Bhumi Fellowship 2024 : The application window for the 2024 Cohort Open Now
Application deadline 5th Nov 2023
Bhumi is one of India’s largest volunteer organisations. Since 2006, the organisation has been providing youngsters a platform to serve the society and bridges the gap between the educated and the uneducated. Our volunteers and staff educate and mentor children from orphanages, slum and village community centres and low-income schools across the country to give them a better future, which will benefit them as well as our country. Bhumi’s educational programs are currently operational across 12 cities in India.
Bhumi Fellowship is a 2-year paid, transformative program to help you become the next leader in education. Through our fellowship program, we provide young leaders like you with hands-on training and on-the-job experience in teaching and transforming schools in India.
Vision Achieving equitable education for all children through systemic change
Mission To create a cadre of changemakers who transform schools in the short term and lead the next education movement in the long term.
Why is the Bhumi Fellowship Important?
The state of education in India is dire, with millions of children deprived of quality education. Despite significant progress in enrollment, the quality of education remains a challenge. India’s education system is plagued with low learning outcomes, lack of trained teachers, inadequate infrastructure, and poor governance. We believe that the best way to solve these challenges is by creating a pool of leaders like you who are committed to transforming education in India.
About Us!
In 2018, Bhumi launched the School Transformation and Socio-Emotional Learning Programmes. These were facilitator-driven models with the intent of building reflection in teachers and school leaders and providing insights into pedagogical practices. The idea for the Bhumi Fellowship and whole-school transformation emerged with the realisation that it was essential to look beyond the classroom and work with other stakeholders to develop sustainable solutions.
Our mission is to instill a deep understanding of the education system in our Fellows so they can become leaders in the movement to create educational equity. In 2020, the Bhumi Fellowship welcomed its first cohort of five Fellows. Today, we have 16 Fellows working across corporation, government-aided, and low-income private schools across Chennai.
Vision
Achieving equitable education for all children through systemic change
Mission
To create a cadre of changemakers who transform schools in the short term and lead the next education movement in the long term.
What is the problem? (The ED Crisis)
Education is a fundamental right and all children are entitled to an excellent education. With the introduction of the Right to Education Act in 2009, India has achieved a Gross Enrolment Ratio of 99% at primary level. However, the quality of education still remains a challenge.
According to the Annual Status of Education Report (2018): Only 44% of Grade V children could read a Grade II Level text 22.7% of Grade V children could do division
At present, we have 96.96 lakh teachers across all levels for 26.44 crore children. We require efficient systems that enable HMs and invest parents to create an enabling learning environment for children. The Bhumi Fellowship aims to improve the quality of education by working with all the stakeholders in a school ecosystem through our whole-school transformation approach. We also envision our alumni becoming changemakers who lead the movement to transform the education system.
Our Approach
The Fellowship takes a whole-school transformation approach towards the short-term mission of transforming school. The key pillars of this approach are
- Classroom Teaching : Fellows are placed in a classroom between Grade 2-5 where they teach foundational literacy (English) and numeracy (Mathematics) to children.
- Teacher Well-being and Development : Our Fellows actively work with the HELO Team to create spaces for the wellbeing and the personal/ professional development of teachers.
- Strategic Support to HMs : The Fellows support the HMs with their vision for the school and co-create interventions to achieve the same.
- Community Engagement : A key component of the Fellowship is to build investment in the parents and collaborate with them to achieve student outcomes. Our Fellows do this through community visits, parent engagement spaces, and parent-teacher/school management committee meetings.
- Enabling Resources of the School :We work closely with the HM and other internal teams of Bhumi to improve the existing infrastructure and also provide access to computer labs, libraries, and play areas.
Eligibility & Offerings
- Graduates or Final Year Students
- Age between 20 and 30 Years
- Monthly Grant of Rs.30000/-
- In-depth Real time training
- Placement in Chennai
- Exposure in Whole School Transformation
Stage 1
- Application
- Your application will help us understand your experiences, your aspirations, and motivations to join the Bhumi Fellowship.
Stage 2
- Telephonic Interview
- A 30-minute telephonic conversation to understand a little more in depth about you that may not have been captured on the application form.
Stage 3
- Final Assessment
- Final stage of the selection process comprising lesson execution, group discussion and problem solving. Upon clearing these, you will be invited to a personal interview.
Our Fellows must be:
- Passionate about bringing about a change in Education
- Critical thinkers with an aptitude to solve problems
- Resilient in the face of challenges
- Able to build relationships and strengthen partnerships through purpose-driven conversations
- Individuals with a track record of demonstrated leadership in other spaces which will be honed further during and after this two-year period
Fellowship Location: Chennai
Fellow Interventions
Our fellows teach children foundational literacy and numeracy and socio-emotional learning. Our fellows also work directly with the teachers, school leaders, and parents for holistic development.
- Classroom Teaching
- Professional Development
- Capacity Building
- Community Participation
- Infrastructural Support
- Whole School Transformation
Outcomes
Short Term
- Fellows build knowledge and skills in designing education solutions
- Improving student learning in English & Mathematics
- Enhanced motivation and awareness in children
- Improved teaching practices in teachers
- Environment of collaboration
- Increased awareness and motivation
Long Term
- Schools as one collective unit of change centered around holistic development of children
- Fellows become changemakers who lead the next movement in education towards equitable education for all children
Key Interventions
Achievement of Students
- Spelling tests to assess mastery of the sounds and recognizing them. Close to 60% of the class scored above 50% in the tests.
- Children bringing in science experiments/inventions into the class (such as homemade stylus)
Interventions taken for Teachers
- Focus Group Discussion on Parent – Teacher interactions
- Child Sexual Abuse Session facilitated for 18 Teachers
Interventions taken for HM
- Reflection space to set an overall vision for the school and the stakeholders in the system
Interventions taken for Parents
- Physical well-being workshop was organized by Bhumi Team/Volunteers and Teachers for 95 parents and children at school.
- Regularly connecting with parents to understand and manage expectations
Interventions taken at School Level
- Library and wash area constructed
- Regular use of digital medium to learn in offline classes
Why should I join the Bhumi Fellowship?
The ineffectiveness of the Indian education system puts our future generations at risk. Only reimagined and more effective schools can equip our children with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive. The Bhumi Fellowship offers you a chance to reimagine the way children learn and create a working system that prepares children for a better tomorrow.
How is the Bhumi Fellowship different from similar fellowships in the country?
We take a whole-school approach to transformation – in addition to teaching children foundational literacy and numeracy, our fellows also work directly with the teachers, school leaders, and parents for holistic development.
Who are we looking for?
Spirited young graduates (between 20 and 30 years old) who are passionate about transforming the education system and are willing to commit to a two-year full-time fellowship. Your past experiences in volunteering and/or leading teams will serve as an advantage in understanding the problem at root and taking a collective approach for equitable education.
Where will my fellowship be?
In Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Do I need to know Tamil?
Knowing Tamil is not mandatory but will be an advantage.
Will I get paid?
Yes. You will receive a grant of Rs 30,000 per month for a period of two years.
The grant includes INR 5,500 towards allowances, including house rent, laptop, mobile, and reimbursements.
You will also be eligible for a Fellow Seed Fund of INR 1,00,000 upon successful completion and graduating from the fellowship.
How can I apply for the Bhumi Fellowship?
Please visit https://fellowship.bhumi.ngo/applynow to apply for the fellowship
How do I submit an excellent application?
Visit https://fellowship.bhumi.ngo/support
What is the duration of the Fellowship?
Two years. You will commit to working full-time at an under-resourced private/ govt/ govt-aided school where you are placed
Will I be trained during the fellowship?
Yes. The year begins with a training that equips fellows with the basic knowledge, skills, and mindsets required to set foot in a school. Further on, periodic learning circles address need-based knowledge and skill components. An exposure to other potential educators/education entrepreneurs in the ecosystem will also be offered through the fellowship journey.
What does the Bhumi Fellowship entail?
The Bhumi fellowship is a leadership journey in which fellows transform themselves by working with the school system. Fellows will solve key problems in their schools by working closely with children, teachers, HMs, and parents. With this experience, fellows join the system to transform it for all children.
What opportunities will be available to me after the Fellowship?
Fellows who choose to pursue an entrepreneurial journey will be supported in designing solutions to the problems they identify. Alternatively, they will be offered career opportunities with Bhumi or other like-minded organisations.
