We are excited to share the highlights from our recent webinar on "Fellowship Opportunities in Social Work". Organized by the Department of Social Work at The Bhopal School of Social Sciences (BSSS), the event aimed to provide young professionals with valuable insights into how fellowships can help build impactful careers in social work, particularly in underserved and underrepresented communities.

Our distinguished speaker, Mr. Ramkrishan Pal, a Sewa International Fellow and proud MSW alumnus (Batch of 2021-23), shared his inspiring journey in Rural Development, focusing on Tribal Communities in Palghar, Mumbai. He highlighted how fellowships provide opportunities for passionate individuals to connect with communities in need, fostering sustainable social change through meaningful engagement.

The core objective of the session was to emphasize that fellowships are not only stepping stones for career development but also crucial platforms for learning, empathy, and social responsibility. Mr. Pal shared real-life experiences of working with marginalized groups, gaining a deeper understanding of their unique challenges while developing critical skills in community engagement, project management, and advocacy. 

Key Learnings from the Session:

- Fellowships offer more than just financial support; they provide hands-on experience, mentorship, and networking opportunities essential for professional growth.

- Participants learned how to align their passion for social change with strategic and impactful work through targeted fellowships.

- The session underscored the importance of developing leadership and analytical skills in addressing complex social issues, with a focus on areas like rural development, advocacy for marginalized groups, and community-based interventions.

By exploring various fellowship opportunities, participants walked away with a clearer perspective on how to leverage these programs to drive meaningful change in their communities and careers.

This webinar reaffirmed BSSS’s commitment to preparing future social work professionals to deeply engage with communities and become agents of social change.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Ramkrishan Pal for sharing his expertise, and to the college management: Dr. Fr. John PJ, Dr. Sonia Kurian, Fr. Jomi Panithas, and Dr. Rutwik J Gandhe, for their guidance and inspiration. Special thanks to Dr. Richi Simon, for leading and conceptualizing the webinar, Dr. Rutwik J Gandhe, for conceptualizing and guiding the webinar and Mr. Piyush Porwal, for his full support in making this webinar successful. We also thank all the attendees for their active and thoughtful participation.

Catch up on the webinar here :