If you are a professional or a post-graduate school candidate who is interested in making a tangible difference in today’s world, apply to be a Sandbox Fellow in the Deshpande Global Exchange Program.

What’s Desphande?

The Deshpande Foundation is one of the leading philanthropic foundations in Massachusetts and India in the areas of innovation, entrepreneurship and international development. Through grant development, the Deshpande Foundation has helped launch innovative companies, helped nonprofit organizations develop an international presence and launched partnerships with some of the most positive change agents in the world today.

What’s the Sandbox?

The Sandbox is a geographically defined area in India, and is located in the northwest corner of the state of Karnataka. Though the Sandbox centers around the twin cities of Hubli and Dharwad, it is comprised of five districts. The Deshpande family is originally from the Hubli-Dharwad area. As a result, the Foundation centers its efforts on their hometown, as a development lab for social innovation.

What does it mean to be a Fellow?

The Sandbox Fellowship is a year-long program for dynamic professionals or post-graduate school candidates who have experience working in on- the-ground development and/or social entrepreneurship and are seeking an extended experience working on these issues. Fellows are matched according to the skills and project needs defined by each specific nonprofit partner in order to ensure a mutually beneficial experience.

A fellow’s work is a “hit the ground running” type of experience. Fellows are given language instruction and thrown right into the mix; as a result, they are able to make the most of their stay and are able to achieve a lot. Depending on the nature of their work, fellows may spend time traveling to villages, meeting with self-help groups, designing databases, and more. Learn more about the fellowship experience by visiting the Fellowship FAQ or the Sandbox Fellows Blog.

The application deadline for the Sandbox Fellowship is January 4, 2010.

Who’s been a fellow in the past?

Professionals and post-graduate students from a variety of backgrounds have participated in the past. From mathematics and economics to women’s studies, languages, and anthropology, wide-ranging interests have been represented in the program. Overall, fellows work to address challenges of nonprofits working in the fields of Agriculture, Livelihood, Education and Health. Ideal candidates have experience in these areas but also add value by bringing skills from the IT sector, business (marketing and management), finance (accounting) and other globally applicable skills. For a directory of previous fellows, visit the Deshpande Foundation online.

Submitted by Audrey Iffert, University Innovation Fellow, Office of University Initiatives