From Orientation to Action: The SST 8.0 Online Phase

The School for Social Transformation (SST) is a structured leadership and learning programme that nurtures active citizens, social entrepreneurs, and intrapreneurs to create meaningful social change. Over the years, SST has engaged changemakers across multiple states in India, focusing on themes such as education and awareness, gender and equality, environment and climate action, and active citizenship.

SST follows a three-phase journey- an online learning and value-alignment phase, an immersive offline programme, and a community engagement phase. The online phase of SST 8.0 on Active Citizenship was conducted on 10th and 11th December 2025, marking the starting point of this journey for the cohort.

Participants from Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, and Kozhikode joined the sessions online, coming together to understand the programme structure, shared values, and the pathway ahead.

Day 1: Understanding the SST Journey & Building Community

On the first day, participants were taken through the timeline of the SST journey, gaining clarity on the programme’s structure, learning phases, and expectations. This helped participants understand how the online phase connects to the offline immersion and community engagement components.

The day also focused on participant introductions, where each individual shared their background, interests, and motivations for joining SST 8.0. These conversations fostered an inclusive and collaborative learning environment. The session concluded on a warm note with a song performed by one of the participants, reflecting creativity, connection, and collective spirit.

Day 2: Learning from Projects & Reflecting on the Journey Ahead

The second day continued by revisiting the SST journey timeline, helping participants reflect on their roles as active citizens within the programme. Farbani shared their project journey, offering practical insights into community-based action and leadership.

Participants were also introduced to projects undertaken by members from different cohorts, enabling cross-learning and exposure to diverse approaches to social change. The day concluded with interactive Q&A sessions, allowing participants to engage deeply, clarify doubts, and reflect on how their learnings could translate into action.

The online phase of SST 8.0 successfully laid a strong foundation by building shared understanding, strengthening peer connections, and preparing participants for the next stages of the School for Social Transformation journey.