The two year CSI program comprises of two modules: research program and leadership program, each with one year duration. College volunteers is a pre-requisite one semester program during which the interested students support Rakshak activities in their University based on which their fit to the CSI program is assessed.
The program overview chart below shows the stage wise progress of an ideal scholar. However, customized program are available for students (including five year program students) who wish to pursue the program at different durations during their study. Please contact your Campus Ambassador or csi@rakshakfoundation.org for more information.
You can find more information on CSI through this presentation
Citizen Social Initiative Program – Structure
The CSI program runs along the calendar year starting in January until December excluding the summer vacation. The college and the national boards comprise of the mentors from corporate or public domain who float public policy research projects. The mentors will guide the leaders in the public research projects throughout the project phase.
In the Jan-Apr semester of the program, the college lead from the leadership program will mentor the college research team comprising of four students on a policy research project. The project in this stage will focus on a local issue in which the college is located. These results will be presented in the annual college conference that is held locally together with the other participating colleges in the locality.
In the Aug-Nov semester of the program, the college lead and the college researches will advance as the national leads and the national researchers respectively after a careful evaluation of their participation during the initial college phase. In the national phase, the national lead will lead the national researchers comprising of four students from four different universities on a policy research project that focus on broader national issues. The collaboration between the teammates and management by the lead are done online after providing necessary trainings to the selected members. The results of these projects are presented in the national conference during December that is held with all other participating colleges in the country.
During the national conference, the leaders will graduate as CSI Leaders and the selected students from the research program will advance into the leadership program and will be provided additional trainings for the leadership program.
If you are a mentor?
What do we expect from you?
- Passion to serve the country
- High level of commitment for policy and able to dedicate about 4 hours per week.
- Able to guide the team and learn from each other to draft the policy.
- Willingness to follow up on the policy after the completion of draft version together with the team
- Clear and open communication with Rakshak Board and team while adhering to Rakshak standards
What is the benefit to the mentor?
- Provides the mentors with an opportunity to tackle real-world problems together with a willing student team.
- Identify, cultivate and develop students and responsible citizens towards their participation in social issues and public policy.
- Provides mentors a rich learning platform to interact and share their ideas and vision with the students.
- Motivates mentors to develop a strong work ethic and achievement orientation.
- Introduces mentors to the roles of nonprofits in their community and beyond.
- Lets them experience a sense of success and accomplishment, which will enhance their self-esteem and may motivate interest in their profession and activities.
What proposals can you submit?
Please submit proposals about local issues for Jan-Apr semester and national issues for Aug-Nov semester. The project should span about 12 weeks with 20 hours/week work that can be distributed among a team of four. A proposal can be
- a study of current situation
- a comparative study in global scenario
- solution to a current challenge
- opinions on public policies by government
- opportunities in different fields
Please refer the following sample project proposals. Submit your proposal here.
Note: All proposals will be reviewed by Rakshak board and final proposals will be selected.
If you are a student?
What do we expect from you?
- Passion to serve the country.
- High level of commitment for the policy with about 5 hours/week commitment (excluding the university exam weeks)
- Able to guide work with the team and learn from each other to draft the policy.
- Willingness to follow up on the policy after the completion of draft version of the policy.
- Clear and open communication with Rakshak Board, mentors and other team members while adhering to Rakshak standards.
What is the benefit to the student?
- Provides the students with an opportunity to experience real-world problems to which they must apply fundamental academic and interpersonal skills.
- Identify, cultivate and develop students towards their participation in social issues and public policy
- Links academic program content with the workplace.
- Provides students a rich learning platform to interact and share their ideas and vision with other fellow interns
- Provides students with opportunity to be creative in finding innovative solutions to actual problems.
- Motivates students to develop a strong work ethic and achievement orientation with some supervision.
- Introduces students to the roles of nonprofits in their community and beyond.
- Provides them an opportunity to recognize their true passions and potential.
- Lets them experience a sense of success and accomplishment, which will enhance their self-esteem and may motivate interest in their academic subjects and activities.
