Inspiring the next generation of change-makers.
Our Purpose
ProjectCHAKRA exists to inspire the next generation of change-makers and to develop self-aware, empathetic and resilient leaders.
Our Vision
We envision a world where every person has the opportunity to fulfil their potential and deepen the impact they have on the world.
About ProjectCHAKRA
We believe learning is a process. A process that includes personal experience and personal reflection.
We believe everything in our external world is a product of our internal world. Therefore, to progress externally, internal development is required.
This is why we take a learn by doing approach, designing and facilitating experiential learning experiences, which are followed by reflective debriefs to support self-realisation.
We utilise gamification and role-play simulations to bring real global challenges into the classroom, which evokes real emotions in participants, enabling them to build empathy.
Our active and reflective approach connects participants head, heart and hands to take their learning to a new level and inspire action beyond the classroom.
For young people, we open up career pathway opportunities with our network of organisations and provide mentorship to support their journey.
Our innovative approach and impact has global recognition and our talented team of trained facilitators include actors, actresses, entrepreneurs and experienced leaders currently spanning across the UK and India.
Meet the founders
Our work is rooted in our personal experiences having spent extensive time living and working with underserved communities in India. We found this unconventional path brought with it significant personal growth as well as a breadth of unique networks, skills and opportunities which aren’t generally available elsewhere.
ProjectCHAKRA is our way of sharing this with you.
Our story so far:
2004
Dharmesh joins Indicorps; a unique year-long grassroots Public Service Fellowship Programme as their Fellowship Director. Indicorps facilitated 150+ high calibre young people to serve across India from countries such as the USA, UK, South Africa and Singapore.
Dharmesh initially planned to stay with Indicorps in India for 5 months, but ended up extending it to 2 years.
2006
Dharmesh starts India’s first community-based Ultimate Frisbee team in Ahmedabad, which leads to the development of a sport for development programme called Ahmedabad Ultimate.
Ultimate Frisbee spreads and is now played across the whole of India.
2007
Dharmesh co-founds ConnectIndia, a charity which delivered programmes for young British-Indians to build leadership through service.
2008
Dharmesh returns to India to support the continued development of Ahmedabad Ultimate.
2014
At the age of 17, Anand participates in ConnectIndia’s Service Leadership Programme in Ahmedabad.
Between 2008 and 2014, ConnectIndia continues to run programmes in the UK and India and overall facilitates 100+ young people from the UK to India through their programmes.
2016
Dharmesh, Laxmi Chhaya and Hersh Thaker start ProjectCHAKRA, which at that time ran service-based internship programmes. They run their first 7 week summer internship in Leicester.
2018
Anand created his own internship to work with social enterprise Paryavaran Mitra, which is part of NGO Manav Sadhna based in Gandhi Ashram, Ahmedabad.
2019
Post-graduation, Anand starts his professional career on a United Nations Development Programme placement with Paryavaran Mitra.
It is during this experience he teams up with Dharmesh, Laxmi Chhaya and Ashish Agrawal to develop A Social Entrepreneurship Experience workshop, which was delivered at institutions like Imperial College Business School.
2020
The first set of student workshop participants fly to India to work with Paryavaran Mitra. Faculty members also visit to build further partnerships.
2021
The newest version of ProjectCHAKRA forms.
2022
ProjectCHAKRA partners with Bridge4Change Foundation in India and conducts their first National Tour to deliver their workshop experiences with universities and organisations across the country.
ProjectCHAKRA win the Progressive Education Delivery Award at the PIEoneer Awards.
2023
ProjectCHAKRA run their first Social Leadership Programme in India for students from the University of Surrey.
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Get in touch to explore ways we can work together.