The Mobility Champions Fellowship – YLAC

The deadline to apply is 18^th December, 2022 (Sunday)

Founded in 2016, Young Leaders for Active Citizenship (YLAC) aims to increase the participation of young people in the policymaking process and build their capacity to lead change. Our interventions are designed to equip citizens with a better understanding of the society they live in and the challenges that it confronts. The aim is to help young people broaden their perspective, think critically about their socio-political construct, tap their leadership potential and acquire skills to create long lasting impact.

YLAC’s Mobility Champions Fellowship is back – this time in Delhi and Bengaluru simultaneously! Residents of Delhi and Bengaluru, here’s your chance to change the urban mobility landscape of your city! We bring you an exciting three-month, full-time opportunity to work with pioneers in the sustainable mobility space and make your cities more breathable and safe!

Mobility Champions

India has some of the most polluted and congested cities in the world. While an increasing number of people are moving into our cities, our urban infrastructure is not built to sustain this influx. The end result is increased commute times, mental fatigue and loss of productivity. Estimates suggest that traffic jams in just four Indian cities – Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Kolkata – may be costing India more than $22 billion a year.

Given the ever-increasing fleet of private vehicles and mobility systems that are disorganized, India needs to re-envision its cities to make its urban landscape more liveable and sustainable. You, as citizens, can be the change agents to make this happen.

Building a cadre of Mobility Champions

As part of the Sustainable Mobility Network (SMN), YLAC has joined hands with leading organizations such as ASAR, ITDP, Purpose, Sensing Local and Jhatkaa to remodel the urban mobility landscape in India. As a member of this network, YLAC is focusing on establishing citizen incubation hubs to identify and groom passionate young residents as Mobility Champions. Our aim is to mobilize citizen advocates to push the agenda on sustainable mobility via policy and advocacy.

The Mobility Champions Fellowship was first launched under the aegis of the #BengaluruMoving campaign in August 2020. Building on the foundation of our work under this campaign, we expanded the initiative in 2021 by instituting a hub in Delhi, while growing the cadre of Mobility Champions in Bengaluru.

Applications for the 2023 editions of the Delhi and Bengaluru fellowship are now open. If you are a resident of either of these cities, this is an opportunity for you to be an advocate for sustainable mobility!

The Mobility Champions Fellowship

The upcoming Mobility Champions Fellowship is designed as a three-month-long engagement from February 2023 to April 2023. YLAC will partner with four implementing organizations and place 8 selected Champions with the partners in each program city. This structure will give the Champions an opportunity to engage with, learn from and support the pioneers in the sustainable mobility space, while exploring actionable solutions and undertaking advocacy to further the cause of better transportation and connectivity.

Projects under the Mobility Champions Fellowship will largely focus on improving public spaces and making them inclusive, reclaiming streets, restoring waterways and making cities safer for women and children. Tasks will entail research, writing, working with elected representatives and community members, and amplifying advocacy campaigns.

Role Description

The Champions will be expected to:

• Work closely with leading organizations to support ongoing projects and campaigns on the issue
• Actively engage in campaign-related activities throughout the period of three months to advocate for the uptake of identified solutions
• Create research reports, infographics, representations, opinion pieces, etc., for engagement with various stakeholders, including policymakers and citizen groups

Eligibility

• Working professionals and students between the ages of 20-30 with a penchant for advocacy and activism, and a passion for transforming their city
• Applicants should be graduates/ postgraduates/ in the final year of their graduate studies in the field of urban planning/ design, architecture, transport engineering, public policy, political science, urban governance, development studies or related fields
• Physically based in the program city during the duration of the fellowship
• Strong research and analytical skills
• Ability to present information in a structured and insightful manner, with excellent written and oral communication skills
• Someone who is proactive and capable of working with minimal supervision

Duration & Time Commitment

• • Three-month-long, full-time engagement from 4^th February, 2023 to 29^th April, 2023
  • 40-45 hours of time commitment per week
  • Availability for fortnightly two-hour long skill development and mentorship sessions on Saturdays

Note: Selected fellows must not take up any other work assignments/ internships or projects during their tenure as Mobility Champions

Application & Deadlines

• Please submit your details along with your resume through the form here
• The deadline to apply is 18^th December, 2022 (Sunday). In case you have any questions, you may write to office@theylacproject.com
• Shortlisted candidates will be required to attend an online interview in the first half of January 2023

Click here to Apply 

Head to the link to learn more about the program and apply: Click here