State Bank of India Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of State Bank Group, has invited applications for the 11th edition of Youth for India Fellowship. Candidates can apply at youthforindia.org.
According to a press statement by SBI Foundation, the 13-month fellowship provides a framework for educated urban youth – professionals or fresh graduates – to join hands with rural communities and NGOs across 17 states and drive change.
Applicants must be citizens of India, overseas citizens of India or citizens of Bhutan and Nepal.
The SBI Youth for India Fellowship works on 12 thematic areas: health, rural livelihoods, food security, environmental protection, education, water, technology, women empowerment, self-governance, social entrepreneurship, traditional crafts and alternative energy. Fellows can work in any one of these twelve areas according to their interest.
“The SBI Youth for India program aims to bridge the gap that exists between the urban youth’s aspiration to contribute to the development sector and experience the rural reality, as well as to bridge the gap of qualified human resources with diverse educational and professional backgrounds The 13-month long fellowship provides an active framework for youth to come up with sustainable development solutions for rural development and capacity building, said Sanjay Prakash, Managing Director and CEO, SBI Foundation.
In the last 10 years, Youth for India has seen active participation of hundreds of youth and according to an official statement, 34 alumni have either founded or started a program, venture or non-profit.
“Some notable alumni include Siddharth Daga, co-founder of Neomotion, which customizes tech-enabled wheelchairs, who appeared on SharkTank this season. Another former fellow is Sriti Pandey, who founded ‘Structure’ in 2018 and has been included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 in the 2021 edition, for her use of technology that is cropping up in agro-fibre panels for industrial and commercial construction. Helps reduce pollution by reducing waste. It added.
Over 100 alumni of the program go on to pursue higher studies in the development domain after their SBI Youth for India fellowship experience, and around 70% pursue careers in the social sector by working in rural development, public policy/governance, education, Let’s go ahead. etc., SBI Foundation said.