Applications are invited for the SBI Youth for India Fellowship Batch 2024-25. This opportunity is open to 21—to 32-year-olds; check other details below!
About SBI Youth for India Fellowship
A 13-Month Program In Rural Development
The SBI Youth for India Fellowship is offered to bright young minds who are citizens of India, overseas citizens of India (OCI), and Nepal/Bhutan. It allows them to live and work with rural communities and contribute towards solving pressing rural development challenges. The Fellowship builds young leaders who undergo a transformative journey by learning from the challenges of rural India. These leaders collaborate with NGO partners, local government, and the community to develop and sustain grassroots-level initiatives. The Fellowship journey comprises four phases:
- Unlearn
- Collaborate
- Build
- Sustain
Objectives
SBI Youth for India is a Rural Fellowship programme initiated by the State Bank of India, funded and managed by the SBI Foundation in partnership with reputed grassroots NGOs. It seeks to address rural India’s most pressing problems by:
- Providing educated Indian youth with an opportunity to touch lives and create positive change at the grass root level in rural India
- NGOs working on development projects in rural India should be provided with educated manpower whose skill sets can be used to catalyze rural development.
- Promoting a forum for the Programme alumni to share ideas and contribute to rural development throughout their professional lives.
Application Process
The Application Process offers Fellowship Aspirants a unique opportunity to work with rural communities, build their dream projects, and impact India’s development goals.
Stage 1 (Registration and Online Assessment)
Fill out the Registration Form and begin your Online Assessment. During the assessment, you will be asked to provide a detailed essay-based response where you can share your story, perspectives and intention to join the Fellowship.
The purpose of this online assessment is to know you better. Please read the instructions carefully before starting the assessment.
- Time: The average time to complete this online assessment is 1.5 hours. You can save your assessment process midway and return to it later to finish.
- Recommended Device: Since this section takes time and requires an essay, it is recommended that you attempt it on a laptop or a desktop device.
- Personal Details: Keep the details of your education and professional experience handy as needed during the assessment process.
- Recommendation: Keep the contact details of your academic & professional recommenders handy for this assessment. We will contact them as a part of our process.
- Essay Questions: You must answer 7 short questions and 1 case study. We encourage originality in your responses, as they will showcase your aptitude and interest in the Fellowship. Please note that plagiarism is not tolerated and may result in rejection of your application.
- Application expiration: All applications must be completed and submitted before the deadline.
Stage 2 (Personal Interview)
In the Personal Interview stage, the esteemed panel evaluates the applicant’s personal characteristics and suitability for the role. This stage is designed to help the selection panel make informed decisions based on factors beyond academic qualifications and work experience and gain a deeper understanding of the person.
The Qualities of an Ideal Applicant
- The Fellowship welcomes applicants from diverse professional and academic backgrounds who exhibit a strong interest, passion, and commitment to the development of rural India.
- Applicants should be humble and eager to learn within a cross-cultural context and demonstrate a strong commitment to service.
- They should also possess the ability to be adaptive, resilient, and innovative in finding solutions in under-resourced environments.
Eligibility Criteria
- Be a citizen of India, an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI), or a citizen of Nepal/Bhutan.
- Be between 21 and 32 years old on the day of commencement of the program, i.e., you must have been born not earlier than 2nd August 1992 and not later than 1st October 2002.
- Have completed at least a Bachelor’s degree should be completed before 1st October 2024.
- A team player with a proactive approach and strong leadership skills
- People-oriented, as you will be living in diverse rural communities.
- Willing to commit to a 13-month-long rural Fellowship programme and adapt to life in challenging rural conditions.
Note to OCI Candidates: In case you don’t possess an OCI card currently, please visit the website of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India for OCI registration. As the process takes at least 1-3 months, we recommend applying for it as soon as you initiate your Fellowship application.
Financial and Other Support
- A monthly allowance of 16000 INR for the duration of the programme to meet your living expenses.
- A monthly allowance of 1000 INR for the duration of the programme to meet your transport expenses.
- A readjustment allowance of 60000 INR upon successful completion of the Fellowship.
- The cost of the return 3AC fare from your residence to the project site location as well as expenses incurred on traveling for training programmes.
- You will be covered by a med claim policy.
Other Support
You will be assisted by the local NGO staff to find suitable accommodation with safety in mind.
The partner NGO will also arrange for necessary medical attention when needed.
Where are the project sites located?
The projects will be located at Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Punjab.
Post Fellowship Benefits
On successful completion, the Fellow receives a readjustment allowance of Rs. 60,000 and a certificate of completion from SBI Foundation.
How to Apply?
Interested candidates can apply directly through this link.
FAQs
How many Fellows can work/stay in one location?
SBI aims to place at least 2-3 Fellows in proximity to each other; however, it’s not necessary that the Fellows end up staying in the same village/district. The final location will be determined depending on the nature of the project and the needs of the community.
Will it be safe to stay in a rural location?
Yes. Our partners are reputed and well-established NGOs with over two decades of work at the grassroots level with rural communities, which have earned them their goodwill. The location of your stay has been decided with your safety and security in mind.
Our partner NGOs have local networks to help during medical or other emergencies. However, it is advised to be aware and alert, align with local customs and closely follow the advice of your local NGO facilitator.
What are the challenges I will face living in rural India?
Adapting to stay in rural India is an integral part of the learning experience. Basic stay, erratic mobile connectivity, poor power supply, and unreliable internet facilities are some of the challenges faced by Fellows in the past, and they might help you reduce your dependency on the props of modern living.
You might not have ready access to many shops and markets, although basic provisions will be available. Challenges vary based on the project location, and you can know more about them from the experiences of our alumni.
What will be my daily schedule/task?
Tasks differ from fellow to fellow and project to project. After the orientation programme, you will define your project in terms of achievable milestones.
Based on the requirements of your project, you may have to spend additional hours attending meetings, interacting with the rural community, participating in community activities, and dealing with an unpredictable and dynamic work schedule.
What are the projects that I can work on?
The Fellowship offers the scope to identify community needs and conceptualize projects based on any of the 12 thematic program areas within the partner NGOs’ focus areas.
These 12 thematic program areas fall under the ambit of holistic rural development. Furthermore, the projects need not necessarily be focused on introducing a new product/service/initiative; it could also mean adding value to an existing project through process and system improvement, process re-engineering, scale-up, marketing, exploring alternative approaches, etc.
What did the past fellows do after the Fellowship?
After successfully completing the Fellowship, the grassroots experience and ecosystem support provided by SBI YFI enable our Alumni to pursue meaningful careers in the social sector. Over 70% of our Alumni continue to contribute to the sector in various capacities across various organizations. Some of them include:
Leadership roles in the development sector – NGOs/CSRs/CBOs.
Closely working with Central/State Government/Panchayats etc.
Pursuing social entrepreneurship. (Over 30+ Alumni have gone on to set up their social enterprises/initiatives working on various domains.)
Pursuing Research/Higher Studies (Over 50+ Alumni have pursued their higher studies/ doctoral research through premier institutions across the globe.)
Many Fellows return to their previous jobs/sectors with a renewed sense of purpose, empathy, and leadership skills.
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Contact Details
applications[at]youthforindia.org
