TED India Fellowships
The future beckons’ is being held in India for the first time ever from 4-7 November 2009, at the Infosys Campus in Mysore. What makes TEDIndia extra-special is, that the TED Fellows program will include a group of 100 innovators from India and South Asia who have shown unusual accomplishment and exceptional courage. These young world-changers will get the opportunity to become a part of the TED community which will help amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.
Lakshmi Pratury, Co-Host of TEDIndia 2009, considers the TED Fellows program to be an intrinsic part of the spirit of TEDIndia, stating “There is a tremendous surge of innovation at the grassroots in India. People are redefining culture, economy, society, technology and the intersection of these is creating new and empowering models of growth. TEDIndia Fellows program seeks to support Indian innovators who, in Gandhiji’s words, are being the change they want to see in the world.”
The TED Fellows program will draw insights from many disciplines that reflect the diversity of TED’s mission: technology, entertainment, design, the sciences, the humanities, the arts, NGOs, business and more. The gamut of activities that a TEDIndia fellows could be involved in include, access to education via the internet in rural areas: mobile rural healthcare networks; low cost solar power; preservers of Indian’s living heritage – across art, language, wildlife and nature; empowering underprivileged youth through education that helps them excel at competitive exams; financial literacy and business training for underprivileged women, social enterprise etc. This list is only indicative and can be increased in scope.
The TEDIndia Fellows program seeks next-gen innovators who have demonstrated remarkable accomplishments and outstanding potential to positively be the change in the world. The profile of the next-gen innovators sought by TED Fellows include those who are notably curious, passionate, open-minded and have done something fascinating for their community. They’re people who have created an idea that can change the lives of millions.
The deadline for applications for TEDIndia Fellows is June 15, 2009. The application form for TED Fellowship is available on the TED site (http://www.ted.com/fellows/apply).
TEDIndia Fellows program hopes to represent the diverse and exciting nature of innovation from the frontlines of change in India.