Sewa Fellowship 2024-26
Application closes on 21st March 24
Sewa International is a ‘not-for-profit’ organization inspired by the noble tradition of service before self, working for promoting voluntarism internationally especially among children, youth, women and energetic senior citizens; building an international network of not-for-profit organizations; promoting philanthropy from the grassroots level to corporate sector; providing relief to the affected during calamities, natural and /or man-made, and rehabilitating them; building capacity of the non-profit organizations towards achieving results, empowering communities and individuals through sustained support; funding committed, grass roots organizations that rely strongly on volunteer efforts; supporting efforts that promote cultural and moral value systems in the society; and aiming to see happiness and well-being in everyone, everywhere and at all times.
Youth for Seva (YFS), founded in April 2007, is a nation-wide volunteering movement that inspires youth to volunteer, and provides them with meaningful opportunities to serve the community. The goal of YFS is to support schools, destitute shelters, government hospitals and other organizations in the social sector through volunteers who can help them mitigate some of their shortcomings and challenges. Volunteering is made easy and customized to the individual’s interests, time availability and skill sets. YFS aims to create positive change agents in the society, through the culture of volunteering.
Sewa Fellowship is a strategic investment in human capacity, and grassroots organizations to build solutions for India’s complex socio-economic-cultural matrix. We believe in the power and potential of youth to drive ideas, run movements, nurture organizations, and seek truth and justice to together build a better Bharat.
As a 100-week program, the fellowship equips young, bright minds with knowledge, skills and a mindset to serve. With extensive mentor support, the program bridges the needs of grassroots development with a vision for the future.
About Sewa Fellowship: Sewa Fellowship is a 100-week experiential learning program for future grassroots leaders, built at the intersection of an extensive multi-disciplinary curriculum and grassroots development.
As an intensive journey, we nurture young nation-builders with expert mentorship, experiential learning, and an impactful journey with some leading non-profits of Bharat.
Features:
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Positive Support: Direct Stipend of ₹20,000 per month, along with mentorship and immersive learning.
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Grant Support: All fellows will get a grant amount of around ₹1.75 Lakhs at the successful completion of the fellowship.
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Interdisciplinary Curriculum: Comprehensive & holistic curriculum delivered by practitioners from across the world.
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Expert mentorship: 50+ expert mentors to inspire, inform, guide, and awaken the best in the fellows.
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Live Projects: Extensive reflective exercises to support learnings on self, society, development, and the world.
LEARNING MODULES
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Knowledge: ज्ञान शक्ति
- Development in Practice
- Development Research
- Idea of Development
- Knowing Bharat
- Social Entrepreneurship
- Technology and Society
- Introduction to Public Policy
Skills: क्रिया शक्ति
- Communication
- Fundraising
- Intervention Design
- Organisation Development
- Project Management
- Community Engagement
- Self Management
Will Power: इच्छा शक्ति
- Sewa and Tyaga
- Understanding Self
- Team Management
- Indic Lens for the Modern World
- Social Emotional Learning
- Inspired Leadership
- Personal Value System
ELIGIBILITY
Indicative Age: 21-30 years
Must have some volunteer experience with the community,with a minimum 1 year of equivalent work experience
Language constraints based on project locations
SELECTION PROCESS
Step1:
- Self-Application with Basic Details and Statement of Purpose: Written/ Video Essay
- Purpose: Knowing One Another
Step2:
- Assignments and a Digital Interview
- Purpose: Assess the following:
- Respect for Community Wisdom
- Curiosity and Humility
- Purpose of joining the program
Step3:
- 3-day physical camp, with activities and in-person interview
- Purpose: Temperament Check based on
- Leadership Skill
- Solution Orientedness
- Collaborative Working
- Purpose Alignment
- Personal Conversation
FELLOW JOURNEY
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Program Philosophy The program is deeply rooted in the philosophy of Yoga: the connectedness of our inner and outer selves, being in resonance to live a life of purpose. As part of the Sewa Fellowship, we explore this connectedness of our intrinsic nature: SwaBhava, our authentic identities: SwaRoopa, and how the resonance of the two lead an individual towards fulfilling one’s SwaDharma. This is our framework for future social leaders to help them understand and navigate life with a higher purpose. Sewa Leadership Framework As we set-out on a journey to nurture grassroots leadership, there was a need to define a framework for defining the competencies needed to be nurtured for a grassroots leader. We faced the two most fundamental aspects of human existence: Swabhaava and Swadharma. |
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DIMENSIONS of Existence
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LEVELS of Impact
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Swabhaava SwaBhava, the intrinsic nature, is the combination of the three shaktis that make up every being in the Universe: Ichha Shakti (Will), Gyan Shakti (Knowledge), and Kriya Shakti (Action), as outlined in the Lalitha Sahasranamam.It is the source from which aspirations take form, knowledge is acquired, and actions are propelled, shaping the unique essence and capabilities of an individual |
Swaroopa As a human, one’s journey as humans is about exploring the purpose of existence. This purpose rests on two foundational elements of one’s existence: one’s intrinsic nature, and our authentic identity.
The resonance between these two is SwaDharma, where our nature and identity both find their complete expression. SwaDharma is the purpose that directs individuals to lead a life of righteousness and authenticity, creating a sense of joy and fulfilment. |
SwaDharma Swaroopa, the authentic identity, serves as the outward nature of the individual in his/her interactions with the world: across the dimensions of Swayam (Self), Sangham (organisation), and Sarwam (society).
It is one’s identity and interactions with the world, starting with ourselves, i.e. one’s reflections/thoughts, one’s relationship with their organization/groups, and one’s interactions with the society at large. |
The fellowship aims to nurture purpose, purity, and perseverance in young, bright minds, to enable a life of service for the nation and society.
