The Apni Shala Fellowship 2024 – 25

At Apni Shala, we work with students from municipal schools and other diverse institutions to nurture emotional, interpersonal and thinking skills. Why do what we do this? So that they have the opportunity to become reflective and inquiring individuals, who are confident, building healthy relationships around them and great problem-solvers!

Why do we offer an annual Fellowship?

The Apni Shala fellowship envisions an  ever-widening circle of caring, compassionate youth  inspired to integrate mental wellbeing education in schools, while growing to be  more reflective, compassionate and  empowered individuals.
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The fellowship aims to create joyful, practice based learning journeys that construct ripple effects in the school systems as fellows simultaneously complete their own journeys of learning.

A one-year full-time, paid fellowship programme

The Apni Shala Fellowship is a one-year full-time, paid fellowship programme for you if you are passionate about bringing mental health and social-emotional learning to students, while pursuing your own learning in this area.

​As an Apni Shala Fellow, you will have the opportunity to be one of the frontrunners of the mental wellbeing and education movement in India. You will first engage in a rigorous training program that will help you learn and unlearn ideas about education and what it should be. You will then become part of a continuous learning process, building abilities to work directly with children and adults. Throughout, Apni Shala’s team of trainers and assigned supervisor will guide you through this refreshing, challenging and transformational journey as a Fellow!

The Fellowship helps you to …

​Explore the SEL space

• Develop and execute a field Action Research Project in School Mental Health
• Become part of a dynamic and professional learning community that provides exposure to emerging trends and explore issues in the mental health and education sector
• Experience working with key stakeholders in the education system including headmasters, teachers and parents to create awareness about the social-emotional needs of children
• Join an ecosystem that supports change in the contemporary medium of education

​Build and Experience

• Develop a deep understanding of mental health, wellbeing and social-emotional learning landscape in the Indian education system
• Develop your skills as a facilitator
• Learn to use educational and therapeutic tools such as drama, art, games and storytelling
• Build the skills to design and deliver curriculum for social-emotional competency development
• Get hands-on experience of engaging multiple stakeholders- teachers, parents, headmasters in a school setting, and the managers and coordinators working in communities
• Build your own competencies in the areas of leadership, problem solving and critical thinking skills
• Develop entrepreneurial skills to mobilize funds and resources
• Participate in the Organizational event.​

Contribute and Catalyze

• Provide over 350 hours of social-emotional learning opportunity to over 300 students
• Create spaces for children for free and open expression of thought on personal and societal issues through your sessions
• Influence the way schools think about education and mental health
• Take one big step towards full school integration of Mental Health ​

​Grow​​

Grow with these benefits and supports

• Earn an allowance of Rs. 25,000 per month + up to 2000 travel reimbursement.
• Become a certified Apni Shala Fellow on completion of the fellowship
• On completion of the fellowship, get a chance to continue for the second year of fellowship, to grow your SEL practice with a chosen area of internship in departments such as fundraising, communications, curriculum or advocacy etc.

What does the Fellowship look like?

Apply to the Fellowship. Applications open as of Oct 10th, ’23.