Deadline: 25-May-23
Do you want to explore a world of possibilities? Then, Goonj Urban and Grassroots Fellowships applications for 2023-24 batch are now open.
The aim is to create more doers, following the words of the founder, Anshu Gupta, “Right now India doesn’t need more thinkers, it needs more doers.” Goonj is 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!
Types
- Goonj Urban Fellowship
- 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.
- 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 the work with urban communities, partners, and stakeholders.
- Rural phase where fellows will be thrown deep into the rural programs and operations. To learn from grassroots knowledge and traditional wisdom, the very foundation of the 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.
- Goonj Grassroots Fellowship
- Goonj with its Grassroots Fellowship aims to reach out to the resilient force of youth from Grassroots and create a ground for their nurturing and fine-tuning.
- Its goal is to value what they bring to the world – their inherent understanding of the people, their resilience to working in the toughest circumstances and their hunger to make it a better world for their own and the society’s future.
- Due to their deep commitment to the change they seek, it is essential to work closely on their personal and professional development so that the development work in the future has the skills, mindset and determination to address issues of today for generations to come.
- Major Take Aways:
- Develop an in-depth understanding of issues like infrastructural development, menstrual health, education, livelihood and disaster relief-rehabilitation, etc.
- Work on the ground with Goonj’s operational and field teams spread across 27 States and Union territories.
- Visit other grassroots organisations and learn from sectoral experts, get hands-on training about key skills like communication, financial planning, monitoring and evaluation, etc.
- Goonj’s Grassroots Fellows are:
- Empathy and Resilience.
- Promptness to act.
- Humility and compassion.
- Value for local wisdom and knowledge.
- Capacity to be the doers in the community.
Prize Information
Goonj would support you with a stipend of Rs 20,000.
Eligibility Criteria
- Goonj Urban Fellowship
- Young and filled with zeal
- Although age is just a number, you ought to be 21 to 30 years by 31st July, 2023.
- Socially aware
- Experience it all it takes, but Goonj expects you to have graduated by 31st July, 2023.
- Speak with your heart
- Basic fluency in English and Hindi communication(reading, writing and speaking).
- Adept with technology
- Basic computer knowledge – Ms Office and other tools.
- Additional Information
- North-west-south-east, you could be anywhere
- You could be placed in any of Goonj city offices in the Fellowship journey. The location is subject to change in the duration of the Fellowship. You would majorly work in the urban front of the organisation with periodic exposure to rural areas.
- Ready for challenges?
- As this Fellowship is about evolving you and taking you out of your comfort zone, Goonj expects you to come with an open mind to accept the challenges relating to immediate travels, multi-tasking and rural set-ups.
- It’s all about language and lenses
- The Fellowship cohort has Fellows from across India with diverse backgrounds, Goonj expects you to have humility and empathy for each other. Come with lenses of acceptance and a language of respect.
- Goonj embraces and encourage all
- This is an all inclusive fellowship. Goonj considers applicants from all walks of life, regardless of their gender identity, sexual orientation and other minority groups.
- Not everything that shines is gold
- The stark realities are often unexpected. Goonj expects you to come with a mindset which would assist you to explore and understand the rawness of the society and the sector.
- From bullock-carts to tongas, adventure is on
- The journey of 12 months is tough where you would be expected to travel in the most local mode of transportation and indulge in responsibilities with the team.
- Not an occupation but vocation
- Goonj considers ourselves as a movement, therefore, working with Goonj is more about working with ideals and values than having a job mindset.
- Goonj Grassroots Fellowship
- Young and full of enthusiasm
- Although age is just a number, but you must be between 21 to 30 years of age as on 31st July, 2023.
- Experience it all socially conscious
- , but Goonj hopes you graduate by July 31, 2023.
- Speak Your Heart
- Basic fluency in English and Hindi communication (reading, writing and speaking).
- Tech Proficient
- Basic computer knowledge: MS Office and other tools.
- Additional Information
- North-West-South-East, you can be anywhere – Fellowship Travel can put you in any office in Goonj City. The location is subject to change during the duration of the fellowship. You will primarily work in the urban area of the organization and will work in rural areas from time to time.
- Ready for the challenges? – As this fellowship is about developing you and getting you out of your comfort zone, Goonj expects you to come with an open mind to accept the challenges related to urgent travel, multi-tasking and rural set-up.
- It’s a matter of language and attitude – Fellowship groups consist of fellows from across India with diverse backgrounds, Goonj expects you to be polite and empathetic to each other. Come with an attitude of acceptance and the language of respect.
- Goonj encourages and embrace everyone – this is an all inclusive fellowship. Goonj considers applicants from all walks of life, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation and other minority groups.
- All that glitters is not gold – harsh realities are often unpredictable. Goonj expects you to come away with a mindset that will help you explore and understand the rawness of the society and sector.
- From bullock cart to tonga the adventure continues – 12 months of arduous journey where you will be expected to travel in most local mode of transport and shoulder responsibilities with the team.
- It’s not a profession, it’s a kind of enterprise – Goonj sees ourselves as a movement, so working with Goonj means working with ideals and values more than a job mindset.
For more information, visit Goonj.