Teach For India

Teach For India (TFI) is one of India's leading education non-profits working to eliminate educational inequity by developing a movement of leaders committed to ensuring that every child receives an excellent education. Founded in 2009 by educationist Shaheen Mistri, Teach For India is part of the global Teach For All network and recruits outstanding graduates and young professionals to teach full-time in under-resourced schools through its flagship two-year Fellowship.

The organisation believes that educational inequality is one of India's greatest challenges and that developing leaders who understand this reality from inside classrooms can create lasting systemic change. While Fellows teach children from low-income communities, they simultaneously develop leadership, problem-solving, communication, project management, and systems-thinking skills that enable them to continue driving change throughout their careers.

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Beyond the Fellowship, Teach For India has evolved into a nationwide leadership movement through its Alumni network, innovation programmes, school partnerships, and ecosystem collaborations. Alumni work across education, government, public policy, entrepreneurship, research, corporate leadership, and the social sector to improve educational outcomes for millions of children.

Today, Teach For India operates across multiple Indian cities and works with schools, governments, nonprofits, corporates, and education leaders to build an equitable education system where every child has the opportunity to thrive.

Major Areas of Work

• Teach For India Fellowship: A two-year paid leadership development programme where Fellows teach full-time in under-resourced schools.
• Leadership Development: Developing future leaders through classroom experience, coaching, mentorship, and continuous professional development.
• Education Equity: Improving educational outcomes for children from underserved communities.
• Alumni Movement: Supporting Fellows beyond the Fellowship to drive long-term change across education and society.
• Innovation & Entrepreneurship: Incubating education-focused ventures and supporting alumni-led organisations through InnovatED.
• Movement Building: Influencing education systems by promoting student voice, child safety, wellbeing, leadership, and holistic learning.
• School & Community Partnerships: Collaborating with schools, governments, and community stakeholders to improve learning experiences.

Major Initiatives and Programmes

• Teach For India Fellowship: A two-year, full-time paid Fellowship where graduates and professionals teach in under-resourced classrooms while developing leadership skills.
• Alumni Movement: A lifelong network supporting Fellows as they transition into careers across education, public policy, social impact, entrepreneurship, and corporate leadership.
• InnovatED: An innovation platform that incubates alumni-led education ventures addressing systemic challenges in Indian education.
• Career Connect & Alumni Career Fair: Connecting graduating Fellows with mission-driven organisations, education institutions, nonprofits, and corporate partners.
• Student Leadership & Holistic Development: Programmes designed to strengthen student agency, social-emotional learning, wellbeing, and future readiness.
• Leadership Development Institute: Continuous coaching, mentoring, workshops, and learning experiences designed to build effective classroom and systems leaders.

Impact

• Founded in 2009 by Shaheen Mistri.
• Part of the global Teach For All network operating across dozens of countries.
• More than 5,500 Fellows have completed the Fellowship.
• Over 70% of alumni continue working in education or social impact.
• Fellows and alumni have directly impacted hundreds of thousands of students while influencing education systems across India.
• Alumni have founded 160+ education and social impact organisations and hold leadership positions across nonprofits, government, schools, startups, and corporations.
• The Fellowship currently serves thousands of students annually across multiple cities through partnerships with government and affordable private schools.

Teach For India offers professionals an immersive leadership experience that combines classroom teaching with intensive coaching, professional development, and exposure to education systems. Fellows and staff develop strong skills in leadership, stakeholder management, communication, project management, curriculum design, data analysis, and problem-solving while working alongside educators, school leaders, policymakers, and community organisations.

The organisation is ideal for individuals passionate about education, child development, leadership, public policy, social innovation, and long-term systems change. Whether joining as a Fellow or as part of the core team, employees become part of a lifelong network of changemakers committed to transforming education in India.