Location: Dediyapada, Narmada District, Gujarat | Application Deadline: Rolling Applications
About Shaishav
Shaishav, meaning childhood, is a civil society organisation established in 1993, working with children from marginalised communities. Our work spans urban slums in Bhavnagar and tribal regions in Narmada district, with a focus on holistic, child-centric development through play-based and participatory approaches.
Our Programmes
Balsena – Children’s Collective (Bhavnagar)
A democratic, membership-based collective run by children, for children. Balsena creates safe spaces for self-expression, leadership, and collective action across schools and communities.
Aaranyak – Holistic Education for Tribal Children (Dediyapada, Narmada)
An experiential education programme integrating academics with life skills to build confidence, leadership, and self-reliance among tribal children.
Child Rights Training & Resource Centre (CRTRC)
A repository of field-tested, child-focused resources developed over 30+ years, aimed at strengthening organisations and practitioners working with children.
About the Role
The Bal Dost Fellowship, will be launched in May 2026 with knowledge partnership with Teach For India, is a grassroots leadership development programme building child rights champions in tribal communities. It equips local and other rural youth with training, mentorship, and hands-on experience to support children’s holistic development. The Fellowship is a scalable model to deepen participatory approaches and nurture edu-preneurs and grassroots leaders. It enables individuals to grow into leaders who shape child rights–friendly spaces.
As Program Manager, you will lead this initiative end-to-end—combining programme leadership, pedagogy, and deep field engagement.
Key Responsibilities
- Fellowship Management
- Lead recruitment, selection, and onboarding of Fellows
- Design fellowship structure, timelines, and engagement processes
- Training & Pedagogy
- Develop and deliver training modules using Shaishav’s learning resources
- Strengthen play-based and experiential learning approaches
- Field Mentorship
- Provide regular on-ground mentoring and coaching to Fellows
- Offer emotional and professional support in remote settings
- Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL)
- Support documentation through regular reports, including donor reports and field updates
- Contribute to proposal writing and support fundraising efforts for programme sustainability
- Ensure timely submission of reports and documentation
- Design and implement systems to track fellow and child outcomes
- Analyse insights to strengthen programme quality and effectiveness
- Use learning to continuously improve interventions and approaches
- Community Engagement
- Build strong relationships with parents, community leaders, and schools
- Ensure local ownership and participation
Qualifications & Requirements
- Education: Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW), Education, or related field
- Experience: 3–5 years in programme management (fellowships/rural education preferred)
- Language: Fluent Hindi (mandatory); Fluent English for documentation, Knowing Gujarati is advantage
- Location: Willingness to be based in Dediyapada block in Narmada district (remote tribal setting) with frequent travel to Bhavnagar (Shaishav head office)
- Approach: Strong alignment with child rights and participatory learning
Preferred
- Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) or related field
- Relevant experience in programme management, education, or development sector
- Exposure to Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) systems and programme design
Compensation
₹3.0 – ₹4.2 lakh per annum (CTC), commensurate with experience
Why join us?
This role is ideal for someone looking to grow as a leader in the development sector while staying deeply connected to the field. At Shaishav, you will:
- Learn from 30+ years of experience working alongside children and communities
- Be part of a culture that values direct feedback, participation, and continuous learning
- Work with field-tested, evolving learning resources
- Build expertise in the education and child rights space
- Create tangible impact in the lives of children, while shaping your own leadership journey
How to Apply
Send your CV and a Cover Note (highlighting your motivation and relevant experience) to:
📧shaishavhr2022@gmail.com
Child Protection Commitment
Shaishav is a child-safe organisation with zero tolerance for abuse and exploitation. All candidates will undergo background verification and must adhere to our Child Protection Policy.
