The SBI Foundation, the CSR arm of the State Bank Group, has opened applications for the 12th Batch of its esteemed SBI Youth for India Fellowship program. This initiative, spanning over 13 months, presents a structured opportunity for educated urban youth, aged between 21 to 32 years, including graduates and young professionals, to collaborate with rural communities and 13 renowned NGOs across India. The primary goal is to drive meaningful societal change.
Candidates for the Fellowship programme must be citizens of Bhutan, Nepal, India, or Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) who are dedicated to promoting sustainable development goals in rural regions.
Interested candidates for fellowships are urged to take advantage of this chance to use their expertise and creativity to bring in a positive change. The application process is available at www.youthforindia.org/register.
Currently in its twelfth iteration, this fellowship focuses on twelve thematic areas: technology, women’s empowerment, self-governance, social entrepreneurship, environmental protection, traditional craft, health, rural livelihood, food security, education, water, and alternate energy. Fellows will focus on one of these topics depending on their interests and expertise.
The SBI Foundation’s managing director and CEO, Sanjay Prakash, emphasised that the programme is a ray of hope for people who want to create a better future for rural India and themselves. He said, “The SBI Youth for India program aims to fill the gap between urban youth’s aspirations and the rural reality, empowering them to create transformative change in rural communities,”
Young Indian applicants from major cities, OCIs, as well as residents of Nepal and Bhutan, have enthusiastically embraced the SBI Youth for India programme. The programme has a growing network of over 580 graduates who have positively impacted the lives of over 150,000 individuals in over 250 villages spread over 20 Indian states.
Furthermore, the programme has impacted the academic goals of its graduates, with more than 100 going on to pursue postgraduate degrees in fields related to development and approximately 70 per cent starting professions in the social sector, such as rural development, public policy/government, and academia. Among the notable alumni are Himanshu Pandey (YFI 2016–17 Batch), who works at NITI Aayog & Consults in the Capacity Building Commission, Government of India, and Naman Bansal (YFI 2015–16 Batch), who attended Harvard University to obtain a Master of Education (M.Ed.). Senior alumnus Simran Grover (YFI 2011–12 Batch) established the Centre for Energy, Environment & People (CEEP), which focuses on climate governance and energy.
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