About

The project’s vision is twofold: to build a culture of giving and to harness the energy of young people for social good.

It addresses common shortcomings in community-based skilling programs, such as missing market links, lack of relevance for youth, insufficient funding, or weak community bonds. Students gain not only technical skills (e.g., WordPress) but also an entrepreneurial mindset—problem-solving, handling money, storytelling, resilience, and teamwork.

The approach is built on collaboration: deaf and hearing students exchange skills and experiences; children from under-resourced schools access science labs; privileged students engage with communities they wouldn’t otherwise meet; and animal shelters benefit from student involvement. Each interaction creates shared learning and mutual respect.

While employable skills are an important outcome, the deeper goal is to instill empathy, understanding, and a sense of shared humanity—qualities that can ultimately make society more compassionate and connected.

Finally, I also believe career clarity will come from doing! And that career clarity, was, and always will be One Step Up’s true north!

– Shiv Dewan, One Step Up

[Shiv Dewan is the mentor for this project]