Our Story
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The problem
India’s education system faces a critical shortfall in emotional support. India is home to approximately 243 million adolescents (NCBI), making up about one-fifth of the total population. The WHO estimates that 1 in 7 adolescents aged 10–19 years experience mental health struggles while 1 in 3 students aged 13-15 have been bullied, significantly impacting their self-esteem (UNICEF, 2020). The growing stress on children’s mental health reflects an urgent need for change, we aim to bridge this gap by creating safe classrooms, conducive for building leadership.
Who we are
We are Khushi Khurana and Astrid Gracias, co-founders of Suljhaav. Our journey began with Teach for India, where we worked closely with students whose emotional needs often went unheard in the classroom. It was here that we saw the transformative potential of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). In 2022, we launched Suljhaav as a “Be The Change” project, with a mission to reimagine education by integrating emotional well-being and leadership into the core of the student experience.
What we believe
We believe in creating safe, supportive environments where students feel heard. By transforming the teacher-student relationship and integrating SEL into classrooms, we can nurture future leaders who are not only academically strong but emotionally resilient. 'Suljhaav' means to 'unravel' we believe that conversations around mental health and emotional well-being shouldn’t be optional—they’re essential for building better societies. Suljhaav strives to make this vision a reality by fostering empathy, safety, and emotional well-being in every classroom.
What we do
At Suljhaav, we empower educators by providing the knowledge and tools necessary to effectively integrate Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) into their classrooms, aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal Four for inclusive and equitable quality education. Through comprehensive workshops, training sessions, and a wealth of resources, we enable teachers to create safe and nurturing environments where emotional well-being, leadership, and empathy take centre stage. We dream of cultivating educational spaces where students can thrive academically and emotionally, equipping them to lead with resilience and compassion in an increasingly complex world.
Our vision
Every child will thrive in a safe classroom, empowered with the socio-emotional intelligence and resilience necessary to lead a successful life.
By embedding Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) into the fabric of education, we aspire to create empathetic leaders who transform their communities with compassion, understanding, and strength.
Our Mission
Suljhaav means to ‘unravel’, Our mission is to empower educators with the knowledge, tools and solutions to build emotionally supportive classrooms. We aim to foster students’ emotional well-being and leadership by transforming the teacher-student relationship, ensuring every child has the space to grow both personally and academically. Through SEL, we strive to create compassionate future generations who are prepared to navigate life’s challenges with confidence.