AIF (American India Foundation) Banyan Impact Fellowship is inviting applications from young professionals from India and the U.S for its 2022-23 cohort. Note: AIF’s William J. Clinton Fellowship for Service in India is now the AIF Banyan Impact Fellowship.
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. Its unique value proposition is its broad engagement between communities, civil society, and expertise thereby building a lasting bridge between the United States and India.
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, 12 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.
About AIF Banyan Impact Fellowship
For 20 years, AIF has been sending a cohort of dedicated young people on a journey of service for impact, building a “living bridge” between India and the US. AIF is in its 3rd decade of introducing the cohort. The AIF William J. Clinton Fellowship is now the AIF Banyan Impact Fellowship.
The Banyan Impact Fellowship is an interdisciplinary experiential learning program that places young professionals from India and the U.S. in service with communities across 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. They encourage young change-makers who are passionate about social impact and ready to get to work to apply for this year’s inaugural cohort.
Duration
July 2022 – September 2023
Please Note: 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.
Eligibility
- Be an Indian Citizen;
- Willing and able to serve remotely from India for approximately four months and on the ground in the United States for the remaining duration of the program.
- 5 years of relevant experience in the social sector, including nonprofits, social enterprises (including for-profit entities), government (both central and state) & quasi-government bodies, including necessary approvals from the employer for the Fellowship service;
- Between the ages of 27 to 35 by the program start date in July 2022;
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent;
- English proficiency (oral, writing, reading);
- Able to receive a COVID-19 vaccine approved by the World Health Organization before the program starts in July 2022;
- Commitment to return to India and work in the social impact sector for at least two years after completing the Fellowship;
- Committed to enriching learning opportunities for the Fellowship community and positively contributing to building U.S.-India bridges of understanding and partnership during their time of service and after;
- Interest/experience in community-based development and diversity and inclusion.
General Requirements
- Be a U.S. or Indian citizen, or a U.S. permanent resident
- Be between the ages of 21 and 35 on September 1, 2022
- Have completed a Bachelor’s degree (or higher) before the start of the program on September 1, 2022
Note: Candidates can apply for either India OR the US-based AIF Banyan Impact Fellowship Program, but not both together in a year.
Why Join?
- Professional growth through service, fieldwork, and conferences in a cohort model
- Matching, training, mentoring, and professional development through AIF
- Monthly living stipend; round-trip airfare; program-related travel in India
- Health and accident insurance; 24/7 emergency, medical, and travel support; access to certified Fellowship counselor
- Visa support (for U.S. applicants)
- Basic language training (if required)
- Access to professional development resources during and after the program
- Access to a network of 500+ Alumni worldwide
Stipend
- For U.S. Fellows, AIF provides a roundtrip ticket from their point of origin to India, along with insurance coverage, emergency support, and a monthly living stipend.
- For Indian Fellows, AIF provides domestic travel from their hometowns in India, insurance coverage, emergency support, and a monthly living stipend.
- Please note that the stipend is not a salary, but a living allowance designed to enable Fellows to volunteer in India. The stipend covers basic living expenses such as rent, meals and incidentals, and local transportation related to a Fellow’s project.
- In the spirit of service, the stipend is designed to afford Fellows a local lifestyle comparable to that of local staff at their host organizations. Fellows should expect to live safely but modestly, and may need to adjust to a different style of living and spending habits than what they are accustomed to.
- The stipend does not cover for personal entertainment, non-program related travel, luxury items, or alcoholic beverages.
- Candidates should plan on bringing additional funds to allow for personal travel and other non-essential items. The amount will depend entirely on a Fellow’s personal spending habits.
How to Apply?
To apply for the fellowship, click on the link at the end of this post.
For more information, visit the official page by clicking here.
Click here for the information by AtlasCorps.
Application Deadline
January 31, 2022
Contact Information
For details on the Fellowship structure and application process, look up here. If your question isn’t answered there or if you require any support with the application, please email fellowship@aif.org directly.
Once you have completed the application, an AIF representative will be in touch for further evaluation and information after the deadline.
For details on The Virtual Leadership Institute, click here. If your question isn’t answered there, please email apply@atlascorps.org
Click here to apply for the AIF Fellowship 2022-23.
Source: Lawctopus
