Imagine being forced to leave home at 18, unsure where you'll spend the night.
Turning 18 is a milestone in life, but instead of celebrating, you have no home to return to. This is the harsh reality for over 60,000 young people growing up in child-care institutions or orphanages. On their 18th birthday, they are thrust into the world, often unsure of where they will sleep that night.
For many, turning 18 marks the end of the support system they've known their entire lives. These young adults face overwhelming challenges without a family to fall back on. They often struggle to secure necessities like food and shelter, let alone pursue higher education or stable employment.
Project 18 brings young adults from diverse backgrounds to engage through a social change internship specifically designed for young leaders. In this internship Project 18 interns will work alongside their counterparts from the WeLive community. WeLive understands that turning 18 is just the beginning of a challenging journey into adulthood—finding housing, completing education, securing a job, and navigating social and emotional complexities.
About the Internship
This 3-month program helps participants build a diverse and robust portfolio of experiences. These experiences are invaluable for community action and service programmes in school and while applying to colleges in India and abroad.
The internship is exclusively for residents of Bangalore, as it involves immersive participation in the activities of a non-profit organization. The program is free of cost, with the only requirement being active participation and contribution through the completion of two projects. This ensures a mutually beneficial experience for both the intern and the non-profit organization.
The internship program is designed with online sessions scheduled after school hours, while offline sessions and exposure visits take place on Saturday afternoons.
Internship offerings
FUTURES THINKING
Understanding the nuances of strategic engagement involves tackling wicked problems in society—complex issues with no simple cause-and-effect solutions. For instance, you'll delve into the multifaceted challenges surrounding poverty's impact on children and child protection issues, gaining insights into how to unravel these intricate issues effectively.
GROUND ZERO
During the course the Participants go beyond classroom learning, immersing themselves in the field to gain fresh perspectives, challenge assumptions, and break stereotypes.
TWINNING
Working alongside peers from WeLive (young people who grow up in orphanages/ care homes) would be a new experience one that would demand empathy and new ways of working to get the best out of each other.
Internship Outcomes
Communications Outcome: Developing communication tools; crafting website and social media content that highlights impacts and personal stories.
Resource Mobilization Outcome: Formulate a fundraising strategy and communication plan. Engage potential donors and establish a dashboard to track funds raised.
How Can this Course help you?
This course is designed for high school and college students, those taking a gap year, or anyone awaiting results or job opportunities who wants to understand social problems and potential interventions. It comprehensively explores societal issues, providing valuable insights and practical solutions. Whether aiming to fulfil academic goals or simply seeking to make a positive impact, this course equips you with the knowledge and skills to analyze and address pressing social challenges.
Meet the Facilitators
Divya
Facilitator
Benson
Facilitator
Debabrata
Facilitator
Mary
Course Convenor
Divya - Divya is the Executive Director of Rootbridge Academy. Rootbridge works closely with WeLive Foundation to support their organisation goals. Her work as program Director at Greenpeace, Strategic advisor at Amnesty International, India and Vice President at the Azim Premji Philanthrophy has focussed on solving wicked problems and driving social change.
Benson is an educator who has taught courses in Sociology, Anthropology and Development in the Azim Premji University and St Josephs College, Bangalore. His academic work is coupled with a stong field based understanding through his work as Director of the Baduku Community college and as the founder of a child rights organisation- Meljol, Bangalore.
Debabrata (Deb) is a committed social impact fundraiser, trainer and storyteller who has a breadth of experience starting with Greenpeace as a street fundraiser to the head of public engagement ; he served as the fundraising director at Railway Children India and Rural Development trust.
Mary is a passionate teacher and educator and strategic advisor to IB, IGCSE and ICSE schools across India. She has been associated with the Indus International school. In this program she would support students to anchor the learnings and experiences and find meaningful synergies with the curriculum.
The program includes online input sessions every Thursday from 5 PM to 7 PM and offline workshops and exposure visits every Saturday from 1 PM to 5 PM. Once assignments commence, the Thursday sessions will transition to one-on-one mentorship sessions. A detailed schedule will be published here soon.
About Welive
WeLive Foundation is dedicated to addressing the immediate needs of care leavers—Young people suddenly confronted with an unfamiliar world as they exit their long-time residences upon turning 18. This abrupt change frequently leaves them ill-equipped for the journey ahead, jeopardizing the progress fostered by their earlier institutional care. WeLive intervenes here, by facilitating the well-being and Work readiness of Young People through their Bridge programs.
