Wanted – Innovative ideas for environmental action!

Do you have an innovative idea for environmental action? Do you want financial and mentoring support to make it happen? Swechha, a youth organisation presents the future environmental leaders with an opportunity to implement their green idea and make it big – inviting applications for the Swechha INFLUENCE fellowship 2012-13.

Influence is a youth programme on environmental leadership, active citizenship and volunteering. Every year Influence engages more than 1000 young agents of change on issues related to environment and society. This happens through local volunteering, outstation internships, leadership training, campaigning and advocacy initiatives.

The Influence fellowships provide financial support of Rs 50,000 and mentoring to 4-6 individuals or groups that utilise these resources towards running action oriented environmental projects.

Do you have such an innovative idea?

Innovative ideas are invited for short or long term campaigns or projects which focus on environmental action. Your ideas should focus on one or more of the following:

• Environmental responsibility & action
• Environmental awareness & action
• Environmental sustainability & action

Entry criteria:

• University level students of recognised educational institutions in Delhi/NCR.
• You may apply as an individual, or as the representative of a group of students.
• Past experience in volunteering or running social/environmental campaigns is preferable.
• Age 17 to 30 years.

How to apply: Send an email with your green idea at volunteer@swechha.in. The idea should fulfill the expected criteria.

Last date for sending applications: January 10, 2013

This fellowship is rolled out every year as part of Influence, a national level volunteering, capacity building and campaigning platform for young people.  In the last cycle two such projects were featured on CNN International. Here's a link to the story.

One of the earlier fellowship projects that focused on solar lanterns for vegetable vendors has gone on to become a registered entity, starting with a movement across Delhi to shift to solar energy.  The Influence fellow, upon receiving demand from the market for solar lights, left her job to take it up as a career.  She says, “I am in the phase of a start-up, making contacts, arranging funds etc. It will take time, but I am sure the journey would be worth it.”

Influence is supported by VSO India – an Indian development organisation working to address issues of poverty and exclusion.