CORE TEAM
Josephdeyone Jacobi
Centre Facilitator and Mathematics Curriculum Support
Josephdeyone Jacobi is a passionate science and mathematics educator. Apart from exploring mathematical ideas in Carpentry and Art, he was a facilitator of Mathematics, Science and English at Namma Nalanda Vidyapeeta (Concerned for Working Children). In pursuit of his interest, he studied MA in Education after completing B.Tech in Electronics and Communications.
Manimakalai Raja
Language and Nalli-Kalli Coordinator
Manimakalai Raja moved from the field of research and editing of documentary films to the education sector because she wanted to work with children. After a Montessori course, she worked as mentor and facilitator in the Primary wing of Prakriya Green Wisdom School for 5 years. She enjoys working with children and likes creating interactive and hands on lesson plans to make the teaching-learning experience an enjoyable one. Mani has completed her M.A. in Women Studies and Montessori Training for early child learning.
Nomita Sikand
English Curriculum Support
Nomita Sikand had been a middle school Math teacher for 7 years, which eventually led to her pursuing MA in Education at Azim Premji University. The idea of pursing justice and equity has been the foundation of her involvement in literacy.
Preethy Rao Patel
Kannada Curriculum Support
Preethy Rao Patel steered Akshara Foundation’s English program in 600 Government Schools in 3 rural taluks of Karnataka after completing her MA in Education. She feels strongly about equal access to quality literacy and believes that this is what determines an individual’s life chances in the current modern literate world.
Rizwan Ahmed
Community Support and Organisational Development
Rizwan Ahmed has moved from a career in the financial service industry to understand and contribute to the social sector. In his pursuit for engaging with quality education for the underprivileged he steered the community based education program of Swami Vivekanand Youth Movement.
Somya R Nand
Mathematics Curriculum Support and Organisational Development
Somya R Nand moved into education, after a career in consulting in Garment Manufacturing sector, to understand and contribute to equitable education of the underserved. She has been working with a team of academicians and practitioners in creating and disseminating knowledge of Educational Change to various stakeholders/geographies in the country.
LEARNING CENTER TEAM
Asha Kiran
Facilitator, Early Child Care
Asha Kiran is in tune with the needs of a pre-primary child. Firm yet gentle in her ways she engages children with hands on activities and equips them with required pre literacy skills. She has now evolved into an effective Kannada language teacher for the Bridge Program; while she co-teaches the ECE children and guides the assistant ECE teacher. She has prior work experience of 3 years as a teacher at Aravinda English School, Chelur. Asha Kiran has completed the P.U.Certification and holds a D.Ed.
Asha
Facilitator, Nalli Kalli
Asha brings in a sense of calm into the classroom. An excellent support, she is very patient with the children. She is a keen learner, and is open to explore new ways of working with children.
Babu A
Community Facilitator
Babu has grass root experience of leading a team of school facilitators in a community based education intervention, PremaVidya for 6 years at Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement. And 6 years of teaching experience in an aided school prior to that.
Currently he actively facilitates the community outreach at Gubbachi, and assists the teachers at GHPS, Kodathi in the teaching of Social Studies for Grades 6 and 7. He holds a Masters in History along with a Bachelors in Education.
Nagaraju G
Facilitator, Nalli Kalli
Nagaraju has grass root experience of 1 year and 6 months as a SAATH facilitator at Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement (SVYM) at the Government High School, Madivala, Bengaluru. Post this he taught for 1 year at Bhagyalakshmi Convent and High School, Hongasandra. He joined Gubbachi in July 2016 and assists the Government School in Nalli Kalli classes. He has Bachelor of Arts, along with a Bachelors in Education, in History and Kannada.
FULL-TIME VOLUNTEER
Deepanjali Nair
Volunteer
Deepanjali Naik has a B.E in Civil Engineering. She developed a keen interest in education and tried to understand what it means to have a Holistic Education. She completed a 1-year certificate course at the Bhoomi College, Bengaluru. Deepanjali co-teaches the Math and Kannada program at the Bridge Learning Centre. Her engagement helps the children who are at different levels and of different ages get adequate attention, for their learning to be effective.