Three
months back, I read a piece in Huffington
post (http://huff.to/28YprP4) that
included Atlas Corps in the list of top five fellowship programs to jumpstart one’s
journey as a Global Changemaker. As someone about to join Atlas Corps Class 21,
I was curious as to what made Atlas Corps so special to be included in such a
small and selective list, while keeping various other programs out. After
spending a month here in Washington DC, I can now testify to the verdict of
this particular post.
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| Atlas Corps Class 21 |
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| Atlas Corps Class 21 |
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| Atlas Corps Fellows |
Right
after our arrival here as Fellows from Atlas Corps Class 21, we went through
two weeks of rigorous orientation and Global Leadership lab (GLL) immersion
sessions. On the surface these two events look pretty standard but given that
fact that Delloite (http://bit.ly/1xKfqqA) conducts the GLL Immersion
sessions, adds great value to them. Also, the orientation sessions significantly
help fellows to adjust here in the US, sensitizing us of various cultural and
linguistic differences.
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| Brookings Institute |
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| Building Bridges Coalition: 10th Anniversary Forum |
After
the first two weeks, when fellows join their Host Organizations the learning journey and contact with Atlas
Corps doesn’t cease, rather it is strengthened through representing Atlas Corps
in various high profile events. In my particular case, I had the privilege to
attend, World Bank Global Youth Forum; The Future of Peace Summit; Building
Bridges Coalition: 10th Anniversary Forum; Social Innovation Summit;
and USIP Global perspectives Session: Youth, Peace and Security. Also, I am the
only lucky fellow from Class 21 who joined the Graduate Certificate Program in
Inclusive Security at the SIT Graduate Institute and that too on a full
scholarship.
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| World Bank HQ |
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| World Bank Global Youth Forum |
Now, many of you may be thinking that this is NOT humanly possible to take part in so many activities and high profile events with in a short span of one month and that too in a completely new country, where I just moved in from South East Asia. Some of you may be thinking that I don’t really have a social life, when I am doing multiple things at the same time. Well, as it turns out that not only I have a social life, in which I spend quality time with my four amazing housemates but I also serve full-time with my wonderful host organization i.e., Creative Associates International (http://bit.ly/1xSxEaN). During this short month, my host organization also interviewed all Atlas Corps Fellows and will shortly release a video sharing our distinct journeys bring us all here at Creative.
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| US Institute of Peace |
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with UN Secretary General's Envoy on Youth, Ahmad Alhendawi
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I
always wanted to test my limits and see the impact in a highly demanding environment;
Atlas Corps provided me the opportunity and I snapped it up. This also leads to
my testimony affirming the verdict of Huffington post piece that included Altas
Corps amongst the top five fellowships to jumpstart one’s journey as a Global
Changemaker. Serving with US non-profits in happening cities like Washington DC
and New York and representing Atlas Corps in several high profile events
distinguishes Atlas Corps and bring it to the top five fellowships to jumpstart
one’s global changemaker journey.
As
the Founder and CEO of Atlas Corps, Scott
Beale rightly said, “Talent is universally distributed but opportunity is
not”; Atlas Corps has provided us with an opportunity to explore a wealth of opportunities
during our 9-18 months fellowship here in the US. Now, it depends on us how we
make the most out of it.
Lao-Tzu said that “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”; I have taken a leap of faith and taken the first step by challenging myself and joining the Atlas Corps fellowship. I have 11 more months to make the maximum out of this amazing opportunity and continue my journey as a Global Changemaker.
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| The Future of Peace Summit |
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| Interview at Creative Associates International |
