Educate to empower

Vishala Ramswami

FOUNDER, MANAGING TRUSTEE

Vishala is the managing trustee of Educate to Empower. Vishala is on the board of directors at Loyal Textiles Ltd, where she looks after labour welfare and sustainable business development. She also serves on the board of directors of Thiagaraja School of Management and Thiagaraja Model High School, both non-profit educational institutions. Vishala is a visiting lecturer on key development issues at several colleges in Chennai. Previously, she worked with Ernst & Young in London and the Singapore government. Vishala studied International Development at London School of Economics.

J. Abirami

HEADMISTRESS

Abirami is an experienced teacher and educational administrator who previously worked as an assistant professor at Auxilium College. She holds a B.A, MA. and M.Phil in History and a B.Ed in Education. She was awarded the 1st Rank Holder in History at Madras University in 2002. She has presented papers on child labour and feminism at various international conferences. In addition to academic responsibilities, she leads the school’s community outreach programs and crisis relief efforts.

Karpagam

ASSISTANT HEADMISTRESS

Karpagam is an experienced teacher who previously worked in the prestigious Chennai Public School. She holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in Microbiology and Biomedical Science, and a second bachelor’s degree in Education. Her passions include STEM education, forest schooling and conducting welfare programs for the village community.

T. Shankar

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

Shankar is a renowned educationist and assistant headmaster of a non-profit school in Madurai, India. He focuses on education for children with learning difficulties. Amongst the economically disadvantaged and visually challenged students he has taught in India, five have secured highest marks in national exams and two have completed their PhD in the USA. He holds master’s degrees in Sociology, Chemistry and Education.

Vedika Agarwal

HEAD OF TEACHER TRAINING

Vedika Agarwal has a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from UCL Institute of Education, UK and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Statistics from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai. Vedika previously worked as a Teach for India fellow at a public school in Chennai. After her Fellowship, Vedika founded Yein Udaan where she generates access to learning opportunities for over 1000 children in marginalised communities with her team of 40 dedicated teachers. Vedika is the co-creator of ‘Survive Covid’, a simulation experienced by 2,00,000+ people worldwide. She has been recognised as one of 100 global women leaders combatting Covid-19.

Nimisha Philip

HEAD OF PARTNERSHIPS

Nimisha adorns various hats as global legal head at TASC group, international feature writer at the UN and plays a pivotal role on the advisory board of various NGOs with a special interest in gender lens investment, women and child rights. She was previously vice president at an impact investment and has worked in India’s leading law firm, Cyril and Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas. She holds a law degree from The London School of Economics and a Literature degree from St. Stephens, Delhi University.