Teach For India

This Teachers' Day, let’s celebrate teaching and the power of love in education. Because we believe “When You Teach With Love, You Will Teach For Life.” In the coming month, we will celebrate teachers who taught with love and continue doing so. Teachers who teach with love make a significant impact, not only in the classroom but also in the lives of Students. Have a story to tell about a teacher who taught you with love? Share it using #TaughtWithLove . #teachersday #Teachers #Teaching #TeachForIndia #Love

Rashad’s journey as a Fellow began with a hard truth: his Students, full of potential, were constrained by divisive stereotypes and a disconnect from their education. Despite their intelligence, they lacked empathy, life skills, and exposure to the world beyond their immediate surroundings. This disconnect was not only academic - but personal, cultural, and emotional. Rashad quickly realised he wasn’t just there to teach lessons but to find solutions to these systemic challenges. The Fellowship became his leverage for these solutions. It provided Rashad with the resources and autonomy to reimagine education. With the help of his peers and mentors, Rashad designed Project Circuit - TravelED, a Be The Change Project (BTCP) that connected classroom subjects to real-world experiences. It gave Students the opportunity to travel across Mumbai and Delhi, visiting historical landmarks, cultural hubs, and places of governance like the Bombay High Court and the Bombay Stock Exchange. These trips helped them integrate subjects like history, law, economics, and environmental science with the real world. With unwavering guidance, a powerful network, and support from The Circle, Rashad found the foundation and momentum to expand his initiative. Pulling together a team of 13 passionate individuals, including other Fellows, he made Project Circuit sustainable and fully operational.  The results have been profound. Students who once lacked empathy and saw little value in their education are now curious, engaged, and eager to make a difference. What began with 15 students in Mumbai has grown to 30 across two cities, shaping a generation of empathetic, socially responsible changemakers. Rashad’s story exemplifies how with the right intentions, the right support, and the right platform, change is inevitable. Mohammed Rashad Najeeb

From breaking barriers to empowering girls, this is a teacher's inspiring journey. Being a girl child from a small town, Garoth, Megha became aware of the struggles of a woman at an early age. With an urge to change the situation, she found solace in her education and set a path to find her purpose. But no one said the path would be simple. Despite academic and professional success (Delhi University, influencer marketing, 95% in CAT), she yearned for deeper impact. One day, she learned about the Teach For India Fellowship and applied for it. As a Teach For India Fellow, she found a new hope in her classrooms. In an all-girls school in Ahmedabad, she was reminded of the challenges, like the right to equal education, access to clean sanitation facilities, gender bias, safety, etc.; the list is endless. Motivated to change the situation, she formed debate groups where her kids met to discuss policies, current affairs, and social issues, increasing their awareness about important issues and giving them the confidence to voice their opinions. They even delegated at Model United Nations meets, where they talked about important global issues, shared their country’s views, and worked together to find solutions. Recently, like many of us, Megha’s kids too were shocked and bothered by the stories coming from Kolkata. Proactively, they decided to raise their concerns and held a rally in their community to spread awareness about women’s safety. Recognising the deeper roots of the issue, they collaborated with a Student leader from Taiwan, a 12th grader named Emily Tsai. This collaboration led six Students from Megha’s classroom to create an Indian youth policy forum where Students publish articles on policies and women's issues. A true testament to the ripple effect! Megha believes she has found her calling and plans to open a school in her small hometown, Garoth, where everyone can access quality education. Thus, she will bring change to society by leading with love. Megha Paliwal

Want to know what it's like to be a Teach For India Fellow? Vishnu spills the beans on his classroom adventures. Vishnu Vishal

“...and this is why we decided to gift our school safe classrooms,” said Danish and Rishabh, Teach For India Fellows from Delhi. They observed and experienced misconduct, frequent incidents of harsh behaviour, and a lack of empathy and respect within the classroom culture at the government All Boys School in Delhi. This environment significantly contributed to the increase in cases of corporal punishment. Additionally, Students' attention spans were compromised, leading to a lack of engagement in the learning process for Teach For India Students. Determined to improve the environment and initiate positive change, Danish decided to launch the "Kadam" project as part of the Be The Change Project (BTCP) initiative. Rishabh’s mission and vision of a safe classroom aligned well, and later he too joined hands in this project. “Our main aim is to cultivate a culture where teachers do not resort to corporal punishment or severe reprimands,” said Danish. “To achieve this, we needed to empower Students, build their confidence, and help them understand the consequences of their actions.” For this purpose, they started conducting sessions in non-Teach For India classrooms. In each session, Students watched a video that provided insights into corporal punishment, discipline, and bullying respectively. After the first session, Students formed groups to discuss the reasons and impact of disrespect and misconduct in the classroom. Rishabh adds, “We appointed Student mentors. Their role is to observe classroom behaviour and provide a conduct report before the next session.” In the following session, other challenges are addressed. Consequently, Students reflected on the causes and effects of their actions. Inspired by this process, they eventually started conducting similar sessions in other classrooms.” Following the project's success, the school principal and teachers applauded the Students' improved behaviour and adherence to classroom norms. This positive change has boosted their academic excellence and personal growth, creating a harmonious and empowering school environment and better preparing them for future challenges. Mohammad Danish Rishabh Mishra

Shailey's path to becoming a Fellow was not straightforward. Before joining the Fellowship, she worked in various sectors—rural development, corporate social responsibility, and even a food testing laboratory—constantly feeling that something was missing. She yearned to find a place with purpose, surrounded by like-minded individuals working towards meaningful change. That purpose found her through Teach For India, in a classroom of 36 young girls in Hyderabad. Her first year was transformative. Facing challenges like low literacy levels, Student hesitation, and parental disengagement, Shailey persevered. Her breakthrough came when six of her Students participated in Hala Bol - a city-wide debate competition, with three winning in their category—a moment that sparked collective confidence and changed classroom dynamics. After deep reflection, Shailey realized that true education is about empowerment. It's not just about knowledge but about building self-belief, consciousness, and exposure. She shifted her approach from being the sole driver of learning to creating a Student-led classroom environment. Her strategy worked. Shraddha went from feeling defeated after losing a competition to becoming a self-motivated learner. She now prepares her study notes, sets personal goals, and seeks growth opportunities. Meenakshi and Rani, initially in low-performing groups, took ownership of their learning journey, demonstrating remarkable perseverance. For Shailey, the Fellowship became more than a teaching experience—it was a journey of mutual growth. She discovered that by helping Students defeat their self-doubt and build inner strength, she was also healing and empowering her younger self. Her dream continues beyond the Fellowship: to keep working with Students, believing that with proper guidance, motivation, and exposure, young minds can achieve extraordinary things. Shailey Sweta

It was an absolute pleasure conducting a pre-placement session on the Teach For India Fellowship Program at St. Alberts College and Albertian Institute of Management - India, alongside the incredible Elizabeth Samuel, Director of Firki - Teach For India Online – our innovative online teacher education platform! The students’ enthusiasm and thoughtful interactions truly stood out, making the session both engaging and insightful. Witnessing their curiosity and passion for creating change in education was inspiring. 🌟 A big thank you to Dr. Manju Das S K Ma'am and Geo Jos Fernandez Sir for their exceptional efforts in organizing these sessions and ensuring a smooth experience for everyone involved. To all the students planning to apply for the Teach For India Fellowship – I wish you the very best on this transformative journey. Let’s continue to #LeadWithLove and reimagine education together! #TFICampusDiaries #MBA #KeralaColleges #TeachForIndia

On 14th December 2024, I had the honor of leading a stall at the ‘Delhi Regional Showcase’ of Teach For India, where two of my incredible students joined me as co-facilitators to represent the growth and transformation of our entire classroom community. Together, we shared the remarkable journey of 39 young girls who have grown from hesitant learners into confident leaders. Our stall, "From Struggles to Success: A Journey of Language and Leadership," was a celebration of their collective voice and progress. As co-facilitators, my students beautifully represented their classmates, showcasing not just their own growth but the resilience, creativity, and leadership of their peers. 📖 We highlighted their writing journey, showing the transformation from simple, error-filled sentences to polished stories and essays. 🌍 We presented problem-solving artifacts, where students addressed real-world challenges with innovative solutions rooted in empathy and critical thinking. 💬 My students shared personal reflections, bravely narrating how they overcame fears, built confidence, and stepped into leadership roles. This was more than a showcase—it was a testament to the power of a supportive, student-centered learning environment. My students didn’t just present their work; they led the way, guided visitors, and expressed gratitude on behalf of their entire class, demonstrating the leadership they have cultivated over time. 🌟 To my students: You all inspire me every day. Watching your journey reminds me why I chose this path. 🌟 To Teach For India: Thank you for creating spaces where students can dream, grow, and lead. 🌟 Key Takeaway: When students are empowered with opportunities and encouragement, they flourish—not just as learners, but as leaders ready to make an impact in their communities. #TeachForIndia #Leadership #StudentVoice #EmpoweredLearners

Our team at Firki - Teach For India Online, along with Simple Education Foundation, has come together to create Eduverse, a 3-day online conference for educators, designed to explore innovation in teacher education and development. The conference is rooted in the simple and powerful belief that our ability to deliver an excellent and impactful education in the future, requires us to reinvent today. If the ideas of tech and AI in teacher professional development, the neuroscience of teaching and learning, sustainable practices for teacher well-being, and more, resonate with you, register for Eduverse now - https://lnkd.in/dtY3kcTm.

It was incredible to witness Romana Shaikh (she/her) deliver the keynote speech at Salzburg Global this month. Romana has been a lifelong champion for educational equity— from her time at Teach For India to co-founding Kizazi. But what truly touched me was the courage it took for her to share her personal story. She spoke about growing up as a Muslim girl in India and the discrimination she faced—experiences she had kept hidden for so long in her fight for justice. Reclaiming that part of herself, Romana held the room with a fierce, grounded presence, offering profound wisdom on what it takes to transform education. Here are just a few of her powerful reflections: On seeing our work as systemic: “Are we trying to improve teachers—or transform education into a process of liberation for all?” On what truly matters in transforming education: “How do we live and breathe love and justice, so every policy and design comes from that place?” On interconnectedness: “How do we bring joy back to teaching? It’s in shifting from seeing the ‘student’ to seeing the ‘whole chilld’ —and in that, finding our own wholeness. It’s in the moment of seeing someone and being seen that we realize how interconnected we truly are.” For anyone who has ever hidden parts of yourself to fit in, this is a reminder: your voice matters! When we step into courage and share our authentic stories, we unlock so much—not just for ourselves, but for others. To all the bold leaders like Romana who are reclaiming their stories and shaping a new vision for education—thank you for your courage. Olanrewaju Oniyitan Hammed Kayode Alabi I cannot wait for Romana’s book to launch in February. It’s going to be a must-read! #FindingVoice #AuthenticLeadership #TransformingEducation