The Kotak Education

Foundation Way
Kotak Education Foundation (KEF), established in 2007 works with a mission to support children and youth from
underprivileged families through different education-based interventions to empower them to rise above poverty
line and lead a life of dignity through sustainable processes.

KEF works with a holistic approach through 8 different projects in areas of school education, scholarship and
livelihood.
 Our Reach
Since 2007, KEF has partnered and supported about
200 schools in Mumbai and nearby suburbs and has
impacted 1,60,000 students, 1,820 school leaders,
17,000 teachers and about 30,000 school parents.
More than 18,000 youth from low income families
have been skilled for livelihood. KEF has succeeded
in supporting more than 2,000 scholars coming from
low income families to become engineers, doctors and
financial professionals.

WARDS

25 SCHOLARSHIPS FOR
PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION
SCHOOLS

200 2,141
YOUTH SKILLED
SCHOOL FOR LIVELIHOOD
LEADERS

1,820 18,000
12,000+
FAMILIES ABOVE
POVERTY LINE
TEACHERS STUDENTS

17,000 1,60,000
PARENTS

30,000
Our Approach
Over the years, KEF has evolved and expanded its work across the country, with the help of its learnings and projects
in the slum communities of Mumbai.

The foundation is currently focusing on transformation through education, scholarship and livelihood projects.
01
The Impact
Lead has worked in 147 schools with close to 800
School Leaders

School Leadership 90% of schools have adopted literacy and numeracy

development practices.
Development Project
76% of schools have created their School
Lead project works with the objective of
Development Plans incorporating Leadership
strengthening leadership and managerial practices
Development, Team Development, Instructional
of KEF partner school leaders so as to enable them
Development and Whole School Development in their
to create, sustain and lead a culture of academic and
plans.
personal success for all their students.
78% of schools have initiated Class Observation and
The LEAD Way 6 step written feedback mechanism in their schools

The LEAD project adopts an inside-out approach
where the personal practices of the school leaders
are strengthened, followed by which the team and
instructional practices are strengthened, to build
a sustainable school culture and this is done by
undertaking the following activities:
ICDI Sessions - The ICDI or ‘I can do it’ mentoring
sessions are conducted to support school leaders
to integrate their learning into their daily school
routine.
63% of schools have either class teachers’ PLC
(Professional Learning Community) or Subject
Teachers’ PLC in their school.
61% of schools have taken proactive steps to improve
class 10 results by data analyses and setting up of a
Pastoral Care system for their students.
55 HeadTeachers have won innovation idea Awards
and 13 have won innovation accomplished Awards
from about 300 submissions each year.

Group Workshops – With the help of group

workshops, school leaders are supported with
community building and are sensitized on the themes
related to school leadership, good governance and
quality education.

Exposure Visits- To create ‘Global Citizens’ and

to keep up with the pace of the changing world,
exposure visits are conducted to encourage school
leaders to learn from the best local and global
practices in education.
02
Digital Learning Solution
Project
The Digital Learning Solution (DLS) project is
enhancing the teaching learning process and
outcomes of the teachers and students of partner
schools. The project also aims to build a sustainable
digital learning ecosystem in the schools to make
them future ready.

The DLS Way

Digital Learning Solution has successfully launched
innovative solutions to enable digital equity
and strengthen technology integration in urban
vernacular medium schools amongst teachers,
students and parents.

Following steps are taken to integrate technology in

partner schools:

Tab distribution: 1:1 tabs with curated content for

self-learning, is given to 8th-10th grade students, so
as to enhance the students’ learning outcome.

Focused session: Saturday inquiry sessions are

conducted to enhance the students’ scientific
temperament.
Digital classroom set up: WIFI internet with LED
TV set up is done in the classroom to strengthen
teaching learning infrastructure in partner schools.
Teacher support: O-Teach, teaching assistance and
analytic sessions are conducted to create digital
teaching-learning practices
Support for school leaders: School leaders are given
training to become efficient digital leaders. Experts
in the field conduct sessions on future technology
and ed-tech
Mindspark- It is a personalized learning software that
will allow children to effectively advance at their own
pace. First phase of the implementation initiated in
2023
The Impact
More than 16000 students and 500 teachers from
grade 8th to 10th, have benefited from the project.
76 school leaders have been trained to integrate
technology in teaching, learning, and assessment.
With the help of WIFI internet connections and
digital classrooms, a digital ecosystem is being
established for partner schools

Exposure visits- School leaders, teachers and

students understand about future technology and the
importance of digital learning.
03
Communicative English
Project
Umang equips middle school students with
communicative English skills. The spoken
English Project for students of standard 5 to
8 began in the year 2007. The project offers
international and national level exposure to
students to participate in events like Design For
Change (DFC) , Mock United Nations (MUNs) and
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related
events to build their self-confidence and spoken
English skills.

The Umang Way Blended learning to boost technology usage and

digital literacy
Umang is a communicative English project with
21st-century skills embedded for 5th -8th grade
Collaborations and exposure visits to build
students through the following activities -
aspirational values
In-Class sessions for Basic Interpersonal
Buddy mentorship to foster peer-learning
Communication Skills (BICS)
NEP 2020 aligned tech-enabled programme
Out-of-Class activities to practice English in
real-life situations
Events to showcase acquired English language skills

A project-based learning method that has copious

benefits for students, ranging from project
management to self-confidence.

The Impact
Overall 43,000 students have been imparted
communicative English skills since 2006.

1,200 students collaborated with National and

International School buddies.

900 plus students participated in international

collaborations for various projects.

70 students & 32 News studio sessions on KEF

YouTube Channel.
04
Health Project
Health services are needed in the schools as
comprehensive services through awareness,
prevention, corrective and referrals are delivered
with follow ups with various stakeholders.KEF
partners with renowned organizations that deliver
comprehensive services of eye care, surgery,
Hb testing, and provide facilities to reduce the
prevalence of anemia.The KEF modules are in place
and are comprehensive to impart behaviour change
in the target groups.
The Impact
2,50,203 students have received support and benefits
from the KEF’s health project
More than 12000 students were made aware of
anemia and its implications
7 schools were made self-sustainable, in order to
carry on with MSS activities and one among these
schools won a national award.

The Health Way

The health team extends its support to the students
for partner schools through:

Kishori Sehat Abhiyan - It aims to curb anemia

in adolescent girls and create awareness among
students about menstrual health, hygiene, nutrition
and changes that occur during the adolescent years.
Students are also sensitized on topics like decision-
making, career-goal setting and the proper age for
marriage.
05
Infrastructure Project
Nirmaan works with the objective of providing a
clean, healthy and conducive learning environment
to children, by replacing leaking roofs, upgrading
sanitary blocks, providing purified water facility and
enliven the structure through creative paintings.
The Nirmaan Way
The steps taken to create a safer learning
environment -
Condition Assessment - The Nirmaan team conducts
visual condition assessments. Recommendations
related to plastering, painting, tiling, replacement
of the roof, windows, doors, etc. are then discussed
with school leaders.
Roofing: Asbestos roofs are replaced with PUF
panels. Repaired roofs are leak-proof, heat and fire
resistant. Rainwater is channelized and discharged
properly to inhibit the breeding of mosquitoes. All of
the upgrades come with low-cost maintenance.
Clean water and sanitation- Water purifiers are
installed to ensure clean and pure drinking water
and toilet blocks are renovated. The improvements
help provide hygienic conditions for children in KEF
partner schools.
The Impact
The infrastructure project has worked with more than
35 schools providing a suitable, safe learning space
impacting the lives of 40,000 students.
06
Model School Project
Model School Project kick started its pilot in 2022
- 23 across Maharashtra in collaboration with
Maharashtra State Council of Educational Research
and Training (MSCERT) at 21 schools across Palghar,
Pune, Nasik, Thane, Raigarh as an initiative to
improve quality of learning in schools and provide a
great learning environment for students.

Model School Way

The project aims to provide quality education
to students. Build quality infrastructure and
develop 21st-century skills in them to make them
future-ready. To enhance children’s learning
process, creative and critical thinking, embracing
constitutional values following interventions have
been initiated -

For grade 1 to grade 4 - Marathi and Math in sync

with the NIPUN Bharat Vision initiated

For grade 5th – 8th - Communicative English-Umang

project model introduced

KEF is working with school leaders and teachers

following LEAD project model

Building a sustainable digital learning ecosystem

in the schools to make them future ready – Digital
Learning Solution project model initiated

Nirmaan project is working towards building quality

infrastructure

Eye checkup started under health project model

07
The Livelihood Project
Unnati is a skill development and livelihood
project for the unemployed urban youth from
underprivileged families who have dropped out of
school or are undergraduate/ graduate aspirants.
The project aims to support these individuals to
become contributing members of their community,
thus helping their families break the vicious circle of
poverty.
The Impact
KEF has 7 centers in Mumbai and one in Pune in
collaboration with Yashaswi Academy. All the 7
centers conduct domain-specific training. More than
18,000 aspirants have been trained and 12000 have
been placed in the organized sector. The average
salary earned by aspirants who were placed by KEF,
is INR 1,56,000 per annum.

The Unnati Way

Unnati supports the skill development of the
aspirants by conducting the following:

Zero-cost training programs and certification is

provided to the participants.

Domain Specific training is provided on:

Advanced Beauty

Customized Relations and Sales

Banking Financial Services and Insurance

Multi-Skilled Technician

The program includes personality development and

English-speaking training to equip the youth with the
necessary professional skills.

100% placement assistance is provided by KEF to all

eligible participants to secure a job and embark on a
sustainable livelihood journey.

Exposure visits and guest lectures are organized

to give the aspirants a better understanding of the
opportunities and accountability required from them.
08
Scholarship Project
The Scholarship Project supports continuity in
education for meritorious students from Class 11
until Graduation from underserved communities
by offering scholarship, academic support and life
skills support thereby helping families to rise above
poverty.
10 plus scholarship project focuses on selecting
highly meritorious students , supporting them with
scholarships and other allied programs to ensure
they complete Class 12 and take admission into
professional courses.
12 plus scholarship offers unique features along
with the financial support like providing intensive
mentoring, home visits, academic sessions, career
counselling and life skill sessions which improves the
academic performance and also contributes to the
holistic development of the scholars.
Kotak Kanya Scholarship - In 2021, KEF launched
Kotak Kanya Scholarship , an exclusive pan-India
scholarship for meritorious girl students from low
income families who have taken admission in STEM
and professional courses in high – ranking premium
institutes of India.
Financial Aid - Taking cognizance of the loss of life
due to Covid led pandemic , KEF launched Kotak
Shiksha Nidhi, a financial assistance to ensure
continuity in education for students aged 6 to 22
years who have lost a parent or primary earning
family member due to Covid-19.
The Excel Way
Financial Support - students are given a monthly
scholarship in 10 plus to cover their basic
educational expenses for 10+ and 12+ students.
Students pursuing professional courses in
graduation, (consistently scoring above 70%) are
supported with college tuition fees.
Academic support - Students are mentored through
telephonic sessions in spoken English
Career Counseling & Aptitude Tests - Students
are provided with career counseling services and
aptitude tests to help them make mindful decisions
about their career choices.
Exposure Visits- Based on their career preferences
exposure visits are organized for students to provide
experiential learning to students through a tie up
with different corporations.
Finishing School - For Kotak Kanya Scholars, the
project provides training on grooming, professional
etiquette, communication skills and personal
leadership.
Alumni Association- The association is a platform
to network with each other, buddy mentor, train
and support current scholars with placement
opportunities.
The Impact
2141 meritorious scholars were supported and
guided under 10+, 12+ and Kotak Kanya scholarship.
Since its inception in 2007, the 670 students have
graduated and over 82% of students i.e. 500 students
have been employed.
65 students are pursuing postgraduate studies.
Through the support of the project 189 students
have become Engineers, 9 doctors, 54 para medical
professionals , 147 finance professionals and 2
students who are contributing as Armed Forces
Personnel.
Excel Scholars are placed in prestigious companies
like Deloitte, L&T, Capgemini, TCS, HDFC Bank, ICICI
Bank to name a few .
KEF has provided financial aid to 1516 students
under Kotak Shiksha Nidhi.
A Tidal Wave Of
Transformation
Kotak Education Foundation’s objective is to
empower underprivileged children and youth through
education and build an inclusive India through a
holistic model of change. We aim to address the
challenges we face as a nation for our children,
and youth and contribute to the country’s overall
development.
Our skilling and livelihood projects will empower
the youth to make independent and self-sustaining
professional growth. Additionally, KEF will closely work
with the school leadership members as well to ensure
that the impact sustains throughout consistently. At a
systemic level, KEF will work to establish systems and
processes that empower schools by themselves to bring
about the necessary growth for their students.

The Way Forward...

KEF works with some of India’s most economically
underprivileged communities in and around Mumbai
and Maharashtra. KEF has sustainably contributed
to address urban poverty through its education and
livelihood projects in some of the poorest wards
of Mumbai which have the lowest HDI. We have
partnered with more than 107 private government-
aided schools that have over two lakh students. That
is about 5% of the entire school-going population
of Mumbai. We are confident that the pendulum of
change will now move faster and impact many more
lives.
KEF is proud to have more than 280 staff who are
motivated and dedicated to bring about a change
in the lives of these children and young individuals.
The next few years will see many collaborations with
schools and other social enterprises as we continue
to spread our wings.
Volunteering with Kotak
Education Foundation
KEF offers a diverse pool of volunteering opportunities
for individuals across causes, interests and
skills. Volunteers from corporates, educational
institutes, and individual professionals have been
contributing their time and efforts to the cause of
KEF. More than 6000 volunteers have supported
7000+ students through telephonic English classes,
career counseling, motivation sessions etc. You can
also join our team email us at kefvolunteering@
kotakeducationfoundation.org

Rooted in our experience of over 15 years of working

in schools, the way forward for KEF is guided by
aiming to bring substantial and relevant change
across the grade levels in school. The primary
focus will be on building the individual capacity
of our students through academic interventions,
scholarships, and overall mentorship and guidance.
 Join us

volunteer partner employee

Get in touch
Write to us at
contact@kotakeducation.org
Visit us at
www.kotakeducation.org
Walk in at
Kotak Education Foundation,
Ujagar Compound, Opposite Deonar Bus Depot,
Off Sion-Trombay Road, Deonar, Mumbai – 400088