The Reliance Foundation and Vital Voices Global Partnership have launched the WomenLead India Fellowship, which aims to be a support system for women leaders in India who are tackling the world’s most difficult challenges. WomenLead India, which began today, is a 10-month fellowship programme. Candidates interested in applying should do so by October 3. Those interested in learning more about how to join this transformative new programme should go to: vitalvoices.org/program/womenleadindiafellowship/.
The fellowship aims to strengthen the leadership capacity of female catalysts of social change in any of the following sectors:
Rural transformation: Creating holistic, long-term solutions to rural communities’ main development concerns, such as economic empowerment, nutrition security, water security, ecology, governance capacity of local organisations, and women’s empowerment.
Education: Addressing inequalities in access to Early Childhood Care and Education, primary, secondary, and higher education across income, gender, social group, and geography; improving the quality of educational services provided at all levels; and developing or strengthening educational institutions.
Sports for development: Developing character and leadership skills among India’s youth by using sports as a medium to encourage lifelong learning and expanding access to sports in rural and marginalised communities.
Arts, culture, and heritage: preserving and promoting India’s art, culture, and heritage, advancing knowledge of Indian arts, culture, and heritage domestically and globally, sustaining and making art and culture relevant to the younger generation
Women leaders who are innovative and collaborative, with at least three years of work experience enacting social change in their communities in one or more of the sectors outlined above, women who are driven by a clear sense of mission and are committed to advancing the status of women and girls, and women who are committed to transparency and good governance.
50 female leaders chosen for the inaugural cohort
The fellowship will provide tailored leadership capacity building and skill development to 50 female leaders chosen for the inaugural cohort. Selected fellows will also receive mentoring and peer-to-peer support.
“We believe in the collective and creative power of women to empower not just themselves, but also their families and communities. When women lean on women and rise together, they build a network and system of leadership that can help transform the world around them. It is our mission to drive and support this leadership amongst women. The WomenLead India Fellowship powered by Reliance Foundation and Vital Voices is an important step in nurturing inspirational women leaders who will be at the forefront of driving social change in India,” said Nita M Ambani, Founder Chairperson, Reliance Foundation.
Long-term investment for women leaders
“Every problem solver needs a support network and we aim to be that for these women leaders by making a long-term investment in both the woman and the important work that she is doing to advance and empower the people of India and beyond,” said Alyse Nelson, Co-Founder, President, & CEO, Vital Voices. “We are thrilled to partner with Reliance Foundation to make this investment in India’s next generation of women leaders,” she added.
The WomenLead India fellows will be mentored based on their prior experience in one of the following tracks: economic empowerment and entrepreneurs, social Sector Leaders, and changemakers. The 10-month fully funded programme is just the beginning of a relationship between the fellows and the vast network of women leaders and global influencers that comprise the Vital Voices and Reliance Foundation networks.
