The Center for International Education at Berea College announces that Janice D’Souza has been named as a 2015-2016 American India Foundation Clinton Fellow.
D’Souza graduated from Berea College in May of 2014 with a degree in Women’s and Gender Studies. While studying at Berea, she was active in the leadership of student government and a host of organizations while enrolled.
The American India Foundation (AIF) is dedicated to catalyzing social and economic change in India and building a lasting bridge between the United States and India. Created in 2001 when President Clinton and Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee saw the need for a philanthropy platform that would connect the two countries, the American Indian Foundation makes opportunities for India’s poor to live successful, productive lives. They have raised over 100 million dollars and impacted over 2.5 million lives.
One of the ways AIF Clinton has impacted lives is by pairing young professionals with leading NGO’s and social enterprises in India in order to “accelerate impact and create effective projects that are replicable, scalable, and sustainable.”
In an attempt to connect India and the United States, they have now expanded to include young Indians to work alongside fellows from the U.S. D’Souza, who is originally from India, is part of this new fellowship trend. She will be placed with KC Mahindra Education Trust in Mumbai and to work with two teams: Nanhi Kali (Girlhood Education Project) and Mahindra Pride School (Livelihood/Vocational training). The Nanhi Kali project was initiated in 1996 and tries to provide primary education to disadvantaged young girls in India. And Mahindra Pride School works with underprivileged youth by teaching them livelihood training to gain employment based skills.