Welcome to the world of kanthari!

Since 2009, over 40 social initiatives have been set up by kantharis the world over, each of
which is making a difference.
Our mission
To provide an incubator and spring board for visionaries who are able to transform concepts
and conventions, by offering specially developed, high quality and relevant leadership
training.
Concept
Through intensive training, Kanthari International equips participants with all the techniques,
methods and ideas they need to start up and run effective, relevant social projects all over
the world.
Why kanthari?
A kanthari is a plant that grows wild in every backyard of Kerala, a small but very spicy chili
with a number of medicinal values. A kanthari is also a symbol for those who have the guts
to challenge harmful traditions and the status quo, who have fire in their belly and a lot of
innovative ideas to make a positive difference. For us a kanthari will become the symbol of a
new type of leader a leader from the margins of society.
Reaching out to kantharis
Our aim is to reach out and develop potential social leaders from the margins of society. The
intake is based on their talent, dreams and the major adversity (Pinching point) they have
overcome in life. Our aim is to hone those kantharis who have gained strength from their
adversities and, through our innovative curriculum and being a part of a target group, similar
to themselves, are intrinsically driven to create ethical social change.
Mosquito/insect trapper
A day at kanthari
Contributed by Poonam Vaidya
The Lake that Inspired Social Innovation
During the kanthari leadership course, the participants follow a very hands on Curriculum. In a session last week, the yellow kanthari,
the inventor, was brought into focus. The 22 participants were divided into 5 groups and made to work on five different projects that
would help them with challenges that are faced on the kanthari campus. The groups worked on the following projects, which they
presented in front of Ted Moallem and Paul DSouza, two inventors who were visiting kanthari.
Mosquito Trapper
This is an invention to get rid of the pesky mosquitoes. The group came up with three different solutions. 1. a container, like a box, with
an entry and exit. Inside the inventors placed rotting fruit juice, which apparently attracts mosquitos. The mosquitos would enter and
be trapped in the box. 2. An empty bottle that is split in half horizontally in the middle. It would consist of a mixture of brown sugar,
yeast and would not only trap, but also kill the mosquitoes. The participants added a black plastic bag to this invention., as black is
commonly known to attract mosquitoes. 3. Prevention: keeping mosquitoes away by growing certain plants like tulsi.
De-weeding the Lake
On the previous day, the students in this group actually went into the lake and removed lotus roots. Lotus roots are at the base of the
lake and some of the leaves float on the surface of the water. The participants in this group wanted to find a way to eliminate these
lotus weeds, in order to ensure they dont grow back again. The plants not only spread like wildfire but also have a negative impact to
the water quality of the lake. The plants absorb sunlight and cause an increase of the water temperature. The plants also create
stagnant areas with low oxygen levels underneath the leaves which impacts fish and other wildlife. The participants created two ways
of eliminating these weeds. One was by using a spaghetti scooping method by having a device with hooks, like a fork. The participants
would use this to scoop out the spaghetti-like roots from under the surface of the lake. The second idea was to use a robotic-shaped
hand to replicate the grasping motion of the human hand. The robotic hand would be able to extend to the bottom of the lake and grab
and pull out the lotus weeds.
The wheelchair lift
The wheelchair lift was designed to help George, a kanthari participant who due to an accident became bound to a wheelchair, to get
up and down the hill so he can visit the lake. Functioning on the principles of a cable car , the machine helps someone in a wheelchair
lift himself or herself up with the help of a pulley. Using the help of chain-links, the person on the wheelchair would be able then, with
the semblance of a cable car, to propel himself or herself forward, to or from the lake.
Blind Beacon
The participants in this group envisioned a device to track the direction of the shore of the lake. It was designed to enable a blind
person to swim freely, without any worries about finding back to the shore. Using the same system that helps you locate a car amidst
many other cars, the participants proposed two parts of this device, a receiver and a transmitter. The receiver would be waterproofed
and kept with the swimmer, who would be able to check his or her way back by way of vibration, beeps, and other noises that would be
made by the transmitter when the swimmer moved around and pointed to the direction where the transmitter was placed.
Hydrolic lift
A hydrolic lift would use the combination of water and a pulley system to save electricity. The person would enter the lift, and the
weight of the person would displace the water and buoy the lift upwards. As one liter of water is also equal to one kilogram, the
inventors suggested that there also be a pump to add around five litres more of water, so that the person can be pushed up. There
would be a system to lock the lift, so that the person could reach the floor he wanted to, and also a pulley system, which would help the
person while going down. The participants also added that similar lifts have been successfully implemented in London, in the Royal
Palace.
Ted and Paul provided valuable feedback to the project ideas of the participants.
It was agreed that one of the mosquito trappers would be implemented, and prototypes of the other projects would be made to test
whether each and every one could be implemented on the campus.


The motive of the institute
Mud walls(used from the site) brickwork,
filler slabs
For differntly abled people, but built in
the normal way making them adjust to
the normal conditions.
Self sustainable /eco friendly campus
Water recycling
Solar- water heating
Biogas plant
Running water (taken from the lake) in
channels around the building to
prevent ants from entering.
Kanthari/ international institute for social entrepreneurs
Located at trivandrum,kerala