Indicorps

In line with the Indicorps' way of challenging the status quo, in 2014, Indicorps discontinued its highly-acclaimed Fellowship program. We seek to refresh our approach while remaining rooted in our mission to foster values-driven, action-oriented leaders. Moving forward, we strive to identify new and dynamic ways to make a progressive and lasting impact towards this vision.
Indicorps underscores the values of living with and learning from one's community, of constantly challenging one's boundaries to progress ever forward, and of dedicating oneself wholly to one's community.

Through total immersion, Indicorps fellows strive to earn the trust, respect, and co-leadership of the communities they were assisting.
Through simple living, including washing clothes by hand, Indicorps encourages self sufficient, self reliant living, spurring change both within oneself and within the community.
Across 16 states in India, Indicorps Fellows have partnered with communities to build sustainable change in education, livelihoods, crafts and more.
Indicorps Fellows exemplify a spirit of mindful leadership, and through them, Indicorps has made a lasting impact in communities and partner organizations.
The idea was provocative. To some, it was contagious. Several even came to India to help. Others told us we were crazy. Some said it would be impossible to do. The power of Indicorps' attraction was in its simplicity... Indicorps' experiment meant causing an attitude shift amongst both the diaspora and local communities.

- Journeys in Service, 2011
The Indicorps Fellowship asks Fellows to commit themselves to communities to affect grassroots change
For over a decade, Indicorps has motivated diaspora youth to dedicate a year or more of intense service in their homeland.

Young people in the Indian diaspora longed to contribute to and understand their homeland. This young population of Indian origin was well-poised to turn a brain drain into a "brain gain" by applying their talent and global exposure to the frontlines of India's development.

Indicorps materialized as an experiment to legitimize a year of service to India. A meaningful and intense approach, Indicorps kept simple living, full community immersion, and self-understanding at the core.
A decade of change later, we have witnessed this shift through the growth of service opportunities from within India and around the globe. Dozens of new fellowship programs have emerged. Numerous Indicorps partner organizations have also created structured volunteer opportunities of their own.

Observing this trend with pride, Indicorps now asks: As an organization, can we do more than we set out to do? What happens if we move beyond what we do well and ask ourselves to set the bar even higher?

We strongly believe that there has never been a greater need for values-driven, action-oriented leadership in India and around the world.

- Anand Shah, Indicorps Co-Founder

During our Fellowship year, we realized that change ONLY happens through our own personal transformation. I am proud to see that Indicorps as an organization is now embarking on an analogous process with its global community. The world demands a similarly authentic outcome, and the Indicorps approach resonates more strongly than ever as we collectively take our next steps.

- Shital Shah, Indicorps Fellow 2005

Fellowship support and programming for 2012-2014 Fellows continues.
Open-sourcing learnings and "going viral" through collaboration with organizations, events, and changemakers.
Looking, listening, and learning for ways to push the bar even higher.
Unknown. Watch this space.

Many people are frightened by the unknown. Pioneers in all times, however, have understood that by embracing the empty spaces they can free themselves from the frustration of working with unsuitable tools. This risky freedom has often been perilous, but just as often it has opened up possibilities never seen before.

- Barbara Heinzen, Feeling for Stones

For over a decade, Indicorps has motivated diaspora youth to dedicate a year or more of intense service in their homeland.

Next Steps

Unknown. Watch this space.