The Fellowship Story

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About Us!

In 2018, Bhumi launched the School Transformation and Socio-Emotional Learning Programmes. These were facilitator-driven models with the intent of building reflection in teachers and school leaders and providing insights into pedagogical practices. The idea for the Bhumi Fellowship and whole-school transformation emerged with the realisation that it was essential to look beyond the classroom and work with other stakeholders to develop sustainable solutions.

Our mission is to instill a deep understanding of the education system in our Fellows so they can become leaders in the movement to create educational equity. In 2020, the Bhumi Fellowship welcomed its first cohort of five Fellows. Today, we have 16 Fellows working across corporation, government-aided, and low-income private schools across Chennai.

Vision

Achieving equitable education for all children through systemic change

Mission

To create a cadre of changemakers who transform schools in the short term and lead the next education movement in the long term.

What is the problem? (The ED Crisis)

Education is a fundamental right and all children are entitled to an excellent education. With the introduction of the Right to Education Act in 2009, India has achieved a Gross Enrolment Ratio of 99% at primary level. However, the quality of education still remains a challenge.

According to the Indian Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 51% of school-aged children and adolescents are affected by anxiety, social withdrawal and dysphoria.
The National Education Policy 2020 emphasizes the importance of SEL in promoting a culture of empathy, compassion, and inclusivity, recognizing its potential to foster a more harmonious and equitable society.
A study by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), proves that schools in India that implement SEL programs report up to a 15% improvement in academic performance among students.

 At present, we have 96.96 lakh teachers across all levels for 26.44 crore children. We require efficient systems that enable HMs and invest parents to create an enabling learning environment for children. The Bhumi Fellowship aims to improve the quality of education by working with all the stakeholders in a school ecosystem through our whole-school transformation approach. We also envision our alumni becoming changemakers who lead the movement to transform the education system.

Our Approach

The Fellowship takes a whole-school transformation approach towards the short-term mission of transforming school. The key pillars of this approach are

  • Student learning and development

    In the About page, the writing under student learning and development to be changed to: Early School Years (Grades 2–5)- Building Foundations in Literacy and Numeracy: Children are introduced to essential skills in English and Mathematics, addressing foundational gaps through engaging and age-appropriate teaching methodologies.

    Middle School Years (Grades 6-8) - Advancing STEM Skills: STEM education begins with hands-on experiments and creative problem-solving activities, encouraging curiosity and critical thinking.

    Fostering Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Skills (Grades 2- 8) SEL morning circles foster a sense of safety, belonging, and self-awareness, creating an environment where children can share, reflect, and connect.

  • Teacher Well-being and Development

    Our Fellows collaborate to create spaces for the wellbeing and the personal/ professional development of teachers.

  • Effective School Leader Practices

    The Fellows support the HMs with their vision for the school and co-create interventions to achieve the same.

  • Community Engagement

    A key component of the Fellowship is to build investment in the parents and collaborate with them to achieve student outcomes. Our Fellows do this through community visits, parent engagement spaces, and parent-teacher/school management committee meetings.

  • Enabling Resources of the School

    We work closely with the HM and other internal teams of Bhumi to improve the existing infrastructure and also provide access to computer labs, libraries, and play areas.

FELLOWS ENGAGED

SCHOOLS TRANSFORMED

CHILDREN BENEFITED

Meet our Fellows

Over the past two years, my fellowship has been profoundly transformational. It has deepened my understanding of the education landscape and the diverse stakeholders within it. Leading initiatives, collaborating with teams, and actively engaging in my own growth have been pivotal in this journey. This experience has been both humbling and character-building, offering invaluable insights and skills.
-Haider
Bhumi Fellow - Cohort 2022
The Bhumi fellowship has been a multi-faceted experience and has helped me sharpen a plethora of my skills within a very short timeframe. It regularly poses challenges and enables individual growth and development. The journey, so far, has been immensely exciting and I am sure it will open a world of possibilities.
- Charlene Judith Pereira
Bhumi Fellow - Cohort 2020
The Bhumi Fellowship journey was about discovering myself and finding joy in being a safe and supportive presence for the kids. I learned to work with various stakeholders and had the opportunity to learn from inspiring stories of people within Bhumi and other great organizations. This experience helped me appreciate different values and shaped my perspectives.
-Athira
Bhumi Fellow - Cohort 2023
Bhumi Fellowship has played a pivotal role in my growth, both professionally and personally. It has given me real-world experience in the education sector. It helped me develop leadership skills while understanding the challenges at the grassroot level. Looking back, it has been a transformative journey of growth and self-discovery for me. I’d recommend this fellowship to any youth who wants to make a real difference and grow in the process.
-Swagata
Bhumi Fellow - Cohort 2022