The initiative will equip them with the skills and knowledge to create scalable solutions to drive systems change, promote collaboration among diverse stakeholders, and foster confidence and agency to shape better futures through creativity and ownership.

The program’s primary objectives are to enhance the participants’ proficiency in design frameworks to drive systems change, promote collaboration among diverse stakeholders to address complex challenges, and foster confidence and agency to shape better futures through creativity and ownership. It is expected that this initiative will result in an increase in the number of individuals with systems design know-how, which will, in turn, drive innovation across sectors, promote collaboration among diverse stakeholders, and foster confidence and agency to shape better futures through creativity and ownership. The project will also promote sustainable practices addressing environmental, social, and economic challenges.

Million Designers, Billion Dreams is a project that is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), the LEAP organization, and the Transform Rural India Foundation (TRIF). The initiative is expected to have a positive impact on the rural communities of India, where it is set to empower a new generation of leaders to drive sustainable development. The project will provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to address complex societal challenges and contribute to the growth of their communities.