The Global Center for the Development of the Whole Child Empowers 237 Teachers Across Telangana with Groundbreaking Child Development Course
The Global Center for the Development of the Whole Child (GC-DWC), part of the Institute for Educational Initiatives (IEI) at the University of Notre Dame, is proud to announce that 237 educators from Social Welfare schools across Telangana, India are participating in a transformative Whole Child Development (WCD) course as part of the Global Center’s Project Sampoorna. Built upon the successful Osmania University curriculum, it will equip teachers with strategies in Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), child development, and more—empowering them to bring holistic education back to their classrooms.
This innovative course marks a significant milestone in the state's education landscape, as it expands from an initial 37 schools to now include 237 schools, ensuring widespread adoption of SEL principles throughout the region. The Social Welfare Secretary saw the potential in its value and was keen on leveraging the Osmania University course developed by the Global Center to scale SEL operationalization.
“Education goes beyond academics; it’s about nurturing well-rounded individuals who are prepared to face the challenges of life,” said Rubina Philip, Associate Director of the GC-DWC in Telangana, India. “This course is a crucial step in empowering teachers with the tools and knowledge to support students not just intellectually, but emotionally and socially. The work being done through Project Sampoorna will help build a generation of resilient, empathetic, and self-aware individuals who will shape a better future for our state.”
The course includes 6 in-person workshops, 14 hours of virtual lessons, and 14 hours of hands-on practicum, totaling 64 hours of impactful learning. Over the course of the program, teachers are gaining invaluable insights into SEL, child development, and classroom strategies that promote emotional intelligence and resilience.
So far, the in-person workshops have covered essential topics such as:
1st Zonal Workshop: Focused on the Whole School Approach to SEL, exploring strategies for integrating SEL throughout the school ecosystem.
2nd Zonal Workshop: Addressed child and adolescent development, bridging theory with real classroom challenges, allowing teachers to reflect on their own experiences and connect with their students more empathetically.
3rd Zonal Workshop: Focused on Risk & Resilience in Childhood, exploring ways to help students, especially in residential schools, develop resilience despite the challenges they face.
4th Zonal Workshop: Expanded SEL activities beyond the classroom, empowering teachers to integrate SEL into school-wide policies and culture, creating a supportive environment for all students.
With two more workshops remaining, the program promises to deliver even more valuable content that will continue to shape teaching practices and create lasting impact.
“We are thrilled with the progress of Project Sampoorna and the enthusiasm of the teachers involved,” said Saketh Gayam, GC-DWC Senior Program Coordinator for India. “This initiative is a game-changer for education in Telangana, and we believe it will spark positive change not just in individual classrooms, but across entire schools and communities. The educators are not only gaining new knowledge, but they are also becoming champions of holistic education, ready to lead by example and support the development of the whole child.”
By following a hybrid model of training—combining in-person workshops with virtual learning—Project Sampoorna is reaching a broader group of educators while maintaining the quality and impact of its approach. As the course continues, the transformative effect of this initiative will be felt throughout the 237 schools and beyond.
To learn more about Project Sampoorna, visit: https://www.nd.edu/stories/empowering-through-education/
About the Global Center for the Development of the Whole Child (GC-DWC)
The Global Center for the Development of the Whole Child (GC-DWC) at the Institute for Educational Initiatives (IEI) at the University of Notre Dame, collaborates with researchers and practitioners to ensure the wellbeing—physical, emotional, social, and cognitive—of children and adolescents in low-resource and conflict-affected settings. Established to serve as a coherent platform for the Institute for Educational Initiative’s growing portfolio of global child development and learning programs, the GC-DWC creates environments that foster resilience and encourage children and adolescents to thrive. Using an innovative whole child development approach tailored to context-specific needs, the GC-DWC translates research into timely and thoughtful action, adapts research tools to improve the development of learning programs and policies, and activates systems (families, schools, communities) to lift children and adolescents out of adversity.
For more information about the GC-DWC and its initiatives, visit https://iei.nd.edu/gc-dwc/about.
About the Institute for Educational Initiatives
Founded in 1996, the Institute for Educational Initiatives (IEI) consists of more than two dozen initiatives that strive to improve education for all youth, particularly the disadvantaged, paying special, though not exclusive, attention to Catholic schools. Through research, the formation of teachers and leaders, and direct service to educational systems, the IEI’s scholars and practitioners pursue interdisciplinary collaborations to better understand and improve PK-12 education both in the United States and internationally.
For more information about the IEI and its initiatives, visit https://iei.nd.edu.
