KATHMANDU, Feb 13: SBI Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of the State Bank of India Group, has opened applications for the 13th batch of its flagship program, the SBI Youth for India Fellowship. The program invites young individuals from Nepal, Bhutan, India, and Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs) to participate in a 13-month immersive rural development initiative, the foundation said in a statement.
The fellowship offers fresh graduates and young professionals aged 21-32 the opportunity to work alongside rural communities in India, in collaboration with 13 reputed partner NGOs, added the statement. The initiative aims to drive sustainable change in rural development sectors such as education, women’s empowerment, environmental protection, and rural livelihoods. Interested candidates can apply at http://apply.youthforindia.org.
Highlighting the importance of the program, Sanjay Prakash, managing director and CEO of SBI Foundation, said, “The SBI Youth for India Fellowship aligns with the vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by empowering the youth to drive transformative change in rural India. By working on crucial thematic areas such as education, women’s empowerment, and rural livelihoods, the fellows not only contribute to community development but also build their leadership and problem-solving skills. We invite passionate young minds to join us in shaping the future of our nation and creating lasting impact.”
SBI foundation offers fellowship to Nepali youth
Since its inception in 2011, the SBI Youth for India Fellowship has trained over 640 fellows, positively impacting more than 150,000 lives across 250 villages in 20 Indian states, the foundation said. Nepali participants have also made significant contributions through this program, the statement read, adding, “Aarati Singh (YFI 2022-23 Batch) from Kathmandu worked with Seva Mandir’s Natural Resource Development team on a project titled ‘Post CFR Provision and Implementation’ in Patiya village. Another fellow from Nepal, Sanchit Raj Bhattarai (YFI 2024-25 Batch), took a career break to transition into the social sector and is currently working with CHIRAG NGO.”
The fellowship offers participants hands-on experience in grassroots development, enhancing their leadership, project management, and problem-solving abilities, the statement further said, adding, post-completion, 70% of alumni have pursued meaningful careers in social development, public policy, governance and academia.
“Many have also continued their academic pursuits, with over 100 alumni enrolling in higher studies. Notable examples include Naman Bansal (YFI 2015-16 Batch), who pursued a Master of Education at Harvard University, and Dadi Jaswanth (YFI 2016-17 Batch), who completed an MSc from the University of Oxford.”
The foundation added that the SBI Youth for India Fellowship provides a platform for passionate young individuals to engage with rural communities, address pressing social issues, and contribute to sustainable development.
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