Apply for Rural Futures (RuFu) Fellowship, and Pave your Way to Become the Next-Gen Environmental Leader! (A Monthly Stipend of INR 20,000)
The Rural Futures Fellowship is an 18 month immersive, full-time training programme with 20 young adults being introduced to the philosophy, practice and science of rewilding, sustainable agriculture and community-led conservation practices. Through the Fellowship, passionate young environmentalists get hands on learning in the key technical and core skills needed to effectively rewild their lands, mobilize their communities and build key local capacities to manage restoration and conservation. Rural Futures Fellows build on their newly acquired technical skills to go on their own entrepreneurial journey, where they learn the ins and outs of managing an organization in the conservation and development space.
The Rural Futures Fellowship is targeted at the Eastern Himalayan region, aiming to raise not only a next generation of environmental leaders, but to also enable young people to tap into rewilding and sustainability based entrepreneurship to revitalize their communities, local economies and landscapes.
About the Fellowship
The Rural Futures Fellowship is divided across 6 semesters and takes the fellows on a learning journey that helps them develop their technical skills through practical hands on-learning as well as training bootcamps, as well as develop their leadership and entrepreneurial skills – enabling them to run their own organisations and businesses in the future.
The Fellowship is residential for 12 out of 18 months and during those 12 months, fellows will be placed in key locations linked to the Balipara Foundation’s operation sites. The base location will be in Baligaon Miri Green village, in Sonitpur district, Assam – but fellows may also be deployed to other locations across Assam and Nagaland during the field learning elements of the Fellowship.
Fellows will receive a monthly stipend of INR 20,000 for the duration of the entire Rural Futures Fellowship. They will also receive support for field travel expenses and accident insurance.
At the end of the Fellowship, Fellows are invited to competitively pitch for one of 12 rewilding grants to restore 100 hectares of land. The Balipara Foundation also supports Fellows in connecting with their broader network, to learn from experts around the world and build partnerships to drive change.
Eligibility
We welcome applicants from across India, Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh. Applicants must be between the ages of 21-35 and must have completed their schooling till grade 12 / 12th standard.
A background in environment or development is not required for joining the Rural Futures Fellowship.
Inclusivity
The fellowship is built on principles of inclusivity and non-discrimination, seeking to build bridges between people regardless of religion, ethnic affiliation, age, gender, sexuality or ability.
The Rural Futures Fellowship particularly aims to reach rural & indigenous youth, as well as indigenous youth diaspora, from the Eastern Himalayan region (North East India, Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh). Priority is given to young people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds in both urban & rural communities.
The Fellowship will be gender-balanced, with an equal weightage for women and gender-diverse aspirants who apply.
