Each fall, the Center for South Asian Studies (CSAS) Summer in South Asia (SiSA) fellowship program culminates in a public symposium where our fellows present their experiences in India. This opportunity to discuss their research findings or volunteer efforts provides them a venue to reflect upon their experiences and how they have impacted them personally and academically.
The fellows, Venkatesh Alagappan, Thomas Bates, Emilio Uribe Botero, William Harrison, Aditya Patel, Schnadè Saintïl, Jorja Wegryn-Jones, and Yixin Zhang, did brief presentations for an audience including SiSA's generous donor.
Some highlights from their presentations were the students taking us through their internships, their research, their additional trips throughout India, their newfound friendships, and, of course, their various food experiences.
"India is a place where absolute serenity is surrounded by chaos, and being there teaches one the balance between the two," said Venkatesh Alagappan.
In addition to working in public health for a non-profit that served poor communities in Kanjiparam, Alagappan traveled to other areas of India, and he started a food blog that ranked 275 restaurants.
"In terms of a personal experience," added Alagappan. "It was so much better than I imagined."
"I learned many lessons while there," said William Harrison, who focused his internship on the climate. "The world is much bigger than I imagined. I can handle a lot of challenges. Climate change will be devastating if left untreated, but many people are working on it. I can make a bunch of new friends. I improved my professional skills. And, lastly, I will definitely be back in India."
SiSA Fellows receive $4,500 to learn through an unpaid internship or conduct independent research projects in India over the summer months. This amount is sufficient to cover all costs of traveling to India, living there, and traveling after the internship or research period. The minimum required time in India is four weeks, but students can stay up to four months. Undergraduate students from any academic discipline are eligible. No familiarity with an Indian language, prior research, or professional experience is required.
SiSA Fellows have focused on various topics related to their academic degrees and areas of personal interest. Past SiSA Fellows have built solar panels with community members in a rural area, worked on a Bollywood movie set, and served in a rural healthcare NGO. Participating in this fellowship provides students with transformative international experiences that leave a lasting personal, academic, and professional impact on their lives.
For more information, please visit the SiSA website or email SiSAFellowship@umich.edu.
