Peer-graded Assignment : Storytelling

By Shivam Giri

Challenge and Selection:

Storytelling is the perfect tool for my work, which helps me share and link my lived experience with my work. Here is tory of my work.

There is a saying, ‘go where the problems are’ which tells people from outside to come and work for the development of locals. But we stand to be different by saying ‘build the leaders where the problems are.’ Because we believe in local leaders to address local

problems not outsiders. It only will lead to the goal of what we say sustainable

development. Hence we aim to build development leadership among youth from

grassroots to help them become actors of their own development. We recognize that

higher education as a crucial tool to cultivate leadership among them. At MAYA firm we support them to pursue higher education in premier institutes of higher education,

especially in the field of humanities and social sciences which would help them to realize their potentials and build their capacities to start a career in the development sector and eventually become development leaders. Our target group is those who are largely underrepresented in higher education which are the first generation learners,

attended schools in Marathi or vernacular medium, rural youth coming from

educationally and socially underprivileged families including dalit, adivasis and nomadic tribes. Due to lack of awareness, aspiration, reference, mentorship and guidance they remained underrepresented in higher education. Their representation is even worse in premier institutes like IITs, IIMs, TISS and Central Universities etc. We want to send more and more underprivileged students to premier institutes of higher education and enable them to address their own problems.

Our Approach:

At MAYA firm Academy we mentor, guide and train underprivileged students as a preparation to enter and study in the premier institutes of higher education to realize their potential and build their capacity to become development agents. For this, we organize

seminars and residential workshops in rural parts of Vidarbha and Marathwada regions of Maharashtra by collaborating with the local colleges to reach our target group.

Through these events we sensitize them, raise their aspiration, build their perspective and orient them with higher education opportunities. Through these events we have reached out to more than 5000 rural youth during the last three years. After the seminars and workshop we identify those who are interested to pursue higher education in premier institutes for 3 months residential preparatory course where we guide them for preparation of entrance exams and interviews. We have also designed 3 months residential courses for those who have at least graduated in social science or social work to build their skills and attitude essential for development professional. For all these

programs we engage various experienced faculties, professionals and resource persons from different disciplines to mentor, guide and train our students towards the leadership goal.

With constant efforts since 2017 more than 100 underprivileged youth have entered various premier higher education institutes and got fellowships in the development

sector. Some of them have started their career in this field and are striving as

development leaders.


Peer - graded Assignment : Storytelling By Shivam Giri Challenge and Selection : Storytelling is the perfect tool for my work , which helps me share and link my lived experience with my work . Here is tory of my work . There is a saying , ‘ go where the problems are ’ which tells people from outside to come and work for the development of locals . But we stand to be different by saying ‘ build the leaders where the problems are . ’ Because we believe in local leaders to address local problems not outsiders . It only will lead to the goal of what we say sustainable development . Hence we aim to build development leadership among youth from grassroots to help them become actors of their own development . We recognize that higher education as a crucial tool to cultivate leadership among them . At MAYA firm we support them to pursue higher education in premier institutes of higher education , especially in the field of humanities and social sciences which would help them to realize their potentials and build their capacities to start a career in the development sector and eventually become development leaders . Our target group is those who are largely underrepresented in higher education which are the first generation learners , attended schools in Marathi or vernacular medium , rural youth coming from educationally and socially underprivileged families including dalit , adivasis and nomadic tribes . Due to lack of awareness , aspiration , reference , mentorship and guidance they remained underrepresented in higher education . Their representation is even worse in premier institutes like IITs , IIMs , TISS and Central Universities etc . We want to send more and more underprivileged students to premier institutes of higher education and enable them to address their own problems . Our Approach : At MAYA firm Academy we mentor , guide and train underprivileged students as a preparation to enter and study in the premier institutes of higher education to realize their potential and build their capacity to become development agents . For this , we organize seminars and residential workshops in rural parts of Vidarbha and Marathwada regions of Maharashtra by collaborating with the local colleges to reach our target group . Through these events we sensitize them , raise their aspiration , build their perspective and orient them with higher education opportunities . Through these events we have reached out to more than 5000 rural youth during the last three years . After the seminars and workshop we identify those who are interested to pursue higher education in premier institutes for 3 months residential preparatory course where we guide them for preparation of entrance exams and interviews . We have also designed 3 months residential courses for those who have at least graduated in social science or social work to build their skills and attitude essential for development professional . For all these programs we engage various experienced faculties , professionals and resource persons from different disciplines to mentor , guide and train our students towards the leadership goal . With constant efforts since 2017 more than 100 underprivileged youth have entered various premier higher education institutes and got fellowships in the development sector . Some of them have started their career in this field and are striving as development leaders .