Apni Shala

15/09/2026

Chai & Charcha on School Transformation

"School transformation" - we hear it everywhere. But what does it really mean? How does it happen?

Join us for a facilitator's view with Purvi Vora.

Purvi brings 2 decades in teaching & instructional leadership, PhD from Teachers College Columbia University, is former school leader at Akanksha Foundation, and is the co-founder of City as Lab and RENISCIENCE EDUCATION LLP.

Purvi and Sangita Kapadia (co-founder of Reniscience) have supported 3,000+ teachers and school leaders across India, Bangladesh, Dubai, Kenya & Tanzania and for the past 6 years worked with 30 Dawat schools on whole-system transformation.

In this charcha, we will hear from Purvi and facilitation of transformation with diverse schools. The conversation will be moderated by Rohit Kumar from our team.

Where? Apni Shala Foundation, 61/C, Kamgar Nagar, Kurla (E), Mumbai (Location Map)

When? 2:00 to 3:30 pm, Mon, 28th Sept, 2026

Language? English and Hindi

How to join? Free, but seats are limited. Please sign up here to confirm: https://forms.gle/8ks5tVSkEU7uVDDX6

11/09/2026

08/09/2026

This , we're reminded: Literacy starts at home, long before school.Research is clear: a strong Home Literacy Environment is one of the strongest predictors of early literacy success. Books within reach, reading together, talking and storytelling.But what happens when poverty systematically prevents these practices?

At Apni Shala's Khoj School, we spent the last few years building literacy partnerships with families. This year, we launched Home Libraries - a small, co-designed kona where children keep their books and learning materials.

Together, we have created 380+ home libraries. 💛

And this took a village.

Thank you to Sangeeta & Kahaani Tree for curation, to Mallika, MIV Investment Services, Path Foundation, RTT Advisory, Divya Sharma and all our book donors, and to Just B and GetLitt! for nurturing a love for reading. This is what community-powered literacy looks like!

It's just the beginning. Sustaining it is the real work, and we're building joyful ways to keep it going. And you can help us too!

Swipe through to see what research says, what our families built together and how you can help.👉

03/09/2026

SEL (Social Emotional Learning) is not about making students always happy.

It's one of the most common myths we hear. So what is it then? Swipe to know more.

What myths about SEL do you often hear? Comment below.

सोशल इमोशनल लर्निंग का मतलब स्टूडेंट्स को हमेशा खुश रखना नहीं है।

ये एक बहुत आम गलतफहमी है जो हम अक्सर सुनते हैं। तो फिर ये असल में क्या है? जानने के लिए स्वाइप करें।

आपने SEL के बारे में और कौन सी ऐसी बातें सुनी हैं? हमें कमेंट में बताएं।

01/09/2026

कैसा होगा अगर स्कूल ऐसे कम्युनिटी हों जहाँ एडुकेटर्स और अभिभावक (केयरगिवर्स) मिलकर हमारे बच्चों की परवरिश करें?

अगर स्कूलों को ख़ुशहाली का एक केंद्र बनना है, तो यह जरूरी होगा की हमारे स्टूडेंट्स के अभिभावकों के साथ स्कूल की एक साझेदारी हो। और यही प्रयास हम मुंबई के १५ स्कूलों में, करीब ४००० स्टूडेंट्स के परिवारों के साथ मिल कर करने की कोशिश कर रहे हैं।

चाहे वो मंथली मीटिंग्स में हो, कम्युनिटी विजिट के दौरान हो, केयरगिवर्स के साथ १:१ बात-चीत द्वारा हो, या स्टूडेंट्स को कुछ मज़ेदार SEL वाले होम एक्टिविटीज द्वारा हो, जहाँ वे अपने घर वालो के साथ भावनाओं और रिश्तों पर बात कर पाएं।

और ये सब इस उम्मीद में, कि एक साझी ख़ुशहाली की कल्पना की जा सके।

What would it be like if schools were communities where educators and parents (caregivers) come together to raise our children?

If schools are to become hubs of prosperity, it is essential that schools have a partnership with the parents of our students. And this is what we are trying to do in collaboration with the families of about 4000 students in 15 schools of Mumbai.

Whether that's at monthly meetings, during community visits, through 1:1 conversations with caregivers, or by giving students some fun SEL home activities where they can talk about emotions and relationships with their loved ones.

And all this in the hope that a shared happiness can be imagined.

26/08/2026

The IC3 Student Well-being Pulse Report 2026 found that wellbeing drops from 62% in Grade 8 to 43% in Grade 12, with only 6% of students reaching out to school counsellors.

We invite you to pause and ask: what does wellbeing really mean in Indian schools?

Is it access to counselling? Is it students never feeling tired or sad? Is it SEL sessions? Is it no fights in school?

At Apni Shala, we understand wellbeing as: “a state of being at ease with whatever is going on; not resignation, but responding with ease, non-judgement and compassion.”

For us, the question is: how do we build systems, structures and daily practices that truly support students’ wellbeing?

Here’s one small story from Pooja didi and Amar bhaiya's class at our Khoj School initiative. Swipe to read.

What stands out for you? Tell us in the comments.

22/08/2026

When we talk about gender equity in education, what do we look for?

Prasana Iyengar, our donor-partner, spent over 2 weeks working with our students, interacting with our teams and visiting communities. In a recent article, he shares powerful insights on how equity can be built directly in our classroom.

From macro-level metrics like enrolment numbers, to daily socialization and changing how children learn to communicate with one another - the real transformation happens through an intentional approach, he writes.

This highlights why we must advocate for and support progressive educational models like Apni Shala's Khoj school. By intentionally creating balanced, thoughtful environments, these schools shift how children interact, collaborate, and dismantle systemic biases from an early age. Investing in these classroom-level dynamics is essential for creating lasting, high-level strategic change.

Read the full article to explore the hidden costs of poverty in schools and how ground-level insights can reshape educational strategy: https://lnkd.in/dhCBaFc6

Would like to experience yourself? Write to [email protected].

20/08/2026

To everyone who made possible: Thank you!

In 45 days, together we reached 5000+ students with 1800+ items, from notebooks to tech resources and hygiene kits.

More than resources, your contribution sent a message to children in government schools: that their dreams are equally important.

At Apni Shala, we believe every small act builds a larger ecosystem of care in schools. Thank you for being part of that ecosystem.

The impact continues. Here's the link for those who’d like to support further: https://www.amazon.in/hz/wishlist/ls/2I8V1X0FFIRVQ?ref_=wl_share

14/08/2026

Think building inclusive, diverse, wellbeing-first schools is cool? Know that it starts with us first,
before students, before schools? And are looking for your people in Mumbai?

Join Diversity Shala.

But, wait? Why should you?

Don’t just take our word for it. Hear it from last month’s cohort. Swipe the carousel to know more.

जानें (हिंदी में) + रजिस्टर करें: www.apnishala.org/diversityshalahindi

Know more (in English) + Register: www.apnishala.org/diversityshala

13/08/2026

A wedding celebration, and Kaagaz, Kalam aur Khwaab for our students. What a cool way to celebrate one’s love, hai na!

One of our long-time supporters is stepping into a new chapter of their life, and they are choosing to center our students in their joy. By inviting wedding guests to contribute school resources instead of traditional gifts, they are bringing collective care to our classrooms. Love, love, love!

If this beautiful gesture moves you, we invite you to join them in this radical act of kindness.

Help ensure our young people have the stationery, tech, books, or sanitary materials they need to thrive.

To know more, visit: www.apnishala.org/backtoschool

To donate from the Amazon wishlist, click here: https://www.amazon.in/hz/wishlist/ls/2I8V1X0FFIRVQ/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1

​For any queries, reach out to us at [email protected] or [email protected] . You may also choose to call us from Monday to Friday between 9:30 AM and 5:30 PM at +91 8655-490-999.

Thank you for choosing to support our students 💛