Project Sampoorna

The Challenge

India has the world’s fastest growing economy—as it grows, however, there are groups that are being left behind. Children from underprivileged communities are not equipped to take advantage of the country’s educational and economic progress, and are in danger of being left behind. 

In Telangana, India’s fourth-largest state with the 7th-strongest ranked state economy, the literacy rate among Grade 3 students is 67% and numeracy is 70%—well above the national average—but these averages mask historic inequities for marginalised learners from Scheduled Castes (SC), Backward Castes (BC), and Scheduled Tribal communities (ST). The Telangana Social/ Tribal Welfare Residential Education Institution Societies (TSWREIS/ TTWREIS or the “Society”) has emerged as a progressive government response to providing equitable education opportunities for members of the SC, ST, BC, and other minority communities. In Telangana, the Society envisions creating outstanding residential schools that provide high-quality, holistic, and value-based education to marginalised children that will enable social mobility and empowerment.

While progress towards this goal is clearly evident, systems strengthening and innovation are required to fully achieve them.

Partnering for Impact

What would it take for schools to truly support the development of the whole child, beyond academics?

Since December 2020, the University of Notre Dame’s Global Center for the Development of the Whole Child (GC‑DWC) has partnered with the Society as the anchor organisation of Porticus’s Project Sampoorna. The goal: to build, operate, and replicate a Whole Child Development (WCD) model of education in India, ensuring disadvantaged children develop academically, emotionally, socially, and are prepared to thrive in the formal economy.

Project Sampoorna supports the Society’s vision by:

  • Strengthening school culture to foster transformational potential in every child
  • Aligning systems-level leadership, school directors, teachers, and students around holistic practices
  • Providing tools, training, and ongoing support to sustain impact over time

The Challenge

From 2021 to 2022, the GC‑DWC engaged deeply with school leaders, teachers, students, and parents. A comprehensive systems‑mapping process revealed five interconnected areas for holistic growth:

  • Academic Skills
  • Health & Nutrition
  • Work Readiness
  • Safety & Protection
  • Social & Emotional Learning (SEL)

A heat-map analysis highlighted Safety & Protection as the most urgent need, covering both physical and mental safety. This became the foundation for Project Sampoorna.

From Insight to Action

To address the gap, the GC-DWC operationalised SEL (Social and Emotional Learning) at the whole-school level, ensuring that every adult in the school ecosystem contributed to creating safe, emotionally responsive environments.

The Pilot (Incubation Phase)

  • Developed school‑wide and classroom‑level SEL practices
  • Introduced an adaptive learning system for feedback and course correction
  • Ran intensive training, bite‑sized actionable content, and ongoing support
  • Early signs of success led to expansion to 61 schools via a Training of Trainers (ToT) model

Building Strong Foundations for the Future

Key Insight: In‑service training matters but true systemic change requires pre‑service teacher education.

  • 2023: Partnered with Osmania University to pilot a two‑credit Whole Child Development course for B.Ed students
  • Strong reception → Expanded to all 70 affiliated B.Ed colleges in 2024
  • Launched faculty development programs and provided ongoing handholding support
  • Extended this model to 29 affiliated B.Ed Colleges under Palamuru University

Scaling In‑Service Support

  • Trained 237 teachers, one per Telangana Social Welfare Residential School, to lead SEL implementation
  • Used a hybrid learning model: online modules + in‑person workshops
  • Provided experiential training, practical assignments, and post‑training assessments
  • Ensured SEL became part of the everyday classroom and school culture

Today & Beyond

Project Sampoorna is now a growing ecosystem

Engaging pre‑service
and in‑service teachers

Co‑creating with
government leadership

Staying rooted in the lived realities of school communities

The commitment

Equip children to be academically prepared, emotionally safe, socially aware, and confidently ready for life.