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Brandeis-India Initiative Fellows

The Office of Global Affairs and the South Asian Studies Program anticipates it will be announcing a new round of funding for Brandeis-India Initiative Fellows later this year. 

The Fellows program offers limited funding for the development of creative projects aimed at building ties between Brandeis University and Indian alumni, partners, and organizations. These projects can be carried out as part of a summer internship, study abroad program, research project, or volunteer program. Awards range from $1000 - $1500, and can be used in addition to other university funding as well as personal and external funding (please see details, below). 

Brandeis-India Initiative Fellows are student ‘ambassadors’ for the Initiative, a comprehensive effort to strengthen the University’s relationships with India. This year’s ‘class’ will follow in the footsteps of a successful Presidential trip to India in February 2012, as well as other related efforts to build connections and partnerships with organizations, alumni, schools, families, and businesses.

There are many pathways to become a fellow, and different options for involvement. You can find out more in our Frequently Asked Questions section, and you can find a list of possible internship and project sites here. Below, we've listed a few examples of how the program works:

For Study Abroad

Sponsor/Office: Office of Study Abroad
How it works: Students should apply for their 2011-12 study abroad program, or their summer 2011 study abroad program, in the usual manner by following the policies and procedures of the Office of Study Abroad. The funding, in this case, serves as a modest award to help with travel, living, or project expenses. It is contingent upon full acceptance into a study abroad program for 2011-12.
Examples of projects you might undertake: While studying abroad in Delhi, a student works with our partner, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), to develop an arts-based approach to understanding climate change and the management of natural resources.
Funding level: $500 - $1500

For Summer Internships

Sponsor/Office: Hiatt Career Center; International Center for Ethics, Justice, and Public Life
How it works: Students can apply for the WOW, Sorensen, or other international internship program as they typically would, in addition to applying for the India Fellowship. In this case, funding will be limited to $500 - $1000 and will only support the Fellows project (travel, expenses, additional time in the country, etc.), not the internship itself. Ideally, your India project should be directly connected to the substance of your internship.
Examples of projects you might undertake: While interning with a NGO devoted to children's education in Mumbai, a student works with our Mumbai-based alumni to host and document a gathering of Mumbai educational leaders.
Funding level: $500 - $1000 if already awarded WOW or similar fellowship

For Research

Sponsor/Office: Individual academic departments; Office of Academic Services
How it works: Again, students should apply through normal channels (ie their department or Academic Services). The funding in this case will support some public display or extension of that research project, in order to communicate findings to a wider audience.
Examples of projects you might undertake: While conducting research on health care delivery in Patna, a student produces a short video about local health issues to be posted on YouTube and presented to the Brandeis community upon return.
Funding level: $500 - $1500, depending on amount awarded for the research fellowship

For a volunteer, service, or independent travel program

Sponsor/Office: See this page for ideas, or check with the Office of Study Abroad or Hiatt Career Center for additional resources.
How it works: In some cases, we will consider other creative projects that build upon a volunteer or service abroad program, for example during the summer, or independent work. However, preference is given to students who secure a formal or sponsored program. Funding is limited to $1500 maximum.
Examples of projects you might undertake: While volunteering in Pune, a student works with our local high school partners and admissions counselors to raise awareness of the Brandeis social justice mission through a creative publication or social media web site.
Funding level: $500 - $1500

About the 2011-2012 Inagural BII Fellows

The Brandeis-India Initiative supported seven inaugural 2011-12 student Fellows.  They each received $1,000 for the support of their project, which many students combined with other University-funded programs.

The program, launched last academic year with support from Indian parents and friends, seeks to raise the number of students pursuing study and work in India. It also hopes to match student passions for social projects with the interest of India alumni and partners, and build mentoring and other relationships. As part of a regular summer internship or study abroad program, students will create an academic or community-based project which can be shared with the Brandeis-India communities.

Jessica Christian ’13 is a HSSP/WGS major and a Science POSSE scholar. With support of summer Science POSSE funding,  she interned in Bangalore with an NGO, called “MILANA,” which works on supporting women living with HIV/AIDS. This internship emerged from a documentary she viewed in a Brandeis WGS class and her involvement in Girl Effect. For her India Fellows project, she connected with alumni in Bangalore and brought the experience back to Brandeis through video-blogging and photography.

Click here to read Jessica's blog from the summer. 

Melissa Donze ’12 is a IGS/Politics major.  She also interned with MILANA, along with Jessica, with support of WOW funding. Her India Fellows project focused on connecting with Indian alumni on HIV/AIDS and global health issues, and coming back to Brandeis to host panel discussions as part of the student global AIDS campaign.

Chenyu “Terry” Li ’14 is an international student from China. His internship was based in Dharamshala, a hill station known for its large Tibetan community. He worked with “Love Volunteers,” an NGO that places college students from around the world in Dharamshala classrooms to help elementary schools with basic computer, math, and language skills.

Learn more about Terry's experience in India through video:
Part 1: First Impression
Part 2: My Volunteer Experience
Part 3: Incredible India

William Lodge ’13 is an English major and South Asian Studies minor who is studying abroad in Spring 2012 in New Delhi, studying culture and literature. His program has a community service option, which he is hoping to turn into his India Fellows project. He’ll be aiming to volunteer with a school of music and performing arts.

Daniel Tassone ’13 is a Psychology major who is studying abroad in spring 2012 in Pune, studying contemporary Indian culture and public health. As part of his program and his India Fellows project, he’ll be seeking an internship in a psychology dept or research project.

Click here to read Daniel's blog while he is abroad. 

David Wilkerson ’12 is an Anthropology major/pre-med and South Asian Studies minor who traveled to Bangalore to work with “YUVA for SEWA”, an organization that works on medical campus, hospital visits, and doctor support. 

Click here to read David's blog from the summer. 
Click here to read about David's experience in Bangalore in a Brandeis NOW article. 

Nusrath Yusuf ’13 is a Neuroscience/IMES major who interned in New Delhi as a Louis D. Brandeis Social Justice WOW Fellow with Operation ASHA, which aims to prevent and eliminate TB. For her India Fellows project, she worked with our new Delhi Alumni Chapter to raise awareness of global health issues, and presented at the EL Symposium and other venues when back at Brandeis.

Click here to read an article by Nusrath about her experience.