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About Us

Today, over 800 million children in economically and socially difficult situations do not have the opportunity to develop essential skills and qualities like problem solving, collaboration and communication, values and principles, and gender equality. This critical gap where these children are not equipped to become responsible and employable citizens is leading to a crisis in our future society since it does not allow them to work themselves out of the cycle of poverty. (United Nations recognizes this crisis in the form of needing to develop global citizenship skills under Sustainable Development Goal # 4 of providing inclusive and equitable quality education.)

Across employers, work-readiness of youth is seen as the most important area that needs urgent attention. Key competencies that youth lack include communication skills, professionalism, confidence, interpersonal skills to work in diverse teams, innovation, and conceptual understanding of problems. Employers note the biggest obstacle is not that jobs are not available but that candidates are not work-ready. With a very large % of youth, the largest workforce by 2027 will be in India, Southeast Asia, and Africa. The above gaps are more exaggerated for youth from low-income backgrounds whose parents or schools cannot guide them in their education/career choices.

Enabling Leadership works with 9-15-year-old children from underprivileged backgrounds and through creative and innovative programs (that use Football and Lego), inculcates these essential and critical skills that are indispensable to becoming productive and responsible adults and eventually working themselves out of intergenerational poverty. Each program is carefully designed to enable children to collaborate, reflect on and connect first-hand experiences and learnings from the classroom or playground with their real lives.

Why Does Every Child Need to be a leader?
Our Theory of Change?

Evidence proves that education can lead to improved human development indices like improved health, reduced poverty and child mortality.

But what enables individuals to make ‘right’ choices – ones that take responsibility for improving our combined futures? This is at the heart of our theory of change.

And we believe that strong leadership skills are vital to creating choices as well as making the right choices.

OUR PROGRAMS

EL Build uses the pedagogy of play to enable children to create the world of their imagination. Using the principle of positive play, students design solutions using building blocks for real-world challenges in their home, school, village or larger community.

EL Play works in schools to help children garner multiple benefits of leadership development using football as a medium. 

Through a flagship curriculum that combines life skills with football drills, students engage in year-round rigorous training, participate in national leagues and get scouted at games, gaining exposure to sport and competition simultaneously.

EL Create is a  group-based music learning program that enables children from under-resourced schools to tell the stories of their dreams and communities. By enabling children to write original songs and hosting public performances, the program enables important leadership skills in students.

How We Enable
Leadership?

A unique framework on leadership underpins each of our program, setting competencies in skills including problem solving, creativity, analytical thinking, collaboration, communication, ethics, action and accountability. Our carefully designed programs in music, football and Lego enable children to learn these valuable leadership skills.

STRONG BELIEF SYSTEMS

STRONG BELIEF SYSTEMS

  • Self Confidence
  • Growth Mindset
  • Ability to Achieve

BELIEF IN OTHERS

  • Positive Outlook Towards Others
  • Effective Communication
  • Teamwork and Collaboration

BELIEF IN VALUES AND PRINCIPLES

  • Understanding your Belief System
  • Living your values
  • Respect for Society, Systems and Civic Bodies

EXCELLENT PROBLEM SOLVING

CREATIVE THINKING

  • Risk-Taking Ability
  • Open-Mindedness and Curiosity
  • Out of the Box Thinking

CRITICAL THINKING

  • Analytical Skills
  • Contextual Cause and Effect
  • Drawing Logical Conclusions

RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACTION

  • Conflict Resolution
  • Bias to Action
  • Mobilizing Others to Act

A KEEN SENSE OF AWARENESS AND RESPONSIBILITY

FOR SELF

  • Self-Reflection
  • Health and Wellbeing
  • Awareness and Management of Emotions

FOR COMMUNITY

  • Empathy
  • Sense of Belonging
  • Taking Initiative for Betterment

FOR WORLD

  • Awareness of the Interconnectedness of the World
  • Global Citizenship
  • Inspiring Action in Others

Today We Impact

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Children

Sites

India – Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Dharwad, Kumta, Satana & Pollachi
Cambodia – Battambang
Kenya – Nairobi
Singapore

OUR BOARD

Jay Bala

Jay works in the technology industry in Silicon Valley California and builds enterprise technology products. Graduated from IIT Madras and IIM Calcutta and believes it’s the duty of every person to make the world a better place for many generations to come in as many ways possible, big and small. Sound education at the school level in a safe and fun learning environment is fundamental and foundational to build human character and individuals with self confidence, creativity and empathy for the 21st century and beyond! He is working with the Enabling Leadership team to put those beliefs into practice.

Balaji Ramakrishnan

Balaji is a seasoned supply chain professional with 25+ years’ experience working in industry and as a management consultant.  He has a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University and an MBA from University of Chicago.  He is passionate about the idea of making a difference by giving the next generation the opportunity to grow and flourish.

Shikha Gupta

With over 15 years of experience in product management, marketing, and customer loyalty, Shikha is a strategic leader who has worked in the U.S., India, and Japan; leading initiatives that scale businesses and foster innovation. Currently, Shikha leads the expansion of Amazon Pay, driving partnerships, strategy, and product development. Shikha is deeply committed to Enabling Leadership’s cause, and as a member of the board, is helping develop initiatives and build high-performing teams that will enable the organization reach its goals, creating meaningful and lasting impact in the community.

Srini Neralla

Srini is an entrepreneur with over 24 years of corporate experience, and is currently a Senior Managing Principal at Salas O’Brien, a design engineering firm.  Srini loves mentoring entrepreneurs and is currently on the Board of the Texas A&M University McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship. He is also passionate about supporting underprivileged kids and is a strong believer in providing them the necessary leadership skills and nurturing their growth into responsible citizens and future leaders. Srini earned both his MS and PhD degrees from Texas A&M University in College Station, TX.

Xingchun Zheng

Xingchun is a seasoned Strategy & Investment professional with a proven track record in driving sustainable business expansion and turnarounds globally. She has served as a Board Member and held leadership roles at leading global firms such as Bain Capital, Boston Consulting Group, LVMH, and PPCL (Power Group of Canada).

Committed to development and impact investment, Xingchun has extensive experience in emerging economies such as India and China. She has led cross-border projects and contributed to high-impact initiatives, including development initiatives with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Western China.

Ravi Sonnad

Ravi has worked in the manufacturing industry for over 25 years, living and working in India, the United States, The Netherlands, China, and Singapore.

OUR REPORTS

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2023
Annual Report

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2022
Annual Report

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2021
Annual Report