NCPEDP – Javed Abidi Fellowship on Disability
NCPEDP announces “The NCPEDP-Javed Abidi Fellowship on Disability” supported by Azim Premji Foundation (The Philanthropy)
The fellowship programme will begin from 1st September 2021. The application is now open and the last date to apply is August 11, 2021.
About the NCPEDP:
Registered in 1996, the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) is the country’s premier cross-disability, not-for-profit organisation working as an interface between Government, Industry, International Agencies and the Voluntary Sector towards empowerment of persons with disabilities. Its mandate is simple – to encourage the employment of disabled people, increase public awareness on the issue of disability, empower disabled people with knowledge, information and opportunities and ensure easy and convenient access to all public places. NCPEDP works on six core principles, also called the six pillars of the organization, namely: 1) Education; 2) Employment; 3) Accessibility; 4) Legislation/Policy; 5) Awareness/Communication, and 6) Youth.
About Azim Premji Foundation (The Philanthropy):
Azim Premji Foundation(The Philanthropy) makes multi-year grants to not-for-profit organizations that work with the most vulnerable in our society. Through such support, people who are deeply disadvantaged and marginalized are offered immediate care, access to essential services, and the possibility of a dignified future not only at the community level but also at the Government service delivery systems level.
The Philanthropy works in a range of thematic areas. Illustratively, this includes Urban homeless, Persons with disabilities, Women survivors of violence, Adolescent girls at risk, Street children, Elderly poor, Manual scavengers, Ragpickers, Migrant workers, Transgenders and other gender minorities, Farmers with marginal landholding, particularly vulnerable tribal groups, and Water-deficient communities. Their teams in each area focus on developing an understanding of the issues and building partnerships towards a common set of goals. They systematically engage with their partner organizations and communities to reflect and learn, with an aim to improve the lives of these communities.
Nearly 25% of India’s population is aged between 15 to 25. Extrapolate this to 100 million persons with disabilities – and we have a massive number of young persons with disabilities – nearly 25 million – looking for equal participation and inclusion in society and the development discourse. A first one of its kind, the fellowship programme will give youth with disabilities the opportunity to delve into and voice issues faced by persons with disabilities at the grassroots with the support of local civil society organisations across India.
The National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP), India’s leading cross- disability advocacy organisation, in collaboration with Azim Premji Foundation (The Philanthropy) is proud to announce the NCPEDP-Javed Abidi Fellowship on Disability, a three-year immersive grassroots fellowship programme for youth with disabilities having a keen interest in disability issues and looking to build a career in the development sector particularly Disability Rights and Inclusion.
This year, NCPEDP observes its silver jubilee – 25 years of struggle for disability rights, inclusion and participation – by launching the fellowship programme for selected 25 youth with disabilities on 11th June, also marking the birth anniversary of one of the pioneers of the disability rights movement in India and NCPEDP’s former Director, Late Javed Abidi, whose vision was the inclusion of youth into the disability discourse.
Ontheoccasion, ArmanAli,ExecutiveDirectorofNCPEDP,said,“TakingthelegacyofJavedBhaiforward, who has inspired countless people like me, we are launching this prestigious fellowship to commemorate him and his contribution to NCPEDP and the disability movement. Also, given that we are in the midst of the pandemic, people living with disabilities have been the worst affected. There is a struggle for food, access to basic healthcare, education and livelihood opportunities. The disability rights movement and inclusion of people with disabilities have been pushed back two decades! The fellows will help document such stories of struggle and good practices from all over the country to help build back better”.
Neelima Karath, Lead for Persons with Disability at The Philanthropy added, “This fellowship will train 25 youth with disability as leaders and will enable them to voice the issues of the community at decision-making platforms. Their research and work will lead to new narratives emerging from the grassroots which would guide the future of policy, advocacy and implementation in the disability ecosystem.”
Who is eligible?
The fellowship programme gives the opportunity to young fellows with disabilities to work on an identified theme or issue during the fellowship period. (Age: 18-28)
What is the course duration?
It’s a three-year immersive grassroots fellowship programme.
Stipend
The fellows will receive a monthly stipend for up to Rs. 25,000 to meet necessary needs during the fellowship programme.
What will they learn?
As they work with NCPEDP’s National Disability Network partners, fellows will not only gain in-depth grassroots knowledge and hands-on experience on policy-level issues and challenges but will also get mentorship support to work towards policy change/impact through various initiatives under the fellowship.
Further, the fellowship programme intends to engineer social entrepreneurship amongst and guide fellows in contributing to an evidence-based collection of advocacy efforts, experience and effects to the cause of disability in a pluralistic manner.
“There is a critical need for disability-related data and research for not only informed and effective advocacy campaigns by the disability sector, but also for policymakers to make informed decisions for implementing rights-based programmes and policies that will empower people with disabilities in India. Therefore, NCPEDP through this fellowship intends to not only create a repository of data-driven and evidence-based research and policy papers on various disability-related issues produced by the fellows themselves but, also envisions to produce a second line of leadership for the disability movement in India,” remarked Som Mittal, Chairperson, NCPEDP.
What’s in it for you?
- Opportunity to work with NCPEDP’s State Partners and shadowing experience with State disability leaders to get an in-depth experience on policy level issues and challenges at the grassroots level.
- Essential knowledge based support in form of training and capacity building workshops on rights-based mechanisms and disability rights, guidance and exposure to policy advocacy strategies at both Centre and State levels, mentorship under field experts and a competitive stipend of upto Rs. 25,000 to meet necessary needs during the fellowship programme. (provisional expenses)
- Platform to interact and network with pan-India disability leaders, activists, experts and professionals in the sector and gain from their experiences the necessary skills to become leaders of tomorrow.
- Opportunity to work on a preferred disability theme/area of choice and develop an action plan for policy and behavioural change, create and implement a specific advocacy campaign strategy on a critical issue, develop an informal cross-disability network, and become a trainer on disability rights awareness.
- Opportunity for selected few to pitch and seek support for seed funding, pursuant to successful completion of the 3-year fellowship with stellar performance.
Please Note: The fellowship programme was designed to be hosted in person, however due to the on-going pandemic and careful consideration of the situation, the programme will either take place in an on-line mode (only virtual) or a hybrid model (mix of both in-person and virtual)
