CAREERS IN SOCIAL JUSTICE
Beyond continuing studies or beginning a career, there are many interesting alternatives for a post-graduate. Today many of the most talented young Indians decide to dedicate one to two years to service in India, becoming teachers through Teach for India or working with grass-root organizations with Indicorp. These are highly competitive and rewarding options that should be considered by any one interested in service.
INDICORPS
Summary: Indicorps is a non-partisan, non-religious, non-profit organization that encourages Indians around the world to actively participate in the progress of India. Their programs are largely development oriented linking working young professionals or recent graduates with local grass-root organizations. Their structured one to two year fellowships are partnerships designed to educate, facilitate and strengthen both the fellow and the organization they work with.
Fellows take individual personal responsibility to execute and complete projects, defined in partnership with local development organizations that address particular community challenges.
Eligibility: To be eligible for the fellowship program, you must be a person of Indian origin (Government of India definition) and have at minimum a university degree or five years work experience. Individuals apply specifically to projects of their interest.
Web Resource: http://www.indicorps.org/volunteer-work.php?page_id=18
TEACH FOR INDIA
Summary: The group firmly believed that any change in the education sector needed to be systemic and that India needed to be infused with a large number of leaders who would work towards achieving educational equity for all children.
Fellows are placed for a minimum of two years in full-time teaching positions in under-resourced schools where impact on student achievement can be maximized. Fellows have clear accountability for their classrooms, and are responsible for ensuring that their students reach their ambitious academic goals.
Eligibility: Teach For India is looking for applicants who will be leaders in the classroom and beyond. Young professionals working full time and students in their final year of an undergraduate or postgraduate degree are encouraged to apply. The minimum qualification is a Bachelor's degree, and most Fellows have work experience and many have post-graduate degrees as well. Applicants must be fluent in English, as they are placed solely in English-medium schools. Applicants should be born on or after 1 January 1970.
They look for leaders for all kinds so there are many different profiles of an ‘ideal’ applicant. They view applicants holistically by looking for evidence of demonstrated past achievement, achieving ambitious, measurable results in academics, extra-curricular activities, and/or work leadership.
Web Resource: http://www.teachforindia.org/who-we-are-looking-for.php
A NOTE ON CAREERS IN NGOs
A potential career in non-governmental or non-profit organizations is often overlooked when students think of their futures but there are countless opportunities within this sector as there are organizations for almost every conceivable subject or cause. These organizations utilize a wide range of skills and employ people from many different educational backgrounds, with many different credentials. Compiling a list of the opportunities would take years and students should find the websites of organizations for specific information.
Here are a few examples of large global organizations:
United Nations: http://www.un.org/en/employment/
World Health Organization: http://www.who.int/employment/en/
Save the Children: http://www.savethechildren.net/alliance/get_involved/work.html
More information on NGOs in India: http://www.ngosindia.com/ngos.php
