kanthari - THE place for impact leadership
CELEBRATING 16 YEARS OF CREATING IMPACTFUL SOCIAL CHANGE
What is kanthari?
Tucked away in the lush backwaters of Kerala, kanthari is an international institute for social impact leadership that empowers those who have lived through adversity to become catalysts for change.
The idea for kanthari grew from the life experiences of its founders, sabriye tenberken and paul kronenberg.
In 1998, Together, they built the first school and vocational training center for the blind in Tibet—without any specific related training or prior experience.
Facing countless challenges, they later asked themselves: “What skills and guidance would we have needed when we started this journey?”
That question became the seed for kanthari’s unique curriculum, a hands-on, 12‑month program that equips changemakers from around the world with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to design and run their own impactful organizations.
At kanthari, lived experience becomes leadership, and obstacles transform into opportunities to make the world more just, inclusive, and compassionate.
Who we are
We are a team of professional enthusiast catalysts who give it their all, to practically equip change makers with all tools and skills required to start their own impact-making organizations.
What we do
Through an immersive, hands-on, and intensive training program, participants acquire all the techniques, tools, methods, and skills they need to start up and run effective, relevant social and/or environmental projects/ initiatives/organizations. Furthermore, to understand what the kanthari course is all about, click one of the options below:
What we've done
Since 2009, kanthari has empowered 323 social change makers from 57 countries.
These trail blazers have gone on to launch over 200 impactful organizations, collectively improving the lives of 50,000+ people every day – especially those positioned on the margins of society.
Their initiatives address some of the world’s most pressing challenges, creating sustainable solutions in diverse fields such as:
🌱 Environmental protection
💧 Water and waste management
☮️ Peacebuilding
♀️ Women’s empowerment
♿ Disability inclusion
📚 Alternative education and learning
…and many more.
kanthari is more than a training program—it’s a global movement of grassroots innovators building a world that works for all.
303
changemakers Trained
57
Countries
200 +
Organisations
50,000 +
Daily Beneficiaries
We welcome the 2026 kanthari participants
Meet the 2026 kantharis
hover over the pictures to learn more about the kanthari participants from 2026
kanthari BLOG
The Story Behind the kanthari Blog
When the pandemic hit in 2020, we launched the kanthari blog. At first, we posted daily updates, sharing how our graduates were being affected by—and responding to—the challenges of the new reality.
Thanks to your support, we could assist many who faced existential hardships. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for standing with us.
The blog hasn’t stopped—these days, we still publish blog posts to spotlight inspiring change makers and their journeys.
Explore the latest blog posts through the links below:
Sounds of new beginnings – Blog
Slowly, the campus is filling with life again. Sitting on...
Read More
Happy Holidays wishes from kanthari
“You might not know much about Congo,” Elie said, “but...
Read More
Leadership Rooted in rural Ugandan Community
kanthari blog – Justus Muhwezi – Uganda “Good morning, Muhwezi....
Read Morekanthari QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
Want to know what we’ve been up to?
Every few months, we publish a newsletter with highlights, stories, and exciting updates from the kanthari community.
Sign up and get it straight to your inbox!
kanthari TALKS 2025
kanthari TALKS 2025 marked the grand finale of kanthari’s intensive, hands-on, seven-month on-campus part of the impact leadership program.
Throughout this journey, participants from across the globe transform their visions for social change into actionable, sustainable project plans.
Each participant, who is a change maker, returns home equipped with the skills, courage, and strategies needed to challenge injustice, reshape mindsets, and build innovative solutions within their communities.
In powerful ten-minute talks, they shared their personal stories, the challenges they’ve confronted, and the social ventures they’ve created to tackle them.
Over two days, we experienced 20 unique stories and solutions from voices that are redefining leadership from the margins. The kanthari TALKS were live-streamed for a global audience.
To (re-)watch the live stream click the button
The 2025 kanthari batch had 20 change makers who come from 12 countries:
Cameroon (2), Democratic Republic of the Congo (1), Ghana (1), India (3), Indonesia (1), Kenya (1), Malawi (1), Nigeria (2), Tanzania (1), Uganda (2), Zambia (1), Zimbabwe (4)
Again, it was a very diverse group. Does this make you curious?
Soon, we will welcome the 2026 kanthari change makers. Stay tuned to get to know them too!
Contribute
HOW CAN YOU HELP: MAKE A DONATION and/or spread the word.
Your donation makes it possible for people who are positioned at the margins of society to participate in the kanthari training course. There, they learn everything they need to start a project themselves in their home country to bring about the urgently needed change in their community.
Therefore, your contribution has (had) an exponential effect over many years and reaches countless people in need around the globe.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION:
Are you a kanthari?
Have you overcome any kind of adversity or social ill, and because of that always wanted to start your own organization that aims to address a specific social problem, then the 12-month kanthari course
(7 months on-campus training + 5 months of mentorship) will serve as the final stop before you launch your organisation / venture / CSO or social enterprise.
Application Criteria
To apply, you must fulfil the following criteria:
– Be over 22 years of age (no upper age limit)
– Have you overcome adversity that drives you to make a difference in your community?
– Demonstrate passion and dedication to contribute to a better tomorrow.
– Speak and understand basic English and have basic computer skills
Apply today
If you are selected, a scholarship will be provided through kanthari.
The next kanthari course starts in April.
Don’t miss this opportunity and apply today itself!