Punjab Youth Leaders Program invites applications for its 5th cohort

New Delhi, March 21, 2023: Sanjhi Sikhiya, a non-profit organization working towards transforming government schools in rural Punjab has announced the launch of the fifth cohort of its flagship Punjab Youth Leaders Program (PYLP). PYLP is a two-year full-time leadership development program that brings together individuals who have shown exceptional leadership potential and provides them access to the network, knowledge, credibility, and resources required to lead change at the grassroots.

“We are thrilled to announce the launch of the fifth cohort of our Punjab Youth Leaders Program. Through this initiative, we aim to empower and inspire the next generation of leaders in Punjab. With the right guidance and support, we believe that these young individuals have the potential to make a significant impact and create a better future for themselves and others. We are looking for individuals who are eager to learn, who are passionate about making a difference, and who have the right attitude to serve communities”, said Simranpreet Singh Oberoi, Co-Founder of Sanjhi Sikhiya.

PYLP is a comprehensive two-year program designed for young graduates and young professionals who wish to work with the public education system at the grassroots level. Over the course of the two years, each young leader gets an opportunity to work in a team with a group of 10-20 government primary schools in rural parts of Punjab. They collaborate with the Panchayats, School Management Committees (SMCs), and teachers to gain hands-on experience of driving school and classroom-level changes. They have the opportunity to collaborate closely with educational officials at the block and cluster levels within the Punjab Education Department in order to implement systematic changes. They will also be able to garner a deep understanding of issues at the grassroots and also get to see the big picture at a macro level. The Young Leaders get to practice several other essential leadership skills such as stakeholder management, problem-solving, influencing using data, strategic communication, and more.

The program is open to graduates below the age of 35 (as on June 2023) who are willing to shift to Punjab, upon selection.

“Punjab was one of the most prosperous states of India and their contributions to the country have been immense in the past. However, over the past couple of decades, the state has been absolutely ravaged by several social ills. The Sanjhi Sikhiya team is trying to make a big change at the grassroots level by working closely with the government schools so that future generations can once again feel the greatness of Punjab and can rebuild the state,” said Deep Kalra, Founder & Chairman, MakeMyTrip and one of the initial supporters of this program. He also urged youth to participate in the programme and join this mission.

The selection procedure for the program includes an application form followed by an in-person selection day which comprises group activities and a personal interview. Once selected, each Young Leader will receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 20,000 as well as access to several seminars, workshops, and training sessions to build and enhance their leadership skills. They will also have the opportunity to participate in various activities designed to provide them with exposure and experience like travel across Punjab, and 1:1 mentorship support.

The last date to apply is 26th March 2023. Interested candidates can get more information and apply online at: https://www.sanjhisikhiya.org/

Sanjhi Sikhiya is a collective movement of young professionals that is working towards the mission of ensuring quality education for all children in Punjab. This mission has led the team to work closely with Punjab’s education department and partner with other organizations working towards the same cause. They set out on this path of bringing in systemic reforms in 2018 and are currently reaching out to 900+ schools and 1.5 Lac students with a team size of close to 50 spread across 3 districts – Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib, and Roopnagar.