The Sandbox is a geographically defined area in India located in the northwest corner of the state of Karnataka. The twin cities of Hubli and Dharwad serve as a central hub for the Sandbox, which encompasses a total of five districts. Diverse economies characterize these districts, which are comprised of both urban and agricultural settings. Desh and Jaishree Deshpande are both originally from the Hubli-Dharwad area. As a result, the Deshpande Foundation concentrates its efforts on the Sandbox region, treating it as a development lab for social innovation.

The workweek in the Sandbox is Monday through Saturday, with the weekday hours being 9/10-5/6 and Saturday being a half or full day, depending on the organization. An hour is usually taken for lunch. 

Working in the Sandbox is not unlike working in the public sector in the US: there is too much to do, too little time, and too few people. These challenges are compounded by frequent power outages (your office may have an inverter, which will maintain current during blackouts), slow internet, and an array of other resource constraints. As such, the Deshpande Foundation works to provide its Fellows with the technical infrastructure they need to be effective: internet, mobile phone, laptop, etc. Nonetheless, the ability to adjust to local standards with patience and flexibility is critical if Fellows want to successfully motivate their teammates, increase their efficiency and abilities, and achieve meaningful  impact over the course of 1 year. 

"Though Hubli is a sizeable city, population-wise (1.2 million between Hubli and Dharwad), it doesn’t feel that large. It's quite manageable, though the main roads can be more difficult to negotiate on foot (lots of traffic). There isn't too much "nightlife"—just restaurants, a few bars just for men, and a couple of movie theaters. Coffee shops seem to be a new development here, which is a good sign. People are largely friendly, honest and helpful. It's hot but not too humid, and it's pretty dusty. The weather is supposedly very consistent, even with the monsoon."

Common sense and adherence to local norms should make your experience a safe and enjoyable one. Ultimately, each Fellow is responsible for their personal safety.
Here are some responses to this question from former and current Sandbox Fellows:
"My experience is that Hubli is a very safe city. Common sense is advisable anywhere, but I found no specific need to be wary. I am male though, and have heard American women state that they felt more comfortable on the streets during the day than at night." - Male
"Yes. India is in fact a very safe place, but you should always take precaution.  Do not stay out too late especially if you are female.  Typically, I am in my room at the latest 9:30 pm.  Of course, there are exceptions, but I take precaution."  - Female
"Yes. I have felt safer than I expected to because I am never alone – there are always people around. People in general are very kind. The most 'harassment' I've received has been people wanting me to marry their sons, being charged too much for items, and people yelling "hello" from across the street – all very manageable." - Female
"Traveling brings risks, always. But, Hubli seems safe thus far. It’s a peaceful area, and people are fairly well off. There haven’t been too many Westerners to this area, so the only thing is that you’ll generate some staring wherever you go. Maybe some cat-calling (if you’re a woman), but that happens throughout the world. I’ve felt safe as a woman here, though I’ve never been out past 10 or so." - Female

It is almost guaranteed that you will get sick more frequently than Indian staff, especially towards the beginning of the fellowship. To prevent from getting sick, the following safety precautions are recommended: always drink plenty of filtered water, thoroughly wash your fruits, vegetables, rice, and dhal, and avoid eating improperly cooked food and street food (at least initially). These tips are especially important in rural areas. Some fellows recommend eating curd for a healthy stomach and drinking coconut water to hydrate you, feed your body with important nutrients, and boost your immune system.

Also, most Fellows may not be accustomed to Indian heat or monsoon season. As such, you may come down with heat rash or other illnesses due to overexposure to the sun and heat. During monsoon season, because it is so damp and humid, the area and residences tend to have problems regarding mold. While the Foundation does everything within its power to ensure a healthy living condition for the Fellows, please take this into account and determine personally whether this is a situation under which you could live in. Should you make it to the interview process, we will further explain what this entails.

Luckily, if you do become ill, Hubli and Dharwad have excellent medical facilities. The Deshpande Foundation has identified doctors and hospitals for you to visit when you become ill, and is developing a process for monitoring and caring for fellows whose illnesses require more extensive care and longer hospital stays.

A fellow’s typical day depends on the organization. For a general idea, fellows attend lessons at 8 am to become functionally conversational in the local language, Kannada. Most work days start between 9 and 10 am and end between 5.30 and 7 pm with a lunch break sometime between 1 and 2.30. People usually eat dinner at around 8 pm. Most NGOs work a full day on Saturday, and often staff will work on Sundays and Holidays. Although this isn’t expected of Sandbox Fellows, it’s encouraged that you integrate into NGO life as much as possible
Your day will usually be very busy as many NGOs are understaffed. Your main project will take up about 80% of your time, and depending on the nature of the project could involve writing curricula, developing a new program, monitoring and evaluation, or restructuring your organization and building staff capacity. On top of your main project, there will often be many side projects to complete such as creating marketing materials, developing web content, teaching the staff how to use excel, etc.
Outside of work, life in the Sandbox is pretty low key. People are often out and about running errands and socializing. There are some activities that you can take advantage of in the Sandbox region, including dance lessons, music lessons, and cooking classes. Those placed in Hulbi and Dharwad will also have access to gyms where they can work out. Most businesses in Hubli and Dharwad close at 10 pm, and even earlier in more rural areas.

Through the Sandbox Fellowship you have responsibilities to two different institutions: Deshpande Foundation and your NGO.

We expect that fellows represent themselves and the Deshpande Foundation with exceptional professionalism and integrity at all times. Occasionally fellows will be called upon to work with Deshpande Foundation, such as writing case studies for Development Dialogue, organizing Development Dialogue, and working with the Deshpande Fellowship Program and Hubli Champions.

For the Sandbox Fellowship, fellows are expected to attend monthly meetings to discuss a reading, engage with a local NGO leader or entrepreneur, or discuss work progress. Moreover, fellows must attend a midyear retreat, submit quarterly reports, write blog entries, and submit a final report. Fellows may also be called on to offer insight on the program and its future.

At your NGO, you are expected to work during the NGO’s normal working hours (with the exception of Sundays and holidays), produce your deliverables, integrate into work life, develop a professional relationship with your colleagues, and represent Deshpande Foundation.

Despite its population, NW Karnataka is more peri-urban than either urban or rural. It has some urban characteristics such as developing industry, good hospitals, and some western conveniences. It also has a lot of greenery, suburban feeling neighborhoods, and is surrounded by villages and farmland.

Some quotes from other Americans living in Hubli/Dharwad:
“I actually like both urban and rural environments, and I like Hubli. I mean, I do sort of miss more activity at night (i.e. a bar, restaurants, music), but there aren’t many places where I’d go to a bar in India anyway. And, I’m usually so tired each night that I’m just stoked to go home to my clean, fairly quiet apartment and relax a bit. Most, if not all, of the living facilities will have an Internet connection, so I usually spend the evenings reading, emailing and catching up on personal business.”
“To be happy in Hubli, it’s really important that you be okay living in a peri-urban area.  Hubli is a quiet city without much night-life, and it would be easy to imagine a city person being disappointed when they arrive here. That said, the people here are very warm with the slower pace of life, and just outside the town the countryside is beautiful.  It’s also easier to get a sense for the whole city here, and to meet decision-makers whom you wouldn’t be able to meet in a larger city.”

In the villages, they don’t speak as much English, so your ability to learn Kannada will be important. But, people are VERY understanding and most people in the bigger towns speak English. Translators are also fairly available. There are many people in Hubli who speak a high level of English, but the average person on the street either speaks minimal English or none at all. It is easy to find a local shopkeeper who speaks it fluently, who can then be used for general local advice as well as regular shopping needs. Bargaining can easily be done in English with all vendors, and it will not hurt your bargaining chances, since you will never get the local price anyway. Certainly, getting by in Hubli is easily done using only English, but meeting friends, on the other hand, may require a bit more effort on your part.  In most situations, the person you are talking to or someone nearby will speak English.

The bigger issue is that they often have a very hard time understanding the American accent, and you will have a very hard time understanding their accent.  It is important to speak slower and enunciate words so there is some clarity in communication. Sometimes, even though you’re both speaking English, you will have a hard time communicating. 

The Deshpande Foundation will also be providing subsidized Kannada lessons as a requirement for all Fellows.

All fellows are equipped with an internet data-card, which will provide semi-reliable internet service. If you choose to use a Deshpande Foundation laptop for the duration of the fellowship, they are equipped with webcams to use for Skype and other internet chatting services.

You can also call directly to the US via your cell phone, although it is slightly expensive. Also, there are phone booths called STDs and PCOs that will allow you to call home (rates may vary).  Perhaps the best option is to have people from home purchase calling cards and call your mobile, which is quite cheap.

You will have a cell phone provided to you that is the property of the Deshpande Foundation. The Deshpande Foundation covers a refill of approximately Rs. 1000 per month. If you use this for local talk time, it will cost you .50 Paisa per minute. Calls within India are between Rs. 1 and Rs. 2.65. Calls made to the US are approximately Rs. 10 per minute. All incoming local calls are free.

As per the program policies, each fellow will have two weeks vacation time, and possibly two more weeks pending approval of your particular NGO. Additionally, the Deshpande Foundation will also organize some local trips to sites like Jog Falls or Hampi, which are close by.
In terms of close-by tourism: Hampi is renowned for bouldering and ancient ruins. Gokarna (a beach town and spiritual site for Hinduism) is about five hours away, as is Goa. Mumbai and Bangalore are both about a nine-hour train ride, though flights are available to both cities.
We recommend trains for in-India travel: the roads are often clogged with traffic and of poor paving quality, so driving actually takes longer. HOWEVER, if you are traveling within Northwest Karnataka (i.e. to Hampi, Gokarna or Goa), buses are actually faster than trains—one of the few exceptions within India.

• Accommodations: You will rent a flat from Deshpande Foundation, for roughly 2-3000 Rupees/month.
• Food: If you buy all three meals, it should cost you about 3-5 USD per day, while 6-7 USD will buy you the some of the best food in town. As in the US, if you buy food and make it yourself, it will be cheaper.
• Travel: Your NGO will cover  incidental travel for work, but you will be responsible for daily travel to and from your work. Many Fellows walk to work or use public transportation, which makes their daily commute inexpensive (typically free- .50 USD/day).

Hubli is on a high plateau, meaning that the weather will be fairly temperate throughout the year. Most days, the weather is hot, sunny and dry. Starting in April, the pre-monsoon heat sets in, which means that the weather will start to get warmer and warmer, topping out at 100 to 110 . Monsoon starts in mid-June, brining heavy rains for about three months. Evenings during monsoon can be chilly.

Hubli and Dharwad (sister cities) have a combined population of about 1.2 million people. Though technically having the same population as Boston, it feels smaller because there are no high-rise buildings, limited infrastructure regarding roads, and it generally feels more peri-urban than urban (as Americans would think of it). That said, locals feel that Hubli is very much an urban place. Regardless, there are many neighborhoods within Hubli to explore, and as in the US, these neighborhoods often represent different cultures (Muslim versus Hindu; high-income versus low-income).

Yes. Generally, it is important to know that even casual exchanges between opposite sexes can be misinterpreted by local community members (i.e. a female hugging a male friend). When you first get there, please spend some time understanding the local norms so you can conduct yourself in a professional manner, as a Sandbox Fellow and representative of the Deshpande Foundation.  Regarding cultural norms of dress, fellows typically find that women should avoid showing any cleavage or exposing any of the leg beyond the ankle.

The Deshpande Foundation will provide Kannada lessons through a skilled, professional tutor for the first 6 months of the Fellowship. Kannada lessons through Deshpande Foundation are a required part of the program and are offered to help Fellows integrate into their new work and living environments. Lessons are not free and each Fellow should expect to pay a small monthly fee of Rs500 (about US$10) for classes.  If Fellows are interested in other types of lessons, they should pursue them in their free time and at their own cost. Yoga and cooking classes are up to your own discretion. All of these should be attended on non working hours.

Each Fellow will have a designated mentor within their organization who will supervise them/work with them on their project. Fellows will also work closely with a local Program Manager and Logistical Coordinatorfrom Deshpande Foundation on many project, housing, health, or day-to-day issues. You will NOT be stranded—a good infrastructural support system will be in place. However, the Foundation does believe in self-starters. Overall, you will be responsible to the NGO you are assigned to as well as the Deshpande Foundation. Twice a month there will be check-in meetings with your Fellowship peers and once a month there will be a meeting between you, the NGO and the Deshpande Foundation.
Your direct supervisors at the Deshpande Foundation will be the Program Manager and the Program Officer. Your direct supervisor at your NGO will be determined by the NGO themselves.

The ideal Fellow would be willing and open to work on a variety of tasks that are related directly or indirectly to their project area. For example, a Fellow working with an education organization may be tasked with designing an education curriculum, but would also be working on administration of the curriculum, training of the staff, creating databases, fundraising and monitoring/evaluation. Other aspects of the project may include helping with operations, administration and leveraging your computer skills to expand the capacity of the organization. Sometimes, the biggest contribution of the Fellow comes not from their specific project field, but what they bring overall in terms of increasing the infrastructural development of the organization. This is not the case with all the organizations, but all applicants should understand this as a part of the expectations of the Sandbox Fellows.