Bringing a social change – My fellowship experience at YES FOUNDATION
About the Author: Kriti Kumar (extreme right), from Pillai College of Arts, Commerce and Science (PCACS), shares a candid account of her experience as a fellow for YES FOUNDATION.
During my summer break, I got a content writing internship at CrazyHeads Solutions through Internshala). This was a work from home internship and I was inclined to go out and explore my potential further. A month later, I was fortunate enough to land an interview at Star TV India’s office in Lower Parel. Alas, I could not convert it and was extremely disappointed. I was on the verge of giving up. One day, as I randomly flipped pages through Hindustan Times (I never read newspapers), I found an interesting ad about ‘Media for Social Change Fellowship’ sponsored by YES FOUNDATION, the social arm of Yes Bank. Soon, I browsed through their website and filled the application form. It consisted of my personal details and a few questions about why I wanted to take part in their program, my past experiences etc. In my subconscious mind, I was dead sure that I won’t get selected.
After two days, I got a call from YES FOUNDATION. They quickly took a phone interview, bombarding me with questions about my interest in the social sector and the cause I wanted to work for. The next day I got another call. They told me about the stipend and gave me details of what the fellowship was going to be like. Two days later, Gmail startled me when I received a mail confirming my selection for the fellowship. I couldn’t believe it!
My first day started on 18th April 2016. I walked into the One Indiabulls Centre in Lower Parel. I was the one who lived the farthest (Belapur, Navi Mumbai) but was the first one to reach there. I waited in the empty auditorium, curiously looking as the other fellows walked in. Soon, Ms. Prerana Laga (CEO of YF), Ms. Radha Kapoor (Founder of ISDI) etc. came to light the lamp and welcome us. They congratulated us for getting selected for this prestigious fellowship out of the 920+ aspirants pan-India. These few words made my day and definitely changed my life for the better.
The fellowship started with a one-week intensive induction training. Experts from renowned organisations like Yes Bank, Ogilvy and Mather, Star Plus, HBO, Jholawala Films, ISDI, International Advertising Association, etc. enriched us with their experiences. Areas like branding, marketing, cinematography, photography, social media, working in an NGO, human resources, etc were extensively covered. With each mentoring session, we were involved in interesting group activities. While we were doing these activities, the mentors monitored us based on our strengths, working culture, and almost every action.
Now, it was time to get the real work done. There were three categories, namely – social media marketing, filmmaking, and case study/creative writing. There were professionals from each sector to mentor us. I got selected for social media marketing. Each one of us was assigned different Non-Government Organisations(NGOs). Divaswapna, an NGO based in Uttar Pradesh which provided education to underprivileged children was assigned to me. Schools were shut due to the vacations, therefore I had to work closely with the team to understand the story of the existence of Divaswapna. Soon, I took over the social media handles which had been dead since 2012. The following weeks went in talking to the school authorities. I realized that this was not merely about posting content on social media platforms; we were working for a cause. Every Saturday, we were called back to One Indiabulls Centre to deliver a presentation on the preceding week’s progress.
Education is extremely crucial in a country like ours. Literacy is the only way to eradicate poverty, and I was elated to work with an organization which propagated the same belief. The fellowship was coming to an end and it was time to wrap things up. When I took over the Facebook page, Divaswapna had less than 250 likes. By the end of my internship, the total had added up to 650+ likes. Apart from all the work, the entire experience has been extremely enriching. The fellowship gave me the opportunity to work with an amazing and super friendly team and interact with fellows from places like Gujarat, Odisha, and Pune who came all the way to Mumbai for this internship. Not to forget the media experts who enlightened me with the knowledge I could have never gained otherwise.
A week after the internship, special invitations were sent to our parents and college faculty to attend our convocation ceremony. I ended my journey by standing next to the most important people with a smile on my face and a certificate in my hand. This internship was a blessing for me. I am proud of myself for solely undergoing through the entire process. Not to forget, I was also managing a virtual internship alongside. I learned more than I wanted to, and I will take this to my grave.
My tips for the future interns would be to not lose hope. There is always a tomorrow and you still don’t know what it might bring for you. Whatever happens, will always result in something good. Also, the interview is crucial, especially when it’s for a big organisation. Don’t be over-confident and prepare yourself extensively. Corporate social responsibility is extremely relevant for our society; there are communities out there who desperately seek our help. Lastly, make sure that you regularly update yourself by reading newspapers.
Editor’s Note – Do your bit for the society; apply for these NGO internships and social work internships.
