Earth5R

Earth5R Next-Gen Leadership & Career Development Program

Mentorship by Global Sustainability Leader Saurabh Gupta

In a world where young people are constantly told to “prepare for the future,” very few actually get the chance to understand what that future demands. The Earth5R Next-Gen Leadership & Career Development Program, led by Saurabh Gupta, Founder of Earth5R, is designed to give students that edge. It transforms the academic learning years into a structured journey of leadership, purpose, and real-world readiness.

This one-month intensive program combines sustainability thinking, entrepreneurship, AI training, and professional mentoring into one powerful experience. It uses the CAS framework as an entry point but goes much further,building a bridge from school to university to early career success. Students learn directly from Saurabh Gupta and

Earth5R’s global team, gaining the mentorship, exposure, and confidence that last for life.

Why Saurabh Gupta’s Mentorship Makes the Difference

Behind every strong program is a mentor who has walked the path. Saurabh Gupta is one of India’s most recognised sustainability innovators and global youth mentors. From being honoured by the French and UK Governments to representing India at OECD’s Roundtable on SDGs and working with the EU Climate Action Team, he has built credibility at the highest international level.

In 2023, he presented the Earth5R project at the Paris Peace Forum in front of representatives from over 65 nations, showcasing how citizen-led sustainability can shape real policy change.

His journey,from starting Earth5R in 2014 as a small citizen movement to creating an impact across 65 countries,gives him a unique ability to guide students with both empathy and global awareness. Through this program, students gain direct mentorship from him and access to his network of global universities, policymakers, and sustainability experts.

  • Global Recognition: Saurabh is a UNESCO and OECD-recognised advisor for sustainability and education.
  • Government Partnerships: He collaborates with EU Climate Action, UK, and French Government teams.
  • Global University Connect: Works with experts from MIT, NYU, and Cambridge.
  • On-Ground Impact: Leads large-scale programs such as the Mithi River Cleanup and Organic Transition Project.

This mentorship allows students to see how leadership, integrity, and impact operate in the real world.

1. Discovering Purpose and Strengths

Before learning to lead others, students must understand their own strengths, values, and motivations. This first stage of the program focuses on self-discovery and purpose alignment, helping young learners connect their personal interests with meaningful professional paths. Through guided sessions, reflections, and mentor interactions, students begin to uncover who they are and what they truly care about.

This clarity forms the base for every decision,college choices, internships, and careers,and prevents the confusion most students face later.

  • Personal strength mapping and goal-setting exercises with individual mentor feedback.
  • Journaling and reflective writing that help students express their experiences in university essays.
  • Discussions about global problems,like waste, inequality, or climate change,and how personal passions link to them.
  • Example: A student passionate about the environment created a project on coastal waste under Earth5R’s Marine Plastic Initiative, combining art and activism.

By discovering their own purpose first, students learn how to build futures that align with both achievement and personal fulfillment.

2. Learn to Build: From Ideas to Real Projects

Once clarity is achieved, the next step is creation. This module trains students to turn their ideas into structured, result-oriented projects. They learn how to design initiatives, form teams, manage time, and measure outcomes,skills that mirror real entrepreneurial and leadership journeys.

Using Earth5R’s tested project frameworks, students experience how an idea can evolve into a tangible impact,just like how Earth5R’s Blue Cities Network grew from a concept to an international model for urban river restoration.

  • Students learn project planning through examples like Earth5R’s Mithi River Revitalisation initiative.
  • Step-by-step guidance on how to form teams, allocate roles, and manage collaboration.
  • Training on NGO or startup basics,registration, branding, and goal communication.
  • Example: A student from Pune built “ReGrow,” a youth-led composting initiative mentored by Earth5R experts.

By the end of this phase, every participant develops an independent project that demonstrates real-world leadership and action.

Each project follows the official IB CAS stages: Investigation, Preparation, Action, Reflection, and Demonstration. Students start by identifying a problem, then design an actionable plan, implement their ideas, reflect through guided journals, and finally present their outcomes in a showcase or digital report.

3. Leadership & Global Communication

“Leadership is not about position, it is about influence”. This phase focuses on building the communication and confidence that allow students to express their ideas clearly and powerfully in any setting.

Drawing from Saurabh Gupta’s own experiences speaking at global platforms such as MIT, OECD, and international policy events, this module helps students become persuasive, credible, and empathetic communicators. They learn how to turn ideas into stories that inspire action, a skill that stays relevant in interviews, presentations, and every future leadership role.

Students will develop:

  • Storytelling, presentation design, and public speaking skills to communicate ideas with confidence.
  • Simulation practice where they pitch their ideas as if addressing global audiences.
  • Collaborative group activities that strengthen empathy, active listening, and negotiation.

Example:

Students from a recent cohort presented their climate innovation ideas in a live mentorship session with NYU researchers, gaining real experience of speaking to an international academic audience.

By the end of this module, students emerge as self-assured individuals who can represent their work with clarity, conviction, and global awareness.

4. Entrepreneurship & Innovation Thinking

Every student has ideas, but not everyone knows how to make them real. This module brings students into the world of entrepreneurial problem-solving, using examples from Earth5R’s journey of creating social enterprises that serve communities. It encourages young people to view problems as opportunities for innovation, building both a creative and practical mindset.

Students will explore:

  • Startup structures, team roles, and funding basics to understand how ventures grow from concept to execution.
  • Case studies from Earth5R’s collaborations with BPCL and Indian Overseas Bank, showing how sustainability solutions can be scaled successfully.
  • Innovation frameworks that help turn creative ideas into market-ready or community-based initiatives.

This practical learning helps students connect creativity with strategy,a key advantage in entrepreneurship and future careers.

5. AI and Future Skills for Career Readiness

In today’s world, technology and creativity are inseparable. This module trains students in ethical and effective use of Artificial Intelligence to make their ideas stronger, smarter, and more relevant. It also teaches how AI supports sustainability and innovation, using case studies from Earth5R’s work with global partners.

The aim is to create future-ready learners who can adapt quickly and use technology responsibly in their personal and professional lives.

  • Workshops on AI tools for creative ideation, research, and productivity.
  • Case study on Earth5R’s collaboration with Digital Impact Alliance (UN Foundation) for community data.
  • Learning how to balance human intelligence with AI support for meaningful outcomes.

6. Masterclass Series: Real-World Workshops

This program includes five experiential workshops led by Saurabh Gupta and Earth5R’s global professionals. Each session gives students direct, hands-on learning in areas that matter most for leadership and career success.

The workshops combine mentorship, teamwork, and reflection,creating visible skill development in communication, innovation, and problem-solving.

  1. Project & Portfolio Design: Learn how to create your own digital project page using Earth5R’s real design templates.
  2. Design Thinking & User Experience: Practice creative problem-solving used in Earth5R’s Blue Cities urban design projects.
  3. Entrepreneurship & Impact Models: Study how Earth5R developed sustainable business and community partnerships.
  4. AI for Innovation: Explore practical AI use for research, design, and reporting.
  5. Public Speaking & Presentation Mastery: Develop confidence through mentor-reviewed speech sessions.

By the end of the workshop series, students possess a full toolkit of 21st-century skills that directly strengthen their academic and professional profiles.

7. Five-Year Mentorship and Alumni Network

Reflection is treated as an ongoing process through guided prompts, portfolio entries, and mentor-led discussions. Students reflect before, during, and after each phase of their project, as required by IB’s CAS reflection framework.

Unlike traditional short courses, this program offers ongoing mentorship and reference support for five years, or until the student’s first job or university placement. This long-term connection ensures continuity, trust, and a sense of belonging to a global community of changemakers.

It means students can return to Earth5R for guidance, recommendation letters, and project opportunities long after their program ends.

  • Continued access to mentorship sessions with Saurabh and his senior advisory team.
  • Regularly updated Letters of Recommendation (LORs) for scholarships and university applications.
  • Invitations to participate in Earth5R’s upcoming global projects and innovation challenges.

Very recently our former participant from Bengaluru joined Earth5R’s Biochar Carbon Project soon after completing the program. What started as a small school project turned into a real opportunity to work alongside Earth5R mentors on sustainable farming practices. She helped organize community awareness drives and later co-led training sessions for local farmers on how to create and use biochar to improve soil health and reduce carbon emissions. Her work became a model of how a student initiative can grow into a project that directly supports both environmental and community well-being.

This continuity transforms the program from a short-term experience into a lifelong advantage.

8. Global Exposure and Networking Opportunities

Earth5R’s strength lies in its connections. Through this program, students gain direct access to a worldwide ecosystem of sustainability professionals, university researchers, and corporate leaders. They also have the chance to participate in live Earth5R field programs and global collaborations.

This exposure shapes cultural understanding, adaptability, and a real sense of global citizenship,qualities that define future leaders.

  • Networking with mentors from MIT, NYU, OECD, and government advisory panels.
  • Opportunity to represent youth perspectives in Earth5R’s international events.
  • Hands-on experience through projects in sustainability, urban restoration, and green entrepreneurship.

9. CAS Integration and School Collaboration

The Earth5R program is carefully mapped to the seven IB CAS learning outcomes. Students identify their strengths, undertake challenges, plan and execute real projects, demonstrate commitment, work collaboratively, engage with issues of global significance, and reflect ethically on their actions. Each activity includes clear documentation templates and reflection prompts aligned with IB standards.

For many students, CAS often feels like just another requirement to complete. At Earth5R, it becomes something exciting, a chance to do meaningful work and actually see the results of your effort.

The Earth5R Next-Gen Program helps IB students complete their Creativity, Activity, and Service hours through guided projects that create visible change in communities. Every activity is supervised, verified, and counts toward official CAS records while also helping students grow as leaders.

Every student project is supervised by an official Earth5R mentor who provides formal verification for CAS documentation. The supervising mentor also helps students log reflections, outcomes, and evidence through a portfolio or digital tracker.

Students actively engage with communities, rather than simply donating or observing. Each project has a defined purpose, ethical framework, and measurable outcome, ensuring genuine service learning rather than symbolic participation.

Even if you are not from the IB curriculum, the program gives you a leadership and service portfolio that universities genuinely value. It helps you turn simple volunteering into something real and memorable that represents who you are.

Students receive

  •  Ready-to-use CAS templates, reflection forms, and tracking tools to record progress easily
  • Guidance and verified supervision from Earth5R mentors and school counsellors
  • The opportunity to complete all 150 CAS hours through sustainability and leadership projects that make a real impact

For students seeking to meet the CAS long-term project requirement, Earth5R provides structured options for collaborative work, such as running environmental campaigns, sustainability clubs, or community innovation projects that can extend beyond the one-month mentorship phase.

At R N Podar School, students completed Earth5R community clean-up projects as official CAS work. They not only earned verified hours but also experienced the satisfaction of seeing their efforts create visible change.

All projects and field activities follow Earth5R’s ethical guidelines and risk management protocols, ensuring student safety, transparency, and responsible engagement in every experience.

The Earth5R Next-Gen Leadership & Career Development Program has been designed to complement the International Baccalaureate (IB) CAS framework by addressing all seven learning outcomes and adhering to the official CAS stages. The program is suitable for students from IB, A-Level, and other international curricula seeking global exposure and personal growth through experiential learning. At Earth5R, CAS (Creativity, Activity, Social) turns into more than a school requirement. It becomes your first real story of leadership and impact, something that helps you grow and stand out wherever you go next.

10. Certification and Global Recognition

Every student completing the program receives internationally recognised credentials that strengthen academic and professional portfolios. These certificates and references are co-signed by Saurabh Gupta and Earth5R’s leadership team, carrying the weight of real-world reputation.

They demonstrate initiative, capability, and global awareness,qualities top universities and employers actively look for.

  • Certificate of Leadership and Career Development from Earth5R.
  • Personalised Letter of Recommendation (LOR) signed by Saurabh Gupta.
  • Digital Portfolio Link showcasing the student’s project outcomes.
  • Eligibility for Earth5R Alumni Network, connecting students to future opportunities.

Graduates emerge as confident, capable, and globally recognised young leaders with authentic credentials backed by one of the world’s most respected sustainability mentors.

Duration and Investment

  • Duration: 1 Month (flexible completion schedule)
  • Program Fee: ₹10,000 (introductory offer valid for limited seats)
    Includes mentorship, five workshops, AI sessions, certification, and five-year alumni support.
    (Future cohorts will be priced ₹15,000–₹50,000 based on selected modules and mentorship level.)

Why Students and Parents Choose Earth5R

Parents trust programs that combine practical skill-building with emotional growth. Students join because they want to do something meaningful. Earth5R’s program, led by Saurabh Gupta, achieves both.

What makes it different:

  • Mentorship by Saurabh Gupta, advisor to EU Climate Action, OECD, and multiple governments.
  • Real-world exposure to Earth5R projects active in more than 65 countries.
  • Connections with global experts from MIT, NYU, and UNESCO.
  • Long-term references and professional guidance for university and career pathways.
  • Practical focus on leadership, innovation, sustainability, and AI.

This is not just a short course. It marks the beginning of a student’s lifelong journey to become a globally aware, responsible, and impactful leader.

Enrollment

Students:
Take the first step toward a career with purpose. Learn directly from Saurabh Gupta and global mentors, build your own project, and become part of Earth5R’s next generation of leaders.
Whatsapp +91 9920045587 or email community (at) earth5r.org

Parents & Schools:
Partner with Earth5R to give students an authentic learning experience that builds real skills, confidence, and credibility.