American India Foundation Banyan Impact Fellowship

The AIF Banyan Impact Fellowship places young professionals from the U.S. and India in service with communities and organizations across the two countries for mutual learning, capacity building, and leadership development in support of social justice.

Overview

The AIF Banyan Impact Fellowship is an immersive bi-national volunteer service program with an immense strategic importance in the U.S.-India corridor. By facilitating exchange and collaboration between young professionals from India and the U.S., the program aims to shape the next generation of leaders committed to positive and sustainable change and creating a lasting U.S.-India relationship by broadening the existing constituency of future leaders, civil society, and other stakeholders.

Through its emphasis on a service-leadership model, the bilateral program places young professionals from the US and India in service with communities and organizations across the two countries for mutual learning, capacity building, and leadership development in support of social justice. Fellows work on projects closely linked to Sustainable Development Goals and create sustainable impact through service and fieldwork across diverse thematic areas such as education, public health, livelihoods, social inclusion, minority rights, Dalit and tribal rights, climate justice, LGBTQ+ rights, gender, arts, sports, CSR, and many others.

Eligibility

Candidates must:

  • Be a U.S. or Indian citizen, or a U.S. permanent resident
  • Be between the ages of 21 and 35 by the start of the program
  • Have completed a Bachelor’s degree (or higher) before the start of the program by the start of the program

Award

For U.S. Fellows, AIF provides a roundtrip ticket from their point of origin to India, along with insurance coverage, emergency support, and a monthly living stipend. The stipend covers basic living expenses such as rent, meals and incidentals, and local transportation related to a Fellow’s project.

Application Status

Closed

National Deadline

TBA

Learn more about the AIF Banyan Impact Fellowship