Goonj Fellowship 2022 -23

Last date to Apply 5th June 22

Goonj envisions to grow as an idea across regions, economies and countries using urban discard as a tool to alleviate poverty and enhance the dignity of the underprivileged people of the world. Address basic but neglected issues of the poor by involving them in evolving their own solutions with dignity and urban material as reward.

Goonj Fellowships engages youth in a deeper way with some real-life challenges, tasks and timelines.

Our aim is to create more doers, following the words of our founder, Anshu Gupta, “Right now India doesn’t need more thinkers, it needs more doers.” We are looking for people with a passion to make a difference. If one is tired of thinking about solutions and wants to do something, then this Fellowship is the place for you!

The Goonj Fellowship is our way of engaging with the youth more deeply. We are looking for people who are done looking around and are ready to do something. This Fellowship is about engaging with some real-life challenges, tasks, and timelines, to give hands-on experience and immersion into urban and rural India’s realities. The curriculum gives you an in-depth exposure to Goonj’s work, specifically designed to build and nurture specific skills and values that we take pride in.

Goonj Fellowship is an immersion experience for young graduates and professionals to understand the practical aspects of working on issues and an opportunity to get the first-hand experience of realities of India.

This Fellowship began with the idea to engage youth of the country into being doers rather than thinkers. The attempt is to expose them to the challenges, realities, issues and problems which exist within the communities.

It is a platform where they devise their solutions for the problems they face and understand the ecosystem through the work they are engaged in. The aim is to bring passionate individuals who have the zeal to contribute towards society.

In August 2018, the first cohort of the fellowship was inducted and since then each year fellows hailing from diverse backgrounds commit a year long engagement to learn, unlearn and act.

The Fellowship involves – Getting engaged in a unique pan India urban campaign

• Joy of Giving Week involving strategic thinking, logistical management, communication, people handling, and outreach. This will be supplemented by in-depth exposure to the Goonj model and its core objectives such as bridging the rural-urban divide, valuing local-traditional wisdom, and a strong belief in a bottom’s up approach to development.
• Working closely with an experienced team on various thematic verticals including volunteer engagement, Menstrual Health and Hygiene, Neglected urban & rural communities, Partnership Building, Disaster management, Communication and media Strategies for internal & external campaigns/interactions.
• An immersive phase, where Fellows will be engaged in Goonj’s rural programs and operations to learn from grassroots knowledge and traditional wisdom, the very foundation of our objectives.
• Planning and executing time-bound ideas and projects, addressing an urban/rural problem, in the thematic areas in which Goonj has core competencies with the guidance and support by Goonj team members with diverse backgrounds in critical operations and thematic tasks/projects.
• Self-exploration phase: An unique window of time to explore some self-churning, and identify interest areas or domains one is passionate about.

Please note: This is a broad-dynamic curriculum, Goonj reserves the right to change or alter this during the course or as deemed necessary.

One Year Major Take Aways:

• Learning and Unlearning
• Material management
• Leadership and problem solving
• Empathy
• Self exploration
• Public speaking and communication.

Immersing into realities

• Fellows will have an immersion phase where they. work on mapping of specific urban and rural communities to get a deeper understanding of their living.
• They get a chance to observe and engage with communities by visiting the fields areas of the organization to understand the core issues.
• Fellows get a chance to explore their interest areas and chart out a plan for themselves upon which they act.
• The year long programme, includes

● Urban phase where Fellows will be deeply engaged in various urban initiatives, events, and operations of Goonj such as engaging in
urban campaigns. A perfect opportunity to witness our work with urban communities, partners, and stakeholders.

● Rural phase where fellows will be thrown deep into our rural programs and operations. To learn from grassroots knowledge and traditional wisdom, the very foundation of our objectives.

● Self exploration phase which is an unique window of time to go through some self-churning, and identify interest areas or domains one is passionate about. During the entire fellowship process, An attempt is made to guide fellows by experts of social sector from Goonj and other organizations. And regular review meets are organized to discuss on the experiences, learnings, challenges and personal growth of fellows and to chart out a plan for the next phase.

Fellowship function

a. Fellowship is for 12 months and a tough one!

b. Fellows will be given 20 leaves a year + regular national holidays.

c. Fellowship Stipend will be a fixed amount ranging between Rs 20000 – Rs 22000 per month, depending on the city.

d. City & Field travel allowances will be reimbursed based on actual.

Location : Goonj works in parts of the 27 states and UTs in deeper rural pockets and has city offices in Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Rishikesh, Chennai, Kochi and Mumbai. Based on the need you will be placed in any of these locations.

Eligibility criteria?

a. 1) Minimum qualification – graduation in any discipline.

b. 2) Open for Indian citizens only.

Age Limit This Fellowship is open to applicants between 21 – 30 years. With maximum being 30 years of age as of August 1st, 2022

Important Points to Note
● A Goonj Fellow cannot pursue any online/offline course during the
Fellowship period

● A Fellow can be placed in any city/rural setting for a short/long time during the Fellowship.

● The issues and ideas you will be working on during the Fellowship will be aligned with Goonj’s ongoing work/projects.

● If you have a specific passion/idea that you want to work on in life. Please bring it up in the application and interview, Goonj will look into the possibility of support.

Application Process (forms, interview)

Answer:

Step 1: You can fill out the form online. Check the eligibility criteria and read the FAQs thoroughly before filling out the application.

Step 2: Shortlisted applicants will proceed to the next round of the selection process.

Step 3: Shortlisted applicants from the previous round will be called for the final Interview..

For any queries, please mail us at fellowship@goonj.org

To Apply Click Here