FST

"The FST individual fellowship has helped me to work in 15 rural and remote villages under Betanipam and Madhuripathar Gaon Panchayats in the Dhemaji district. I have got a chance to organize awareness meetings, workshops, door to door visits, and advocacy with the related department. I have been able to acquire knowledge through the various trainings and workshops organized by FST from time to time. I thank FST for giving me the chance to bring changes in the communities with which I have been working."

Swarnalata Changmai
FST Individual Fellow
Dhemaji, Assam
 

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What We Do

FST commenced its work as an independent organisation in early 2008 with a series of consultative meetings and visits across all the seven states in the north east India to identify common issues of concern and assess needs of various civil society groups and individuals. Exhaustive reports documenting these discussions have helped to shape FST's strategies further. 

FST has adopted a twin track of grant making and capacity building to address the needs of the region:

  • Grant making and Fellowships for organisations and individuals to support creative approaches for solutions to critical, but often marginalized issues of the region. The process involves –
    • Seeking concepts and proposals from organisations and individuals
    • Short listing, assessing, selecting and grant making.
    • Mentoring, monitoring and participatory evaluation
  • Building capacities and knowledge through training and networking by organising and facilitating access to training programmes and workshops that address the needs of organisations and catalyze good practices and improved standards so as to sustain the efforts.

FST supports action oriented community based programmes that:

  • focus on flexible and decentralized ways of working
  • directly impact on the well being of stakeholders and bring about positive change and rights based attitudes
  • build local capacity and ownership for sustainable development
  • develop new and innovative approaches
  • foster learning for better understanding of regional issues
  • advocate for and influence public policies at all levels
  • address gender concerns and promote leadership of women and youth
  • utilize local art forms and cultural expressions as tools for social transformation;

FST is managed by a Governing Body comprising experienced individuals from the North East and having a strong commitment to the region. A small programme team helps to implement the activities.

Current funding includes local contributions and support from donor agencies. However efforts are ongoing to raise resources to sustain FST's mission for social transformation in the region. Donations from people and organisations concerned and committed to the development of the NE region are welcome and will be used primarily for Grant making.