Advocate

We will advocate for key issues needed to realize our vision – and to bring 3.5% of the population into our movement.

Why 3.5%?

Research tells us that successful community driven changes occur when there is vast and diverse societal support for urgent change. Such change is disruptive, and only when leaders know and believe that a society demands change, will we be able to succeed. A theory by Erica Chanoweth suggests that successful social movements create a tipping point only when they’re able to mobilize 3.5% of society to commit to a cause. She cites four principles for this to be true:

A large and diverse population of participants that can be sustained over time.
The ability to create loyalty shifts among key regime-supporting groups such as business elites, state media, and—most important—security elites such 3.5% as the police and the military.
A creative and imaginative variation in methods of resistance beyond mass protest.
The organizational discipline to face direct repression without having the movement fall apart or opt for violence.

Our goals

Mobilize 3.5% of India’s regions around a common goal of advancing educational equity.

Advance key policy and implementation shifts that accelerate progress for children.

Cultivate a network of well-known advocates that span business, government, politics, and entertainment.

Develop a community is consistently mobilizing others.

Forge coalitions of organizations and individuals fighting for educational equity.

Issues that we will advocate for

Advancing Educational Equity

We have arrived at two mega issues. Both of these issues fit into the authenticity and fabric of our organization, and while separate, these issues are at their best when they are taken together.

Student Partnership
Transformational Leadership

Our system has the most transformative power when leadership is working in partnership with students.

Advancing Operations

Our new Government Relations vertical will relentlessly advocate for operational barriers such as funding for Teach For India Fellows, Public-Private Partnerships, FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) funding, Accreditation for the Fellowship, etc.

Reactive Issues

We are cognizant that we are living in a rapidly changing and highly uncertain world where we must react and respond to issues that affect the children and communities we serve (e.g. school reopenings). However, responding to reactive issues does carry prices: we run the risk of alienating our community and cluttering our brand identity. As a result, we will commit to several principles to guide our responses:

We will respond to only one reactive issue at a time
Any reactive issue that we respond will have to advance our mission and vision, our operations and be a good use of our voice.

How will we get there

Government Relations: We will build the infrastructure through our relationships and efforts with the government to advocate for issues.
Research and Thought Leadership: We will invest in the capabilities to generate research around key issues & exercise thought leadership needed to influence those issues.
Media: We will build the media capabilities to publicly advocate for issues.