Child Right Fellowship

Updated on: Friday, February 03, 2012

Internationally acclaimed child rights organisation, Child Rights and You (CRY), is inviting applications to its National Child Rights Research Fellowship. The organisation that is popularly known for its extensive work in the field of child relief in the rural areas of India is now trying to reach out to researchers and academicians to accelerate the study into child rights in India. “The fellowship is an opportunity for both, CRY and the participants, young as well as experienced, understand and explore the interplay of culture, ethics and policies that determine childhood,” says Vijayalaxmi Arora, director, policy and advocacy at CRY.

While much of the research in this area is driven by government programming priorities international donors, those initiatives sometimes fall short for an academic or NGO framework. Explaining the idea behind the fellowship Arora adds, “We saw the need for creating opportunities to investigate the complex structures and networks within which childhoods are experienced and child rights are infringed, by children and the adults in their lives.”

Now in its sixth year, the fellowship is looking for fresh ideas, innovations and approaches towards child right advocacy. Past fellowships have seen issues ranging from the effects of conflict on children in refugee camps, to the realities and aspirations of mentally challenged children, to the effectiveness of activity-based-learning in elementary school education.

Suguna Kannan, a retired professor and ex-fellow, who conducted a study on assessments and evaluations of the prevalent practices in storytelling, talks fondly of her experiences being part of the 2010 fellowship. “Not only did it allow me to study and explore a subject of great interest to me, but I also got the opportunity to meet with a cross section of people from the country who are contributing towards various causes in child rights,” she says. Based on the finding of her study Kannan along with her colleagues is now conducting workshops with parents on the importance and art of storytelling for children.

Although, the fellowship is open to all Indian citizens, CRY is attempting to reach out to researchers from rural India and encourages applications from smaller towns and villages. The fellowship amount will vary according to each applicant’s research, but there is a maximum monetary cap of Rs. One lakh. Last date for entries is February 17.

To apply visit, www.cry.org

Child Right Fellowship

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