The Center for International Education at Berea College is proud to announce that Janice D’Souza has been named as a 2015-2016 American India Foundation Clinton Fellow.
Janice graduated from Berea College in May of 2014 with a degree in Women’s and Gender Studies. 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. They were 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 has taken it upon itself, and succeeded, in making opportunities for India’s poor to live successful, productive lives while making a changing the lives of India’s less fortunate. They have successfully 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. Janice is originally from India, so she is part of this new fellowship trend. She will be placed with KC Mahindra Education Trust in Mumbai and will be working 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.
We are excited for this impressive opportunity for Janice and know that she will make a big impact on India, the US and the world through this fellowship. We wish her well in this next chapter of her life.
Article by Robin Davis