Meer Foundation Development Apprenticeship Program (MDAP)
Learn. Live. Lead. Transform Chhattisgarh. A structured, immersive, field-based learning programme for the next generation of rural development professionals.
Learn. Live. Lead. Transform Chhattisgarh.
The Meer Foundation Development Apprenticeship Program (MDAP) is a structured, immersive, field-based learning programme designed to build the next generation of rural development professionals. Apprentices work across Meer Foundation's four practice areas — Education, Health, Environment, and Livelihood — gaining hands-on experience in real programmes serving real communities across Chhattisgarh.
Structured
A four-phase learning model — orientation, classroom, field, capstone — designed for genuine professional growth, not observation.
Immersive
Field placement in a Chhattisgarh district. You live and work in the community you serve. Theory meets practice.
Mentor-led
1:1 mentorship from a senior programme lead. Weekly check-ins. Structured feedback. Your mentor signs your certificate.
Why MDAP exists. Rural development cannot be learned in a classroom alone. It requires field immersion, community trust, and the discipline of evidence-based practice. MDAP bridges the gap between academic study and professional practice — producing development professionals who are grounded, ethical, and effective.
Why join MDAP?
MDAP is not an internship in the traditional sense. It is a professional apprenticeship designed to produce development practitioners who can design, execute, and evaluate rural development work from day one.
Four-sector exposure
Work across Education, Health, Environment, and Livelihood — not siloed in one sector. Understand how development is interconnected.
Real field placement
Live and work in a Chhattisgarh district. Not a visit — a placement. You become part of the community for the duration.
1:1 senior mentorship
A senior programme lead is your mentor. Weekly check-ins. Structured feedback at 30, 60, and 90 days. They sign your certificate.
Capstone portfolio piece
Your capstone project — a programme brief, research report, or community plan — becomes a real portfolio piece you can show future employers.
Competency-based certificate
Your certificate cites specific competencies and deliverables. Not an attendance certificate — a professional credential.
Career pathway
Several current Meer Foundation team members are former apprentices. MDAP is the most reliable pathway into a full-time development role.
Who can apply?
MDAP is open to students, recent graduates, and early-career professionals from a wide range of academic disciplines. We value diversity — it strengthens the cohort and the work.
Eligibility criteria
- 18 years or older
- Enrolled in or completed an undergraduate or postgraduate programme
- Minimum 2-month commitment (summer intensive)
- Willingness to live and work in rural Chhattisgarh
- Basic proficiency in Hindi (Chhattisgarhi is a bonus, not required)
- No prior rural experience mandatory
Eligible disciplines
Don't see your discipline? If your background is relevant to rural development, we encourage you to apply. We evaluate applicants on motivation and fit, not on the name of the degree.
Programme duration
MDAP offers three duration tiers to accommodate different career stages and availability. All tiers follow the same four-phase learning model — the difference is depth.
| Tier | Duration | Format | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Apprenticeship | 2–3 months | Full-time, intensive | Students on academic break |
| Semester Apprenticeship | 4–6 months | Part-time (20 hrs/week) or full-time | Final-year students |
| Year-long Apprenticeship | 9–12 months | Full-time, immersive | Graduates and early-career professionals |
Summer Apprenticeship
Semester Apprenticeship
Year-long Apprenticeship
Four-phase learning model
MDAP follows a structured four-phase learning model that takes apprentices from orientation to capstone. Each phase builds on the previous — theory informs practice, practice informs reflection.
Orientation & Foundations
Introduction to Meer Foundation's mission, the Five Pillars Framework, and the Chhattisgarh development context. Sessions on rural development ethics, community engagement protocols, and field safety.
- Five Pillars Framework immersion
- Chhattisgarh socio-economic context
- Community engagement ethics
- Field safety and protocols
- Team introductions and mentor matching
Classroom Learning
Structured learning modules covering programme design, monitoring & evaluation, community-based research, and communication for development. Delivered through seminars, case studies, and assigned readings.
- Programme design and theory of change
- Monitoring & evaluation fundamentals
- Community-based research methods
- Communication for development
- Case study analysis and presentations
Field Placement
Apprentices are placed within one of Meer Foundation's initiatives across a Chhattisgarh district. This is the core of the programme — hands-on, supervised, community-facing work.
- Initiative-specific fieldwork
- Community engagement and interviews
- Data collection and documentation
- Mentor-supervised deliverables
- Weekly field reports and reflection
Capstone & Evaluation
Apprentices complete a capstone deliverable — a project brief, a research report, a community plan, or a programme evaluation. Presented to a panel and evaluated against the competency framework.
- Capstone project development
- Panel presentation and defence
- Competency evaluation
- Exit interview and feedback
- Certification and alumni onboarding
Phase progression. Phases are sequential — each builds on the previous. The orientation phase is non-negotiable. The field placement is the core. The capstone is where you prove what you have learned.
Initiative placements
During Phase 3 (Field Placement), apprentices are placed within one of Meer Foundation's seven initiatives. Placement is based on the apprentice's discipline, interests, and the foundation's current programme needs.
Prayaas
CGBSE Class 1–12 virtual school for tribal Chhattisgarh.
EduSuTo
Climate change and sustainability certification courses.
Guriya Magazine
Quarterly children's magazine authored by rural students.
Yoga Kutumb
Community wellness and health-emergency awareness.
Bolti Nadi
River conservation and water resource management.
Social Heritage Walk
Cultural heritage preservation and community walks.
Farmours
Women-led FPOs, SHGs, and sustainable agriculture.
Placement process. Apprentices express their top three initiative preferences during the interview. Final placement is decided by the programme team based on fit, capacity, and current programme needs. We try to honour preferences — but the community's need comes first.
Competency framework
MDAP apprentices are evaluated against a six-competency professional framework. Each competency is assessed at three levels — developing, proficient, and advanced — through mentor evaluation, peer feedback, and capstone defence.
Programme Design
Ability to design a development programme using theory of change and logical framework approaches.
Community Engagement
Skill in engaging rural communities respectfully, conducting interviews, and facilitating meetings.
Research & Analysis
Competence in community-based research, data collection, analysis, and report writing.
Monitoring & Evaluation
Understanding of M&E frameworks, indicators, data collection tools, and outcome measurement.
Communication
Ability to communicate development work through reports, presentations, stories, and visual media.
Field Ethics
Commitment to ethical practice, community consent, data privacy, and institutional accountability.
| Level | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Developing | Apprentice understands the competency and can apply it with significant mentor support. |
| Proficient | Apprentice can apply the competency independently in familiar contexts. |
| Advanced | Apprentice can apply the competency in novel contexts and mentor others. |
Learning resources
Apprentices have access to the full Meer Foundation knowledge ecosystem — publications, research reports, the IJMEER journal, course materials, and 142 branded PDFs across all initiatives.
142 PDFs
Complete library of branded study materials, course manuals, and awareness guides.
IJMEER Journal
Quarterly peer-reviewed journal — 70+ disciplines, open access, DOI-assigned.
Five Pillars Framework
The communication framework for transparent institutional communication — the conceptual backbone of all our work.
Case studies
5 verified case studies with full documentation — Sakri, Sunita, Prayaas Bastar, Yoga Kutumb, Tiranga.
Field assignments
During the field placement phase, apprentices work on real assignments that contribute to Meer Foundation's programmes. These are not simulated exercises — they are real work with real consequences for real communities.
- 1Conducting community needs assessments in assigned villages
- 2Supporting the design and delivery of an initiative-specific intervention
- 3Collecting and analysing field data for monitoring and evaluation
- 4Documenting case studies and beneficiary stories
- 5Assisting in the organisation of community events and workshops
- 6Contributing to research reports and publications
- 7Supporting proposal development and donor reporting
- 8Participating in stakeholder meetings and government liaison
Field placement locations. Assignments are carried out in districts of Chhattisgarh where Meer Foundation is active — Dhamtari, Raipur, Kanker, Bastar, Balod, Balodabazar, Kawardha, and Bemetara. Accommodation is arranged for placements requiring relocation.
Evaluation & certification
MDAP evaluation is competency-based, not attendance-based. Apprentices are assessed at three checkpoints and must successfully defend a capstone project to receive certification.
Foundation check
Mentor evaluates understanding of the Five Pillars Framework, community engagement ethics, and initiative context.
Mid-term review
Mentor and programme team evaluate field performance, deliverable progress, and competency development.
Capstone defence
Apprentice presents capstone project to a panel. Competency framework evaluated. Certificate issued on pass.
Certificate of completion
Complete the course to earn your certificate
Career pathways
MDAP is designed as a launchpad for a career in rural development. While we cannot guarantee a job, the apprenticeship opens doors — at Meer Foundation and beyond.
Full-time at Meer Foundation
Several current team members are former apprentices. Performance during MDAP is the strongest signal for full-time fit.
Other NGOs & foundations
MDAP certificate is recognised by CSR partners and development organisations across India. Your capstone is your portfolio.
Higher education
MDAP field experience strengthens applications for development studies, public policy, and social work programmes.
Social entrepreneurship
Some alumni have launched their own initiatives. MDAP provides the field knowledge and network to start.
Who should apply?
MDAP is looking for people who are serious about rural development as a career — not just a CV line. If any of these describe you, we want to hear from you.
You are driven by purpose
You want your work to matter to real communities. You are willing to trade comfort for impact.
You are curious and adaptable
You ask questions before offering answers. You can work in unfamiliar contexts without losing your footing.
You value evidence over opinion
You ground your conclusions in data and community input. You are willing to change your mind.
You respect communities
You see communities as partners, not beneficiaries. You listen before you speak.
You are committed to growth
You accept feedback. You want to be stretched. You are not looking for an easy certificate.
You are ready for the field
You are willing to live in rural Chhattisgarh. You understand that fieldwork is the heart of development.
Programme values
These four values are the non-negotiable foundation of MDAP. They guide how we work, how we evaluate, and how we certify. If they resonate with you, you will thrive here.
Empathy before expertise
We listen before we speak. We learn before we teach. Communities are partners, not subjects.
Evidence over opinion
We ground our work in data, community input, and the Five Pillars Framework. Proclamation is not proof.
Agency over dependency
We build capacity, not dependence. Communities drive their own development; we walk alongside.
Field over office
We work where the work happens. The field is our classroom, our laboratory, and our constituency.
Application process
Five steps from application to orientation. We review applications weekly and respond within 14 days of submission.
Submit application
Complete the online application form below with your personal details, academic background, and a 500-word statement of purpose.
Shortlisting
Applications are reviewed against eligibility criteria and programme fit. Shortlisted candidates are contacted within 14 days.
Interview
A 45-minute interview with the programme team. Discuss your motivation, relevant experience, and preferred initiative placement.
Offer & onboarding
Selected candidates receive an offer letter detailing placement, duration, and terms. Onboarding begins with the next cohort intake.
Begin apprenticeship
Join the orientation week, meet your mentor, and begin Phase 1 of the learning model. Your field journey starts here.
Programme benefits
Everything an MDAP apprentice receives — regardless of tier, discipline, or placement.
MDAP at a glance
Orientation, classroom, field placement, and capstone — a complete journey from theory to practice.
Test your MDAP knowledge
MDAP quiz
5 questions · passing score 60%
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Depending on the programme category, apprentices may receive a field allowance or reimbursement of approved expenses. Details will be specified in each programme announcement.
Ready to transform Chhattisgarh?
Apply to the Meer Foundation Development Apprenticeship Program. Learn. Live. Lead.