Volship 2023
Take Your First Step Towards a Fulfilling Career in Social Entrepreneursip
Welcome to Volship, the 12-week Volunteer Leadership Journey that will fast-track your growth as a social entrepreneur!
At Volship, we believe that social entrepreneurs are key to addressing the world’s most pressing challenges. We’re dedicated to providing individuals with the knowledge, skills, and experience they need to become effective social entrepreneurs and make a real difference in their communities.
90% of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are addressed majorly by social entrepreneurs globally.
10 Cities | 100 Teams | 300 Leaders | 12 Weeks
Volship
Learn | Lead | Change
Be a Purposeful Volunteer Leader
Social Entrepreneurship 101
Who is a social entrepreneur ?
A social entrepreneur is someone who creates innovative, sustainable solutions to social problems using entrepreneurial principles. They are driven by a passion for making a positive impact on society and are committed to creating change that lasts.
Why is social entrepreneurship important ?
Social entrepreneurship is the need of the hour because traditional approaches to solving social problems have not been effective in addressing the complex challenges we face today. Social entrepreneurs bring fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to social issues.
Moreover, social entrepreneurship is critical in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which are aimed at eradicating poverty, promoting social equality, and ensuring environmental sustainability
Be a Purposeful
Volunteer Leader
Are you ready to take your leadership skills to the next level and make a lasting impact in your community and beyond? Look no further than VOLSHIP, a highly selective social change-making fellowship brought to you by Volunteer For India and Bhumi.
Join Our Waitlist
Who is this Program For ?
Students & Current Graduates
Social Entrepreneurship Kickstart Develop Leadership Skills Upskill and Grow your entrepreneurial mindset Increase employability
Professionals
Develop Leadership Skills & Practical Experience Gain Hands-On Experience
Expand professional network and build connections. Make A Lasting Impact & sense of purpose.
Entrepreneurs
Build Entrepreneurial Skills Exposure To Social Sector Unique Networking Opportunities & partnerships Enhance personal brand as socially conscious entrepreneur.
Early Stage Social Sector Leaders
Develop skills and knowledge to scale impact. Expand network and partnerships. Gain new insights and ideas. Gain recognition as a social sector leader.
Learn Lead And Make A Change
Are you ready to take your leadership skills to the next level and make a lasting impact in your community and beyond? Look no further than VOLSHIP highly selective social change-making fellowship brought to you by Volunteer For India and Bhumi.
Over the course of three months, VOLSHIP provides YOU with the tools, resources, mentorship, and network to tackle world-level social issues in all social impact areas such as education, healthcare, social justice, and environmental sustainability. This prestigious fellowship is one of the top opportunities for individuals seeking to develop their social entrepreneurial mindset and leadership skills.
What happens in VOLSHIP and What happens after Volship ?
Our Testimonials
The journey of VOLSHIP 2022 was so enriching. I could learn many things and the best part of this journey is active and jovial volunteers who instilled spirit and confidence. This initiative by VFI is really helpful to nurture the leadership qualities within oneself and also to improve the decision taking abilities.
Godha Pranay Jain
Volship Cohort 2, Hyderabad
This Volship journey gave me a platform to learn a lot. For me, as a social work student, it gave me the platform to exhibit my professional skills on field. There were times when I felt very low as the project didn’t go according to the plan. During those times, I had VFI Core team and other VCLs at my back. This journey gave me a new family with whom my thoughts resonate.
Triveni S
Volship Cohort 2, Chennai
The world moves ahead at a rapid pace and with social media and internet, it moves even faster. What we as a team learnt and for me personally, the biggest set of memories are the insane amount of love for social work that collectively we were able to find about all of us, the desire to see this nation grow, the belief that we are all one and the audacity to carry on even during times of difficulty.
Pratas Saharia
Volship Cohort 2, Guwahati
My Volship journey was filled with challenges, but we managed to get through it as a team. Volunteers actively supported the Srinagar team and we were able to take our project forward amidst all the challenges. We participated in various cleanliness drives, awareness programs, competitions and plantation drive with collaborations with various other organizations as well. The overall experience has been that of a learning one.
Iffla Firdous
Volship Cohort 2, Srinagar
When you are given a chance to lead your group and make things work or progress the way you want to is even more fun and exciting. You are given the responsibility where one can start addressing a social cause from a whole new angle. The journey that our volunteers undergo is a learning process with experiences worth remembering. The element of you and your folks is present in almost every step you take for the betterment of the cause.
Bharath Balla
Volship Cohort 2, Hyderabad
Which Program You Should Choose ?
Individual Volship
Individual Volship
Are you ready to make a difference in your community?
Sign up for Individual Volship and join forces with two other Volship applicants from your city to build a project that will make a real impact.
Sign up for Individual Volship today and be part of a community of change-makers who are making a real difference in the world.
College Volship
College Volship
Looking for a way to make an impact in your college community?
Look no further than College Volship. Apply as a team of three, and gain hands-on experience to set up social impact events within your college to motivate others.
But that’s not all – by participating in College Volship, you’ll also gain valuable leadership skills that can benefit you throughout your academic and professional career
My Volship Journey
Applications for Volship 2023 – Cycle 2 are open in the cities listed below. 3 Volship Chapter Leads each will be selected from cities with the best applications to start their Volship journeys that span over the next 9 months.
Bengaluru
Karnataka
Hyderabad
Delhi
Telangana
Pune
Maharashtra
Kolkata
Mumbai
Chennai
Tamil Nadu
Jaipur
Ahmedabad
Gujrat
Jaipur
Rajasthan
Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh
Bhopal
Madhya Pradesh
Chandigarh
Punjab
Guwhati
Assam
Kochi
Kerala
Indore
What is Volship?
Who can apply?
What we look for?
What will you do?
Volship is a ‘Volunteer Leadership’ Fellowship program conceptualized by Volunteer for India, aimed at young leaders who are passionate about Volunteerism. Volship aims to enable young leaders to tackle pertinent issues within their cities through well structured and result oriented projects, engaging the community around them in the process.
Young, motivated individual with a passion for social change? Here’s who we’re looking for to join VOLSHIP:
-
- Age between 18-30.
- Students, working professionals or entrepreneurs.
- Fluent in English and the regional language of your city of application.
- Able to commit 8 hours per week for a period of 12 weeks.
- Physically available in the applied city for the entire Volship period.
Selected as a Volship Lead? Congrats! Here’s what’s in store for you:
- Join the VFI Volship and craft a winning project plan that addresses your city’s most pressing social issues.
- Over 12 weeks, collaborate with your city team and engage 25+ volunteers(75 volunteers as a 3 member team) in making a tangible impact on your community.
- Showcase your leadership skills and successful project outcomes to be considered for selection as a Bhumi Lead in post Volship Journey..
- Implement a long-term, impact-driven initiative to continue your community’s positive change.
Selected as a Volship Lead? Congrats! Here’s what’s in store for you:
- Join the VFI Volship and craft a winning project plan that addresses your city’s most pressing social issues.
- Over 12 weeks, collaborate with your city team and engage 25+ volunteers (75 volunteers as a 3 member team) in making a tangible impact on your community.
- Showcase your leadership skills and successful project outcomes to be considered for selection as a Bhumi Lead in post Volship Journey..
- Implement a long-term, impact-driven initiative to continue your community’s positive change.
FAQ
- I do not have prior volunteer experience , can I apply?
Yes , Volship has both the elements of leadership and volunteerism. If you are passionate towards volunteerism and have identified a leader in you, this journey is for you. - Can an individual apply for the project?
Each city will have three Volship Chapter Leads working on a project. You can apply as an individual after which you will be paired up with two other leaders, if selected. - Can we apply as a team of three members for the project ?
No, all aspiring applicants need to submit applications separately. - Can I apply if I already have a job?
Yes, an individual who is above the age of 18 and already has a job/studying can apply. However, ensure that you are studying/working in the same city you have applied for and will be able to dedicate 8 hours each week for Volship. - Do you have an upper or lower age limit?
Yes, applicants must be above the age of 18. - What is the overall selection process?
An online application submission followed by a virtual interview will be the overall selection process for Volship Chapter Leads. - I am new to volunteering, will I be given training?
We have a detailed induction and orientation process to the VFI volunteering journey. Then you have a Volunteer Ideathon where you will ideate your 8 week plan with assistance from experts. There will also be mentors and VFI national team to support you through the journey. - Will it be just the three of us leading the journey? Will there be additional support?
Yes, the three Volship Chapter Leads be leading the project in your city. Please note that you will be creating a team of volunteers under you to support and enable through the Volship Journey. Also, you will be continuously supported by the national support team and a dedicated mentor assigned to your team. - I am not from any of these 20 cities. Will I be eligible to apply?
The next cycle of Volship will involve more cities. Watch this space for more updates. - Will I be paid a stipend for this project?
Volunteers work for the 7 figures P-A-S-S-I-O-N.
No, you are not paid a stipend for this project, but each team is provided with 10,000 INR for the project expenses. - What is Ideathon?
Ideathon is a virtual event where the Volship Chapter Leads build together an idea as a team, towards a social cause they are inclined towards in their base city. This idea needs to be implemented as as their Volship Project. - Will there be support during Ideathon?
Yes, there will be experts guiding you through the process. Also there will be cross sharing & ideating across different city projects. - Can I fundraise apart from the 10,000 INR Grant for the project?
Yes, you can fundraise money apart from the grant amount using VFI modes and account. Once selected, our administrative teams will help you with the process. - How is Volship Chapter Lead different from Chapter Lead?
A Volship Chapter Lead will be implementing the eight week project in their city. Based on the performances of the 8 week project, selected Volship Chapter Leads will be assigned the role of Chapter Leads and continue their journey and their city will be announced as VFI CHAPTERS. - What is a VFI Chapter?
VFI Chapters are city based VFI branches which promote and contribute towards organization vision and mission at the city level. - Will all Volship cities get converted as VFI CHAPTERS?
The conversion of a city into VFI CHAPTER depends totally on the performance of the 8 week project of that city. There are chances of all Volship cities getting converted as VFI Chapters and chances of no city getting converted too. - How will the 8 week project be evaluated?
The 8 week projects will be evaluated by experts on the aspects of leadership, quantifiable output, minimum number of volunteers as promised, delegation of authority and collaboration. - What will be the journey after 8 weeks?
Selected Volship Chapter Leads are assigned the role of Chapter Leads and lead the VFI journey in their city for the next set of volunteer projects for a minimum period of 6 months. - What happens after six months of leadership?
Volunteerism is a continuous journey. The vision of the organization is “Volunteerism as a National Value”. We move as a VFI family towards this national level vision. - Do I have to continue the journey beyond the eight weeks?
Yes, you will be committing a total of 9 months of your time, by submitting your application for Volship 2022. Your journey beyond the Volship Project phase depends on the performance of the city. However, if you are unsure about your commitment for the entire course of the nine months, we urge you to apply for upcoming cycles of Volship where you can commit to the entire duration of 9 months to the program.