Creative Expression Anchor
About the Project (CM Youth Center):
The Government of Meghalaya,in partnership with Sauramandala Foundation (www.sauramandala.org) and Project DEFY (www.projectdefy.org), has established 22 rural SDL (Self-Design Learning) centres for youth, called the Chief Minister's Youth Center with an aim to build resilience, sustainability, and problem-solving skills in the next generation of the community. The youth centres are established to bridge the digital divide with the help of innovation and entrepreneurship skills by providing access to the Internet along with open learning opportunities. The components of the centres are a Nook (SDL space), a Library, Arts and a Sports program. The learning is open to all ages to have more involvement from the community.
Scope of Work:
The selected partner will be responsible for the following components:
A. Program Development & Implementation
Arts Program Design: Collaborate with centre-level teams and local artists to design culturally relevant arts and theatre programs that cater to community needs, promote self-expression, and foster creativity.
Theatre Workshop Facilitation: Lead theatre workshops focused on storytelling, improvisation, and performance skills, encouraging children and youth to explore self-expression and cultural identity.
Program Customization/Improvisation: Customize arts and theatre programs to fit the unique cultural landscape of each region, ensuring relevance and inclusivity.
Life Skills Integration: Utilize arts and theatre to teach life skills such as communication, collaboration, and empathy, empowering youth through creative expression.
B. Community Engagement & Partner Collaborations
Collaborative Arts Initiatives: Develop initiatives that bring together traditional and contemporary art forms, integrating local storytelling, folk arts, and dance into broader arts programming.
School and NGO Collaboration: Work with local schools, NGOs, and youth-focused organizations to expand access to arts and theatre programs, including co-hosting events or workshops.
Stakeholder Collaboration: Build partnerships with cultural institutions, art collectives, and government bodies to enrich the arts programming with new resources, talent, and exposure.
Parents and Elder Engagement: Encourage parents, community elders, and leaders to participate in arts and theatre events, fostering intergenerational learning and shared cultural experiences.
C. Budget & Resource Management
Budget Oversight: Develop and manage the budget for arts and theatre programming, ensuring efficient allocation and usage of resources.
Resource Mobilization: Identify opportunities for additional funding, grants, and in-kind donations to support arts initiatives, working with leaders to strengthen resource availability.
Material Management: Ensure availability of art supplies, costumes, and other materials needed for various programs, maintaining inventory and quality standards.
D. Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting
Program Evaluation: Develop tools to measure the impact of arts and theatre programs on youth development, using surveys, feedback, and performance reviews.
Progress Tracking: Track children and youth participation, engagement, and skill development in arts and theatre activities, regularly reporting outcomes to the project’s leadership.
Storytelling and Impact Sharing: Collect and share impactful stories of youth and community members who have benefitted from the arts programming, working with the communications team to document testimonials and case studies.
E. Capacity Building & Mentorship
Field Team Support: Mentor centre and regional staff, conducting training sessions on facilitation skills, creative techniques, and community engagement strategies.
Youth Leadership Development: Identify and nurture local children and youth leaders passionate about the arts, guiding them to take on leadership roles within arts programs.
Training Local Talent: Offer capacity-building sessions for local artists, providing skills training to enhance their roles as facilitators and mentors within the arts programming.
List of Deliverables:
Project Design Brief
Program Development & Implementation
Community Engagement & Partner Collaborations
Budget & Resource Management
Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting
Capacity Building & Mentorship
Objective of the Engagement
To develop and operationalize well-resourced CMYCs that:
Empower children and youth, foster community cohesion, and preserve cultural heritage through vibrant arts, storytelling, and theatre-based initiatives.
Design programs that ignite creativity, inspire active social engagement, and deepen cultural connections.
Serve as safe spaces for self-expression, intergenerational dialogue, and collective growth, positioning the youth centres as hubs of artistic innovation and cultural pride.
Eligibility Criteria
Experience: Minimum of 8–9 years in arts programming, community engagement, or theatre management, with core experience in cultural or youth programming. Extensive experience in theatrical production, stage management, or arts education is highly desirable.
Qualifications: Master’s Degree in Fine Arts, Theatre Arts, Performing Arts or a related field.
Arts Facilitation: Demonstrated experience in arts education, theatre facilitation, and program management, ideally in diverse, community-based environments.
Cultural Sensitivity: Strong understanding of regional cultural dynamics and an ability to adapt arts programs to local customs and traditions.
Project Management: Ability to design and implement multiple arts initiatives simultaneously, coordinating with stakeholders, facilitating events, and ensuring high-quality program delivery.
Leadership & Mentorship: Proven experience in leading and mentoring teams, ideally including young facilitators and community-based staff.
Analytical Skills: Ability to evaluate program success using data, feedback, and engagement metrics, and refine arts strategies accordingly.
Reporting & Communication: Experience in writing program reports, managing budgets, and communicating effectively with diverse stakeholders.
Personal Attributes:
Deeply committed to youth empowerment and community-driven change through the arts.
Strong cultural awareness of the region, with a passion for promoting traditional knowledge and local art forms.
Demonstrated success in developing arts programs that foster youth engagement, social cohesion, and creative expression.
Skilled organiser and communicator, able to bring together community members and stakeholders to collaborate on arts initiatives.
Thrives in a dynamic, field-based environment with a hands-on approach to managing teams and implementing programs.
Selection Criteria
The proposal will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
Agency will be evaluated based on the qualifications and experience mentioned in the eligibility criteria.
Agency to have prior knowledge of working with NGOs.
The financial proposal will be evaluated based on the prior work experience, expertise,cost and proposed payment terms.
Payment Terms:
Fixed as per the agreement between the consultant and SauraMandala. Please provide your proposal and quotation for the above-mentioned program requirements. Capture Timelines and Split cost wherever possible.
1. Please provide a break-up of the costs as agreement quotation for the service
provided on an official letterhead with signatures and stamps, wherever needed.
2. Kindly mention your name, address, contact information along with correct
bank details and signature in the agreement quotation.
3. Please note that the prices quoted by the consultant are firm, final, and binding
and not subject to variation on any account.
4.The quotation is inclusive of all necessary taxes and applicable costs.
5. Other than the proposed amount, no additional amounts will be paid for fuel,
phone charges, etc.
6.Payment will be made based on the percentage of completion on all the deliverables which will be agreed upon negotiation.
Total CTC Range:
INR 21 lakhs for the 24 month engagement period
Contract Period:
Fixed term consulting contract of 15 months during the period September 2025 upto August 2027
To Apply:
Interested consultants / organizations, with relevant experience (please include samples and/or references of the previous similar work as proof of experience) are requested to reach out with a detailed proposal giving a brief on the methodology and the process they will uptake for this project, milestones and submit the Quotation on or before 8th November 2025. Any further queries please write to “info@sauramandala.org” with a subject line: “Creative Expression Anchor”