Welcome to the 2021-22 AIF Banyan Impact Fellowship!
ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP
We believe that cross-cultural partnerships give rise to innovation. The American India Foundation’s (AIF’s) Banyan Impact Fellowship is an interdisciplinary experiential learning program that places young professionals from India and the U.S. in service with development organizations in India. Through collaboration and capacity-building, Fellows and local communities exchange knowledge and skills to steer projects that advance social and economic development. Fellows learn about grassroots development and inclusive leadership. Since 2001, AIF has selected, trained, and supported 490 Fellows and 214 partner organizations to scale impact, catalyze change, and build the next generation of socially-minded change makers. AIF provides Fellows with a living stipend, health insurance, professional development, mentorship, and programmatic benefits to enable their service. Selection of Fellows includes a written application and an in-person interview, followed by matching with potential partner organizations for projects.
PROGRAM DATES
November 1, 2021 – July 2, 2022.*
*AIF is planning for the program to be hosted in person, however reserves the right to change it to a hybrid model (i.e., a mix of in-person and virtual) if the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic requires it.
WHO ARE THE FELLOWS?
The Fellowship recruits consist of young professionals from India and the U.S., between 21 and 35 years of age, with remarkably diverse professional and personal backgrounds, who bring a passion for community based development. AIF selects, trains, and places these individuals directly with partnering implementation organizations across India. Fellows serve through contributing their efforts and skills to developing ongoing initiatives, as well as strategizing new projects for the host organizations. To review previous Fellow bios and placements, please check www.aif.org/fellowship/fellows.
AIF’s Selection Criteria for Fellows Include:
WHO ARE THE HOST ORGANIZATIONS?
AIF has a network of existing partners who have hosted AIF Fellows in the past, and welcomes new partners to apply each cycle. Potential partner organizations must have a registered office in India in order to host an AIF Fellow, and may not have religious or political affiliation. All Host Organizations - existing and new - go through a rigorous selection process that including a written application, an interview, and an evaluation visit (for new partners). Only strong applications that demonstrate a robust fellowship project with clear deliverables and goals, a solid local support structure, as well as a sound sustainability plan post-fellowship, will be given the opportunity to interview prospective AIF Fellows in the Summer of 2021.
AIF’s Selection Criteria for Host Organizations Include:
ABOUT AIF
The American India Foundation (AIF) is dedicated to catalyzing social and economic change in India and building a lasting bridge between the United States and India. AIF is committed to improving the lives of India’s underprivileged, with a special focus on women, children, and youth. AIF does this through high impact interventions in education, health, and livelihoods, because poverty is multidimensional. AIF’s unique value proposition is its broad engagement between communities, civil society, and expertise thereby building a lasting bridge between the United States and India. Working closely with local communities, AIF partners with non-government organizations (NGOs) to develop and test innovative solutions and with governments to create and scale sustainable impact. Founded in 2001 in the aftermath of the devastating Gujarat earthquake by the Indian diaspora in the U.S., AIF has impacted the lives of 6.7 million of India’s poor. With offices in New York and California, twelve chapters across the U.S., and India operations headquartered in Delhi NCR, AIF is transforming lives across 26 states of India while addressing these issues on a regional, country, and international scale.
QUESTIONS
Once you have completed the application, an AIF representative will be in touch for further evaluation and information after the deadline. If you require any support with the application, please email fellowship@aif.org directly. Given the volume of emails we receive, please be mindful that replies may take longer than usual.
To REGISTER:https://aiffellowship.smapply.io/acc/r/?g=77395