CAMP: Community Advocates and Mentorship Program
Bridging Borders to Build Confidence and Community
Identifying the Problem
In rural and underserved communities across India, young women face deep structural barriers - digital exclusion, limited exposure, and the absence of mentorship - that prevent them from accessing opportunities or envisioning futures beyond restrictive norms. Self-confidence and digital literacy remain critical, yet under-addressed, hurdles to economic and civic participation, especially among women in marginalized areas.
USIPI’s intervention: CAMP
Launched in collaboration with the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF), the Community Advocates and Mentorship Program (CAMP) builds bridges between young women in India and female mentors in the United States. CAMP is part of the broader GOAL (Going Online As Leaders) initiative, with USIPI’s transnational model deepening the focus on global exposure, English communication, and digital empowerment.
Through a structured mentorship curriculum, CAMP equips mentees wth:
- One-on-one guidance and regular virtual meetings
- Digital and communication skills (including MS Office, presentation design, online research)
- Critical thinking and leadership development
- Support networks that help challenge traditional gender roles
Impact to date
In 2023, CAMP mentored 40+ young women across Bihar, Jharkhand, and Telangana.
Results include:
- Improved employability and communication confidence
- Increased English-speaking ability and digital fluency
- Enhanced community leadership and gender equity awareness
- Growth of SoochnaPreneur (information entrepreneur) centers to support economic independence
In addition, the program also empowered U.S.-based mentors—often Indian diaspora students or young professionals—to reconnect with their roots while building cross-cultural solidarity and real-world mentoring experience.
Looking ahead
CAMP reflects USIPI’s vision for equitable, transnational community-building. By creating safe, empowering spaces for young women to connect across borders, the program nurtures the next generation of local leaders, digital entrepreneurs, and advocates for gender justice.