Open Space, Pune, invites applications for the Open Space Fellowships 2010

Open Space, the civil society and youth outreach programme of the Centre for Communication and Development Studies (CCDS), Pune, engages with citizens – especially young citizens -- on contemporary social, economic and cultural issues through film screenings, performances, literary readings, music concerts, art, storytelling, capacity-building workshops, discussion and study forums, public lectures, youth festivals and campaigns. Open Space aims to be a vibrant place for youth to volunteer, learn, share ideas, and express themselves. Equally, Open Space supports CSOs and citizens to take their work/ideas/processes to a wide audience of concerned citizens, and also to build action networks.

The Open Space Fellowships are an effort to extend the Open Space idea and process to other cities in India. Two rounds of fellowships – in Chennai, Kolkata, Ranchi, Lucknow, Ahmedabad and Bangalore -- have already been completed in the last three years.

In 2010 we will be awarding 3 full-time fellowships for a period of 12 months each.

Applications are invited from young activists/leaders/social entrepreneurs in cities besides Pune. Applicants from growing metros such as Nagpur, Bhopal, Baroda, Jaipur, Indore, etc are especially encouraged to apply.

We are looking for individuals who are well-informed on social justice and development issues, with a background in the social sciences/human rights/development/media or allied fields. The Fellows should be dynamic, energetic, resourceful and excellent at communications, moderating discussions, training and capacity-building. A passion for the arts and ideas will be an added advantage.

The Fellows will use and adapt in their own cities some of the Open Space “software” (such as activity-based workshops on gender, sexuality, human rights, globalisation, etc). They will also develop their own strategies for outreach and activities/campaigns specific to their own cities. The Fellows should be well-networked with NGOs, CSOs, educational institutions and community groups in their own city.

Over the 12-month period, several regular networks, partnerships, events and forums should have been initiated and publicized. Open Space Fellows will organise programmes and trainings at multiple venues, in collaboration with educational institutions, communities, campaigns, partner CSOs etc. The Fellows will be expected to forge formal partnerships with at least one educational institution in their city where they will work intensively with a particular batch of students, set up Open Space clubs etc.

Open Space fellowships will be awarded to individuals preferably below the age of 40.

The fellowship carries a monthly honorarium of Rs 20,000, inclusive of communication and conveyance costs incurred by the Fellows. Modest monthly expenditures for programmes/resourcepersons’ fees are reimbursed separately.

Applicants are invited to send in their CVs and a detailed statement of interest in these Fellowships, expanding on 1) their suitability for, and interest in, these Fellowships; 2) the social justice/development issues most integral to their cities which they would like to work on in the course of this fellowship; 3) strategies they would employ for outreach, including

likely partners and networks in their cities.

Email your applications, before June 15, 2010, to:

*[email protected]* and cc them to [email protected].

For more information on CCDS and Open Space log on to www.openspaceindia.org, www.ccds.in and www.infochangeindia.org.