NEW YORK: Sewa International USA has launched a Yuva for Sewa Fellowship program to give youths the opportunity to volunteer in India, the US or the Caribbean this summer. The fellowship is unique as it provides a variety of service projects to choose from in many different locations around the world including the US, the Caribbean, and India.

Yuva for Sewa was started in 2007 by a few volunteers who felt the need for a platform for youth with a strong desire to serve the underprivileged and the needy. The project is aimed at inspiring youth to volunteer and to connect them to the grassroots NGOs which are selected on the basis of their track-record and ability to efficiently utilize the time and talent of the volunteers.Sarah Elswik, a student at Cleveland State University who was part of the program in India, writes, "So much to say about this village visit.

My focus of study in anthropology provided with the facts about the life of villagers of a tribal group. But this field visit provided the opportunity to see, smell, taste, hear and learn firsthand what tribal life is about. I thought it was a chance of a life time, and the family was so generous. Of course, but I also experienced cultural shock, and missing home because it is so different.

I know that tribal life is a different matter because they are so close to nature that I'm envious, and so kind to everyone. Life is so simple in my terms in the village, but they ask for nothing more because really they have what the basic human needs are , which are food, water and shelter.

I have a much different perspective from this visit."Interested applicants, should contact yfs@sewausa.org