The **Gandhi Fellowship** is not just another leadership program; it is life-defining, compelling young souls to step into the heart of India and work out something meaningful. Inaugurated in 2008 by the **Kaivalya Education Foundation** under the **Piramal Foundation**, the fellowship carries within it the very spirit of Mahatma Gandhi, who believed that change first happens within the individual and then radiates outward into the world.
Fellows, for 2 years, will remain placed in rural or semi-urban parts of India alongside school principals, teachers, and communities. To change the status quo of education for children in government schools is the explicit aim of the differs. There won’t be report writing or OPD sittings. It’s all about getting your hands dirty, solving real problems, and learning what convergence and common purpose feel like.
The very next day, it could be about enabling a principal to reflect on the possibilities for his/her school, or down to convincing a few parents to send their kids to the school.
And in this transformation of the human beings within them lies the true distinction of the Gandhi Fellowship. As they sail through strange waters, a few moments of doubt, joy, and self-revelation will elude them. The program will elegantly push them to introspect on their strengths, insecurities, and purpose. Through workshops, mentoring, and field projects, they learn to lead others while getting better at understanding themselves.
Gandhi Fellowship likes to reach out to college graduates and postgraduates younger than 26, profoundly curious and eager to make a difference. The emphasis is not so much on an elite piece of paper but on an empathetic heart, candid spirit, and brave mind. Fellows receive a stipend of around ₹20,000–₹25,000 a month, which covers basic living costs, in conjunction with a completion bonus after completing two years.
Most fellows walk out with a perspective and not just a certificate. Many go ahead to find work in **education, governance, social entrepreneurship, or policy**; others use the experience as a springboard to build their ventures. It is not only the other people this very name Gandhi Fellowship is helping; but it is a journey that helps each of its members discover their inner leader, dreamer, and change-maker.
