The India Development Review Northeast Fellowship is a 10-month programme during which three young fellows based in different states in the Northeast are working closely with IDR’s editorial team to identify and cover hyperlocal issues in their immediate environment. These stories will inform the ecosystem of policymakers, funders, and nonprofits that work, and intend to work, on issues concerning the Northeast.
Our first cohort of fellows are Anupam Sharma, a journalist from Tripura; Keletsino Mejura, a social sector professional from Nagaland; and Rodingliana, a filmmaker from Mizoram. They will travel both within and beyond their states to speak to community members, nonprofit leaders, and other stakeholders, and publish a mix of written narratives and multimedia content on a range of social sector themes such as livelihoods, education, health, and gender.
To connect us with the nonprofits and civil society organisations working in Northeast India, please write to us at writetous@staging.idronline.org.
The Fellows
Anupam Sharma
Anupam Sharma works as a writer and copy editor with North East Colors, a newspaper based in Agartala, Tripura. He is passionate about using journalism as a tool to highlight underrepresented voices and drive positive change. Anupam has previously worked as a researcher on documentaries and feature films based in Tripura.
Keletsino Mejura
Keletsino Mejura is a documentation associate at The Entrepreneurs Associates, a nonprofit based in Kohima, Nagaland. She is passionate about storytelling with a focus on gender, climate, and social development, and has been writing professionally for three years now. Keletsino’s writings have appeared in publications such as India Today NE and The Sentinel.
Rodingliana
Rodingliana is a documentary filmmaker based in Damparengpui, Mizoram. He has worked on documentary projects with nonprofits across the states in Northeast India. Rodingliana has a keen interest in wildlife filmmaking and nature conservation. He is also a former Green Hub fellow.
The Advisers
Jerry Thomas
Jerry Thomas is the director at Bosco Institute in Jorhat, Assam which runs a masters in social work programme. He also leads BI’s Youth Involve initiative that incubates young social entrepreneurs in the Northeast. Jerry has over 40 years of experience working in the social sector in Northeast.
Neikule Doulo
Neikule Doulo is the executive director at The Entrepreneurs Associates, a nonprofit based in Nagaland that focuses on empowering women, farmers, and the youth. She has more than 22 years of experience of working on entrepreneurship and education, and has expertise in conceptualising community initiatives and strategising policies for change. Neikule was previously as a journalist with Asian News International.
Rita Banerji
Rita Banerji is the founder and project director at the Green Hub Project, which runs the Green Hub Fellowship that empowers young people in North East India to use the medium of visual storytelling to take charge of their development narrative. Rita is an environmental filmmaker with a focus on conservation-based storytelling. She is also an Ashoka fellow.
FELLOWSHIP GOALS
Documenting change
Documenting change
Since the fellows will be embedded in the local communities, they will use their own knowledge and lived experience, and IDR’s media training to highlight issues that impact the people living in
their states. Stories from the fellows will document lesser-known and untold narratives of issues, challenges, and solutions that are unique to their
regions. They will also showcase how grassroots organisations function on the ground.
Developing employability skills
Developing employability skills
Since the fellows will be embedded in the local communities, they will use their own knowledge and lived experience, and IDR’s media training to highlight issues that impact the people living in
their states. Stories from the fellows will document lesser-known and untold narratives of issues, challenges, and solutions that are unique to their
regions. They will also showcase how grassroots organisations function on the ground.
Providing a platform for local youth
Providing a platform for local youth
Since the fellows will be embedded in the local communities, they will use their own knowledge and lived experience, and IDR’s media training to highlight issues that impact the people living in
their states. Stories from the fellows will document lesser-known and untold narratives of issues, challenges, and solutions that are unique to their
regions. They will also showcase how grassroots organisations function on the ground.
Creating a better understanding of the Northeast
Creating a better understanding
of the Northeast
Since the fellows will be embedded in the local communities, they will use their own knowledge and lived experience, and IDR’s media training to highlight issues that impact the people living in
their states. Stories from the fellows will document lesser-known and untold narratives of issues, challenges, and solutions that are unique to their
regions. They will also showcase how grassroots organisations function on the ground.
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