The Youth Venture fellowship is a one-year experience designed to empower young people ages 15-24 to discover the changemaker within themselves.

The Cycle

May-June: YV Outreach

YV India approaches young people at high schools, colleges, universities, and community organizations and asks them two questions. The first – ‘What burns you?’ – gets broad responses, from corruption and poverty to pollution and inequality. The follow-up questions – ‘Do you have the courage to stand up and do something about it?’ – is often met with silence. That’s when we let our current Venturers tell the stories of their own journeys. The fact that everyday people are creating amazing social change inspires many of those listening to think about what they themselves can do.”

July-August: Idea Creation Workshops

YV India hosts three preliminary one-day workshops within two months. Here, each attendee explores the social problem he or she is most passionate about changing – what are the root causes? What are the symptoms? Through peer discussions and community surveys, attendees begin to develop and refine ideas for their Ventures. Each Venture Team must comprise at least two people, so participants recruit others to work alongside. We guide participants in setting goals, mapping stakeholders, creating budgets, and incorporating impact and sustainability into their Venture plans.

September: Panel Presentation

In September, once the potential Venturers have shaped their ideas into something concrete, they present their plans to Panel. The Panel comprises leaders from all sectors, Ashoka Fellows, and community activists. Panelists provide feedback and guidance, helping to fill the gaps in Venture plans. If the Panelists are convinced that the presenting Team can launch immediately, the Team receives the first half of their Rs 10,000 seed funding. If not, Panelists guide the Team in revising their Plan, which they will re-present later to earn their seed funding.

Launch

After receiving seed funding, Teams officially launch their plans into action. YV India is there to support them with resources, networks, and mentoring every step of the way. Ultimately though, it is the initiative and passion of the Team that will lead the Venture to success.

October-April: Community Building Workshops

One person creating change is powerful. A community of changemakers is unstoppable. After launch, Venturers come together for three one-day workshops, held once every two months. Here, Venturers share successes and challenges, exchange ideas and resources, and forge connections to their fellow changemakers. YV India brings in experts from all segments of societies – storytellers, moviemakers, artists, businesspeople, educators and social entrepreneurs – to help the Venturers expand their perspectives and push themselves in new ways.

July: Celebration

At the completion of the yearlong cycle, YV India hosts a big celebration. It’s an opportunity to publicly recognize the first steps of our Venturers on their lifelong journeys of changemaking. This is a special occasion attended by community members, leaders from all sectors, and the press.

Beyond the First Year

Sustainability is a key element throughout the Venture process. Teams must plan to run their Ventures for at least eight months and are encouraged to continue beyond that. But what happens after celebration and the yearlong fellowship is completed?

We provide continued support for dedicated Venturers, helping them take their project to whatever the next level may be. We also invite them to become YV Ambassadors, an opportunity to help new Venturers through mentorship and workshop facilitation.