Applications Invited for Counter Speech Fellowship

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About the Organization

Founded in 2016, Young Leaders for Active Citizenship (YLAC) aims to increase the participation of young people in the policymaking process and build their capacity to lead change.

Our interventions are designed to equip citizens with a better understanding of the society they live in and the challenges that it confronts. The aim is to help young people broaden their perspective, think critically about their socio-political construct, tap their leadership potential and acquire skills to create long lasting impact.

We currently run programs in different cities in India and Nepal, in addition to undertaking projects in civic engagement and public policy.

About the Fellowship

The YLAC Counter Speech Fellowship with Instagram engages creative teenagers to use the power of visual storytelling to lead change. Anchored at the intersection of arts and advocacy, the fellowship was first launched in 2017 and has since expanded rapidly.

Whether it is in the form of an introspective piece of writing, or a touching chord of music, or powerful poetry or painting, art can be a potent medium to evoke emotion, make society reflect and inspire change in people. Through the fellowship, Instagram and YLAC aim to harness this potential of art and combine it with the power of social media and active community participation in schools and neighbourhoods to make the world a better place.

As an incubator for the future generation of leaders, the fellowship is designed as a fully funded program; it is free of cost for the students. The overall duration of engagement is two months and fellows meet every alternate week for a couple of hours. The fellowship schedule is designed in a way that it can be accommodated alongside regular school work and examinations.

Fellowship Themes - The 2022 fellowship focuses on four themes: Body Positivity, Digital Safety, Teenage Wellbeing, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.

Fellowship Structure - Phase II, Oct – Dec 2022

The fellowship’s online version includes workshop sessions in large groups on alternate weekends and team mentorship sessions in smaller groups on alternate Thursday/ Friday evenings. Fellows attend one workshop session and one team mentorship session every fortnight.

Outside the sessions, fellows create social media content on the themes allocated to them and undertake local initiatives in their community to advocate for change offline. All work is done in teams through remote collaboration during the intervening weeks. On average, a fellow is expected to commit ~10 hours per week to the fellowship. This includes workshop sessions and mentorship check-ins, as well as time spent in content creation and advocacy for the allocated themes.

Eligibility

If you are studying in a school in India in grades 8th-12th, or are being home-schooled, and are between 13 to 18 years of age, you are eligible to apply to the Counter Speech Fellowship. Students who are 18 years of age but have already completed school are not eligible.

How to Apply

Priority deadline: 14th August, 2022 (Sunday)

Second and final deadline: 11th September, 2022 (Sunday)

Applications to the fellowship will be processed in two batches. Those applying on or before the priority deadline will be eligible for early decisions. For the others, admission decisions will be announced after the final applications deadline.

The Counter Speech Fellowship is a very selective program. You are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

For more information please check the Link 

Tags Advocacy Liberal Arts Social Change Others