Shiksharth Rural Fellowship – Sustainability and Ecology Education

Last date to apply 31st of March 2023

Shiksharth is a not-for-profit organisation developing contextual and comprehensive positive childhood experiences for children coming from spaces of conflict and adverse geography by strengthening classroom instruction, community engagement and system support in an integrated approach. Currently, we are based out of the tribal Chhattisgarh in Sukma district and Bastar division of Chhattisgarh in collaboration with the local administration. 

Who we are: We are a team of grassroots collaborators passionate about collective action with the objective to reimagine the life of children in conflict and adverse geographies through positive childhood experiences.

What we Believe in: We believe that irrespective of ideological conflict and geographical adversity every child deserves PCE leading to experience compassion, peace and quality education to grow as a constructively engaged learned citizen.

Our Vision: Positive Childhood Experience for every child irrespective of any conflict and adversity

Journey So Far: Currently, we are serving 8000 children in 140 schools, 25 Gram Panchayat We have an existing partnership with local administration and SCERT, Chhattisgarh to do all of this for the region and take up our solution for more than 2 lakh children in the region

We have served over 50000 children (15000 directly and 30000+ indirectly ) in the tribal region in the last 5 years and have been working on different ways to support the contextual learning journey of children through actions research and now we are working to present it as an offering to scale up the impact and solutions in rural and tribal areas. 

During Covid, our open source offline learning solutions helped us serve 3 Lakh+ children across 14 states with help of 30 partner organisations. 

As part of the next phase of our journey, we intend to serve children outside Sukma as well by providing them with replicable solutions.

And to do this we are developing contextually relevant “comprehensive education solutions” for children from spaces of conflict and adversity by strengthening pedagogy, systems and community in an integrated approach. These solutions will ensure that we are able to take our current reach of 15000 children to over 5,00,000 children in other tribal areas of the country.

Get a glimpse of our work here:

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1. Action Researcher – Sustainability and Ecology Education

OPPORTUNITY

In the next phase of our work of developing contextually relevant pedagogy and personalized learning solutions, we are developing an Ecology Curriculum that leverages the indigenous wisdom and helps a child acquire 21st century skills in alignment with the SCERT guidelines and frameworks. 

Shiksharth in the scenario is endeavoring through ‘The School of Nature’s curriculum’ ( Ecology curriculum ) that is focused on 6th to 12th grade in the state of Chhattisgarh concerning the cognitive, socio-emotional and behavioral learning objectives enabling the children to be future-ready, proud of locally connected to the global standards and become knowledgeable and skilled community changemakers. The children would develop ownership of nature and biodiversity in the local geography. The goal would be to enable all children to be observant, aware, and proud of the richness of biodiversity around them and the culture associated with it. Children should feel motivated to seek traditional wisdom, along with the latest science and technological advancements, the learned skills and knowledge, and induce participation of people to take action towards the restoration of the biodiversity and sustainability of their environment. Through the skills of observation, exploration, acquiring and developing mindsets and collaboration and experimentation. 

Through the program, Shiksharth intends to work on two interrelated issues that we have been observing for the past decade during the course of our work in the tribal communities. While the bigger issue is about sustainability and sustainable practices that respect the biodiversity, the underlying issue is to bring back focus to the issues that matter, bring a new perspective to the riches that one has been bestowed with, and view the traditional wisdom in a new light with respect to the evolving scientific knowledge on the subject.

We intend to do this through:

1. Restoration of pride and sense of belongingness in the local ecosystem and traditional environmental wisdom
2. Awareness of the local biodiversity and its importance – What happens if it is lost or gets extinct?
3. The unlocking and burnishing of the local wisdom and tradition.
4. Linking Local to Global theme – The long term effects of global warming and climate crisis- and how all is interlinked and interdependent.
5. Understanding how livelihood and biodiversity are linked
6. Integrating ecology, biodiversity with existing curriculum taught in schools and leveraging the local knowledge to build skills and concepts for the future relevant to 21st century skills.
7. Value building and holistic well-being of children in tribal communities.

The achievement of the vision is envisaged through the integration of guiding principles and values that would be imparted through the following interlinked and interdependent objectives.  These objectives shall form the basis of our curriculum and pedagogical activities.

1. Exploration & Observation: of the local areas and surroundings to understand what we have been endowed with by nature.  Local livelihoods directly dependent on natural endowments, local forest produce, festivals, health care work etc.
2. Awareness & Documentation: of the local issues with respect to nature, natural resources, forest produce, challenges with respect to forest rights. Helping social groups and individuals gain awareness and sensitivity to the whole environment and its associated problems. Documenting these issues.
3. Knowledge & Skills: to help children and  youth discover a wide range of information in an interdisciplinary mode (systems literacy), so that they gain a basic understanding of local nature, and problems associated with it. Thereafter, helping individuals acquire the skills to identify and solve environmental problems.
4. Attitude: Helping the participants discover a set of values and feelings for the environment, as well as the motivation to actively participate in the development and protection of the environment.
5. Collaboration & Experimentation: Provide participants with the opportunity to collaborate and participate at all levels in working to solve environmental problems. Provide them with opportunities to experiment with various ideas.

We are looking for passionate individuals, committed to long term engagements for sustainable change and proximity to the problem, who are willing to join us in achieving the above objectives.  The position will be part of the leadership team of the organisation. 

What You’ll Do & Desired Impact

The key responsibilities of this position will be similar to an entrepreneur with key focus areas being:

• Develop Vision and Strategize with the core team on the program to ensure a strong start.
• Design the programs and lead operations
• Conduct action research by conducting workshops in schools and communities leading to creation of the curriculum. 
• Documentation of the process. 
• Contribute towards building and managing the ecology curriculum team. 
• Creation of key products at Shiksharth that will help us serve children beyond Sukma.

What You’ll Bring

• Ability to lead impact-driven education programs, product management experience is a plus.
• Ability to independently lead and design programs. 
• Relevant exposure in ecology, biodiversity, curriculum design and pedagogy. 
• Outstanding communication and negotiation skills
• Excellent organizational and leadership ability
• Analytical mind and ability to make Data Driven Instruction

Who You Are

• You aspire to be an entrepreneur or are an intrapreneur/entrepreneur
• Committed to serve for the cause for at least 3 years in proximity to the stakeholders.
• You align with the values of humility, perseverance, willing to learn/unlearn, moving out of your comfort zone.
• You’re impact-driven and love using education as a way to improve lives.
• You engage in your own self-development and continuous learning to identify strategic growth areas that contribute to your success
• You’re a storyteller with excellent verbal and written communication skills
• You have a high level of comfort with ambiguity and moving quickly in a collaborative culture
• You are organized, can lead teams , design and implement people cum cause centric systems.
• Strong proficiency in writing, speaking and reading Hindi. 
• Approachable and ready to immerse myself with locals and their culture.
• Demonstrate an incredible work ethic, willingness to learn and critical reflection

What We Offer You

We design our perks to offer the space and support you need to thrive personally and professionally. Here are a few benefits we offer:

• An experience of a lifetime of working amidst the nature and grassroot experience.
• Rooted experience of working with government at all levels of hierarchy.
• Opportunity to grow as a leader of the organization in future. 
• A strong network of mentors and guides for leadership development.

KEY DETAILS:

Location: – Sukma, Chhattisgarh

1. Work Experience Required– 0-2 Years of Work experience in Education/ ecology 
2. Qualification- Candidates with education background in relevant fields related to environmental science, biodiversity will be preferred 
3. Remuneration: 3 Lakh – 3.6 Lakh  + Accommodation + Local conveyance 
4. Other benefits:
   1. 4 days of quarterly work from home
   2. 9 days of quarterly leaves
   3. Health insurance
   4. Leadership coaching and mentoring
   5. External learning opportunities through sponsored capacity building programs
5. Preference will be given to the candidates who intend to spend at least 3 years with the organization. 

SELECTION PROCESS

Here is how our hiring process looks like.

• Submit your expression of interest

• Eligibility check and submission of prework form.

• Orientation call of Shortlisted applications with Shiksharth team about the work, life in Sukma, life at Shiksharth, future prospects etc

• Selection tasks to understand more about your skills and competencies.

• Technical interview

• Personal interview.

We’re an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We welcome applications from all backgrounds, and don’t discriminate on the basis of race, religion,  gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, education, or disability status.

2. Action Researcher – Menstrual Hygiene Management

OPPORTUNITY

Manva Nuni ( meaning Our Daughter in Gondi, the local dialect ) is an initiative under School Transformation Program towards positive childhood experience. 

The initiative was ideated when the Shiksharth team was intervening in the girls’ residential schools that targeted contextual quality education for children from conflict-affected areas of Sukma, Chhattisgarh. After observing the status of Menstrual hygiene management facilities, services available and the lack of awareness among adolescent girls and school teachers the immense need for an MHM system setup in residential schools was identified.

Project Manva Nuni started in 2020 in tribal residential schools and communities of the Sukma district. The project will cater to creation of menstrual hygiene management champions in residential schools in Sukma district so that learning outcome of female students will not be hampered. Through the project we intend to set up sustainable MHM practices in the schools.

The objectives of the project are:

• Enabling Adolescent girls with adequate information to make informed choices around their MHH
• Schools as safe spaces for girls to communicate and discuss issues related to MHH
• Teachers, Caretakers and parents have adequate information to guide/support adolescent girls to manage their MHH
• Schools having MHM friendly wash facilities, access to products, health services and MHH waste management system.
• Schools and communities have MHM champions who will catalyse and communicate with key stakeholders

The activities are part of the initiative are:

• ACTION RESEARCH AND FRAME WORK DESIGN -Field action and research did to be able to understand the local context and design a relevance framework for the program.
• CONTENT DEVELOPMENT-Developing age appropriate and contexually relavent content.
• ENABLING ENVIRONMENT-Enabling Safe spaces for girls in schools and communites by setting up MHM-friendly ecosystems.
• CAPACITY BUILDING-Identifying and nurturing MHM champions and capacitating them to drive change in their local community.

Roles and Responsibilities:

The proposed operations activities for the MHM projectare:

• Studying and documenting the existing MHM processes in residential schools.
• Conducting workshops on on MHM and associated aspects, perspectives, practices, understanding, beliefs
• Identifying ( 10 ) MHM champions in residential schools and give them orientation and equip them with the right tools through personalized support and workshops
• Conducting workshops on MHM management processes in schools.
• Monitoring and evaluation of MHM management processes in schools.
• Setting up and strengthen the MHM Student Committee in schools with Student Champions
• Creating contextualized best practices manual on MHM for Tribal schools and communities to be replicated for larger audience.

Who You Are

• You see yourself as an entrepreneur/intrapreneur
• Committed to serve for the cause for at least 3 years in proximity to the stakeholders.
• You align with the values of humility, perseverance, willing to learn/unlearn, moving out of your comfort zone.
• You’re impact-driven and love using education as a way to improve lives.
• You engage in your own self-development and continuous learning to identify strategic growth areas that contribute to your success
• You’re a storyteller with excellent verbal and written communication skills
• You have a high level of comfort with ambiguity and moving quickly in a collaborative culture
• You are organised, can lead teams , design and implement people cum cause centric systems.
• Strong proficiency in writing, speaking and reading Hindi. 
• Proficient with Microsoft Office tools, communication tools, basic communication tools.
• Approachable and ready to immerse self with locals and their culture.
• Demonstrate an incredible work ethic, willingness to learn and critical reflection

What’s in it for you?

• Working in a tribal/rural region is our best pitch to offer to anyone who wants to understand Indian social inequity

• Opportunity to make a difference to the lives of thousands of girls.

• Experience of working closely with government and tribal communities.

• Understand the powerful role of community and use of existing wisdom in public service.

• Minimalistic Lifestyle in sync with nature

• Opportunity to work in a start-up environment

What We Offer You

We design our perks to offer the space and support you need to thrive personally and professionally. Here are a few benefits we offer:

• An experience of a life time of working amidst the nature and grassroot experience.
• Rooted experience of working with government at all levels of hierarchy.
• Working with a grassroot focussed start up
• Opportunity to grow as a leader of the organization in future. 
• A strong network of mentors and guide for leadership development.

Key Details:

Location: Sukma,Chattisgarh

1. Remuneration: 2.4 Lakh – 3.6 Lakh per annum + Local conveyance + accommodation

• Other benefits:

• 4 days of quarterly work from home

• 9 days of quarterly leaves

• Health insurance

• Leadership coaching and mentoring

• External learning opportunities through sponsored capacity building programs

SELECTION PROCESS

Here is what our hiring process looks like.

• Submit your expression of interest

• Eligibility check and submission of the prework form.

• Orientation call of Shortlisted applications with the Shiksharth team about the work, life in Sukma, life at Shiksharth, future prospects etc

• Selection tasks to understand more about your skills and competencies.

• Technical interview

• Personal interview.

We’re an equal-opportunity employer and value diversity. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and don’t discriminate on the basis of race, religion,  gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, education, or disability status.

3. Action Research Fellow – School Transformation towards Positive Childhood Experience 

Opportunity:

The Shiksharth Fellowship is designed to bring in passionate, committed and patient contributors to transform the Indian schooling system in conflict and adverse geographies. . Through this two-year journey, we aim to positively impact the lives of one million children in the next decade.

This professional programme will develop the youth into change facilitators who enable schools to function better as an eco-system leading towards ensuring positive childhood experiences for children coming from spaces of conflict and adversity. The fellows will lead and scale an exceptional, contextually relevant education and child support model. The fellows will enable 40 Community educators and 114 schools via professional development, and leadership development of Community Educators towards whole school transformation. 

The fellow will act as a nodal point to all the stakeholders at the school, community educators, students, and the Shiksharth team. 

Do you strive to make an impact and improve the lives of millions of children in tribal and adverse geographies through your leadership? Do you believe that quality education can act as a catalyst for putting children on transformative learning and growth paths? If you’ve answered yes, this role could be a fantastic fit!

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Design, develop and pilot ( with help of the team ) models leading to schools being safe spaces ensuring positive childhood experiences. 
• Work alongside the Senior Manager in program implementation by leading a community educator team to bring about whole school transformation in tribal government schools.
• Design the structures that will create a supportive ecosystem for community educators, enabling them to effectively teach, design interventions for their stakeholders and strategies for whole school transformation
• Work closely with the Head of Operations to coach Teachers by designing Teacher training curricula and training sessions, modelling effective instruction and planning, observing and debriefing their classes, and reviewing the lesson and unit plans.
• Empower the team by developing their skills and competencies through regular learning and development spaces
• Build a culture of ownership, collaboration and excellence within the team by creating and driving effective systems and processes
• Facilitate the collection and interpretation of student, stakeholder, school-level and context data to prepare reports and monitor the effectiveness of the projects/program to make short and long-term strategic decisions which will be shared with all relevant stakeholders. 
• Oversee the collection and documentation of cultural traditions and expressions of various Bastar tribes through observation, focused group/individual interviews, document studies, as well as archive footage from other physical devices.

Job Requirements

Preferred Education Qualification / Experience:

• Experience in managing people/projects
• Teaching and/or content creation experience is desirable
• Any Graduate, post-graduate or fellowship

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Prior experience teaching in a formal classroom & an ability to lead teams
• Ability to design and drive outcome-oriented plans through the team’s collective effort
• Ability to design and facilitate adult learning spaces
• Ability to gather and analyse data to inform decisions
• Good written and verbal communication skills in English and Hindi 
• Good computer knowledge and MS Office skills.
• Emotional maturity to work with the perspectives and needs of diverse team members
• Highly resourceful team player, who is also self-driven.
• Forward-looking thinker, who actively seeks opportunities and proposes solutions
• Strong proficiency in writing, speaking and reading Hindi. 

What We Offer You

We design our perks to offer the space and support you need to thrive personally and professionally. Here are a few benefits we offer:

• An experience of a lifetime of working amidst nature.
• Rooted experience in working with government at all levels of hierarchy.
• Opportunity to grow as a leader of the organization in future. 
• Working with a grassroot focussed start up
• A strong network of mentors and guides for leadership development.

Key Details:

Location: Sukma, Chattisgarh

1. Remuneration: 2.4 Lakh – 3.6 Lakh per annum + Local conveyance + accommodation
2. Other benefits:
   1. 4 days of quarterly work from home
   2. 9 days of quarterly leaves
   3. Health insurance
   4. Leadership coaching and mentoring
   5. External learning opportunities through sponsored capacity building programs

SELECTION PROCESS

Here is what our hiring process looks like.

• Submit your expression of interest

• Eligibility check and submission of the prework form.

• Orientation call of Shortlisted applications with the Shiksharth team about the work, life in Sukma, life at Shiksharth, future prospects etc

• Selection tasks to understand more about your skills and competencies.

• Technical interview

• Personal interview.

We’re an equal-opportunity employer and value diversity. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and don’t discriminate on the basis of race, religion,  gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, education, or disability status.

Click here to apply