LEARN MORE ABOUT US.

WHO ARE WE AND WHAT DO WE DO?

VISION

One day, all schools will become ‘inclusive’.

MISSION

To bring systemic transformation in schools where every child irrespective of their social backgrounds and disability has equal access and opportunity to quality education.

Samaaveshi Pathshaala

Who are we?

‘Samaaveshi Pathshaala Foundation’ is a registered nonprofit based in Karjat tribal block of Maharashtra, founded by two graduates of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai. Our mandate is to build an inclusive society: a society for all where no one is left behind and everyone gets equal opportunity to excel in life. And the journey to build an inclusive society starts from an inclusive classroom.

Our flagship programme is ‘Samaaveshi Pathshaala’ – an inclusive school in Kashele village, launched on 3rd December 2018 (World Disability Day). Our goal is to become a model inclusive school where all children irrespective of their social backgrounds and disabilities have equal access and opportunity to quality education.

At present, we have 30 children aged 4-6 years, including 10 children with disabilities who study together, using multi-sensory approach. We follow an ‘inclusive curriculum’ that’s designed in a way that each child gets equal opportunity to learn and participate in activities both in and outside the classroom. Besides, by integrating concepts of constructivism, arts-based therapy (ABT) and social-emotional learning (SEL), we strive to enhance creativity, expression and learning outcomes for all children.

Beginning June 2019, we launched a series of new programmes to build an ecosystem on ‘inclusive education’ in Karjat block:
a) Samaaveshi (Community) Library
b) Digital Literacy Programme
c) Inclusive ‘Anganwadi’ Transformation
d) Inclusive School in-a-Box.

Meet the Core Team

NIVEDITA TIWARI

Co-founder

Nivedita has over five years of work experience in disability rehabilitation and inclusive education in various grassroots and international organizations, based in India and Nepal. She holds an MA in 'Disability Studies and Action' from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, and a certificate in ‘Arts-based Therapy’ from the World Centre for Creative Learning Foundation (WCCLF), Pune. In her last job, she worked as a consultant with the inclusive education department of ‘Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA)’, based in New Delhi.

Email: Nivedita.Samaaveshi@gmail.com

ASHOK SHAH

Co-founder

Ashok has eight years of experience in print/online media and development communication. A Nepalese national, he did BA in Journalism from Bangalore University; during the course of which he co-founded a students' collective called 'MISSION 5'. Following, he pursued MSW with a specialization in 'Health and Development' from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai. From 2012 to 2018, he worked as a 'Field Communications Officer' with CBM International, based out of Kathmandu and New Delhi.

Email: Ashok.Samaaveshi@gmail.com

ANDRIYA CHANDY

Advisor

Andriya is an assistant professor with the Department of Social Work at Mumbai University. She holds an 'MA in Disability Studies & Action' from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai.
She has an experience of over seven years with NGOs working on disability and education based in Maharashtra.

RESHMA SAWANT

Early Childhood Educator

Reshma holds a 'Diploma in Early Childhood Education (ECE)' and has worked as a primary teacher for over three years in Karjat.
At Samaaveshi, she's responsible for designing the inclusive curriculum, for our first batch of Grade 1 starting June 2020.

JYOTI CHANDEKAR

Special educator

Jyoti is a special educator who leads our inclusive kindergarten programme. She has completed a D.Ed in Special Education from Hellen Keller Institute, Mumbai.
Previously, she worked with Sanvad Karnabadhir Prabodhini, a school for children with hearing impairment in Dombivali, near Mumbai.

SHITAL PHALE

Shadow teacher

Shital is an shadow teacher tasked with providing individual support to children with special needs. Earlier, she worked as a nurse at the Rural Hospital in Kashele village.
Besides, she manages 'Samaaveshi library' and conducts library-centred workshops on storytelling and creative arts for rural children.

DENTAL Studio
Amazing Smiles

Nomad
Amazing Smiles

LEARN MORE ABOUT US.

WHO ARE WE AND WHAT DO WE DO?

VISION

One day, all schools will become ‘inclusive’.

MISSION

To bring systemic transformation in schools where every child irrespective of their social backgrounds and disability has equal access and opportunity to quality education.

Samaaveshi Pathshaala

Who are we?

Meet the Core Team

NIVEDITA TIWARI

ASHOK SHAH

ANDRIYA CHANDY

Andriya is an assistant professor with the Department of Social Work at Mumbai University. She holds an 'MA in Disability Studies & Action' from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai.
She has an experience of over seven years with NGOs working on disability and education based in Maharashtra.

RESHMA SAWANT

Reshma holds a 'Diploma in Early Childhood Education (ECE)' and has worked as a primary teacher for over three years in Karjat.
At Samaaveshi, she's responsible for designing the inclusive curriculum, for our first batch of Grade 1 starting June 2020.

JYOTI CHANDEKAR

Jyoti is a special educator who leads our inclusive kindergarten programme. She has completed a D.Ed in Special Education from Hellen Keller Institute, Mumbai.
Previously, she worked with Sanvad Karnabadhir Prabodhini, a school for children with hearing impairment in Dombivali, near Mumbai.

SHITAL PHALE

DENTAL StudioAmazing Smiles

NomadAmazing Smiles

LEARN MORE ABOUT US.

WHO ARE WE AND WHAT DO WE DO?

VISION

One day, all schools will become ‘inclusive’.

MISSION

To bring systemic transformation in schools where every child irrespective of their social backgrounds and disability has equal access and opportunity to quality education.

Samaaveshi Pathshaala

Who are we?

Meet the Core Team

NIVEDITA TIWARI

ASHOK SHAH

ANDRIYA CHANDY

Andriya is an assistant professor with the Department of Social Work at Mumbai University. She holds an 'MA in Disability Studies & Action' from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. She has an experience of over seven years with NGOs working on disability and education based in Maharashtra.

RESHMA SAWANT

Reshma holds a 'Diploma in Early Childhood Education (ECE)' and has worked as a primary teacher for over three years in Karjat. At Samaaveshi, she's responsible for designing the inclusive curriculum, for our first batch of Grade 1 starting June 2020.

JYOTI CHANDEKAR

Jyoti is a special educator who leads our inclusive kindergarten programme. She has completed a D.Ed in Special Education from Hellen Keller Institute, Mumbai. Previously, she worked with Sanvad Karnabadhir Prabodhini, a school for children with hearing impairment in Dombivali, near Mumbai.

SHITAL PHALE

DENTAL Studio
Amazing Smiles

Nomad
Amazing Smiles

Andriya is an assistant professor with the Department of Social Work at Mumbai University. She holds an 'MA in Disability Studies & Action' from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai.
She has an experience of over seven years with NGOs working on disability and education based in Maharashtra.

Reshma holds a 'Diploma in Early Childhood Education (ECE)' and has worked as a primary teacher for over three years in Karjat.
At Samaaveshi, she's responsible for designing the inclusive curriculum, for our first batch of Grade 1 starting June 2020.

Jyoti is a special educator who leads our inclusive kindergarten programme. She has completed a D.Ed in Special Education from Hellen Keller Institute, Mumbai.
Previously, she worked with Sanvad Karnabadhir Prabodhini, a school for children with hearing impairment in Dombivali, near Mumbai.