U.S. Consulate General Chennai: Empowering Youth through Volunteer for India Program

The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Consulate General Chennai (PAS Chennai) is soliciting proposals for a project entitled “Volunteer for India: Creating a Young Citizens’ Volunteer Action Corps”. Based on funding availability, the Recipient organization will conduct a three-day leadership training workshop in Chennai, and monitor subsequent post-workshop training initiatives across India, with focus on best practices from successful youth volunteer programs in the United States and India.

In consultation with PAS Chennai, the grantee will plan and implement a three-day workshop for 30 youth leaders from across India, including (a) the development of a training curriculum taught through a user-friendly manual in English and select regional languages; (b) identifying the participants; (c) selecting moderators, experts, trainers, and speakers; (d) developing the training modules and activities; (e) promoting the workshop via English and regional language outlets; and (f) arranging the venue, AV, accommodation, transportation, meals, and other logistics. 

The project will include the participation of a U.S. expert on volunteerism and will include a digital component that features speakers/experts from neighboring countries.  The project will draw on U.S. government program alumni and seek to enlist private sector corporate social responsibility (CSR), and other resources.  The overall goal of the project is to promote organizational skills building, critical thinking, communication skills for community outreach, and more effective civic participation by program participants with the development of a sustainable India youth volunteer corps in service of U.S.-India goals.

During the workshop, participants will have an opportunity to discuss specific challenges within their communities and brainstorm solutions.  Each of the 30 participants will subsequently receive seed funding of $500 from the grantee to facilitate a Volunteer for India orientation program and training session for at least 50 individuals within their respective communities to be conducted within two months of the workshop.  The grantee will be responsible for disbursing and monitoring these 30 seed funded programs.

(Please refer to the full announcement available under related documents tab.)