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ABOUT US
Founded in 2015, Gubbachi is a Section 8 company* working towards the educational inclusion of marginalised children from migrant families. We also design interventions to enable these migrant communities to access benefits and entitlements, and build awareness about various social issues.
*What is a Section 8 company?
The Companies Act, 2013 defines Section 8 companies as those with charitable and non-profit objectives, including education. All income and profits for such entities are put towards furthering their chosen cause, with no dividends being paid to any of their members.
OUR VALUES
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We engage with care and concern in all our relationships - with every stakeholder, with the environment and each other.
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We work with complete authenticity in everything we do
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We believe that every child, adult and organisation can learn to learn
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We believe that knowledge sharing is fundamental to systemic and cultural shifts
gubbachi team
From left to right: Rizwan, Mani, Preethy, Nomita, Deyone and Somya
MEET THE TEAM
JOSEPH DEYONE JACOBI
CO-FOUNDER | MATH EXPERT
Deyone is a Math Educator with an engineering degree to boot. An MA in Education from Azim Premji University inspired him to act on the belief that universal quality education has the potential to solve many current social issues. He believes in the simplicity of Math and that every child can learn abstract mathematical ideas from daily life experiences. Developing ideas and materials to make learning Math a happy experience is what excites Deyone.
MANIMAKALAI RAJA
CO-FOUNDER | PROGRAMME LEAD, TRANSFORM
After an MA in Women's Studies, Mani was involved in research and editing for documentary films. While working on projects related to education and pedagogical practices, she found her calling. She then pursued a Montessori Diploma in Elementary and Early Child Learning, following which she was a facilitator and mentor in the primary wing of Prakriya Green Wisdom School for five years. She enjoys working with children and creating interactive, hands-on lesson plans to make both teaching and learning enjoyable experiences.
NOMITA SIKAND
CO-FOUNDER | RESOURCE MOBILISATION
Nomita studied Microbiology (B.Sc), and has been a middle school teacher for seven years. An MA in Education from Azim Premji University strengthened her belief that quality learning is every child's right, and a strong literacy programme is central to the ideas of equity. She consulted with APU to design and implement academic support for students in the MA programme as part of a student support initiative. She enjoys teaching and is involved with the English foundational programme for Gubbachi Connect and Proactive. She is currently responsible for Resource Mobilisation.
PREETHY RAO PATEL
CO-FOUNDER | PROGRAMME LEAD, BUDS & CONNECT
Preethy shifted from being a Market Researcher to working in a school for marginalised children in 2008. Her interest in literacy and equity through education was sparked during her MA in Education at Azim Premji University. She thoroughly enjoys working with and learning from children, and feeds off the high-spirited energy and chatter at the Learning Centre everyday.
RIZWAN AHMED
CO-FOUNDER | PROGRAMME LEAD, ENABLE
A Business Finance postgraduate, Rizwan moved from a career in the financial services industry to the social sector. After an MA in Development Studies from Azim Premji University, he engineered a community-based education programme for the Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement in his pursuit to provide quality education for marginalised children. He has a deep understanding of the education ecosystem and liaises with different stakeholders to ensure the wheels of Gubbachi's machinery run smoothly.
SOMYA NAND
CO-FOUNDER | PROGRAMME LEAD, SCHOOL ADOPTION PROGRAMME
A Math major from Delhi University, Somya moved from a career in consulting for garment manufacturing to teaching. Her desire to understand and contribute towards the education of the underserved led her to an MA in Education at Azim Premji University, and to eventually to co-found Gubbachi. Somya is now the Programme Lead for the School Adoption Programme at our partner government school in Kodathi.
ORGANISATION NUMBERS*
57 9 20 13 19 11
HEALTH ASSOCIATES
TEACHERS
COORDINATORS
COMMUNITY ASSOCIATES
ADMIN & OPERATIONS
VOLUNTEERS
* As of March 2023.
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