Ruchika Shah

Indian educator building schools in marginalized communities through innovative crowdfunding models

Ruchika Shah revolutionized education access in India through her Schools of Hope initiative, which has established 85+ schools in rural and tribal areas using a community-driven crowdfunding model. Her EdVenture platform connects global donors directly with village committees, ensuring 98% of funds reach classrooms. In 2022, she pioneered India's first Mobile School Units - solar-powered buses equipped with digital labs that serve nomadic communities, reaching 15,000+ children annually. Shah's Literacy for Livelihood program integrates vocational training with primary education, reducing child labor rates by 63% in partner districts. Her partnership with UNICEF created India's first digital literacy curriculum for girls, now adopted by 14 state governments. The Ruchika Model inspired similar programs in Bangladesh and Nepal, and her TED Fellows talk "Building Schools Where They're Needed Most" has driven $22M in donations. Shah recently launched EdTech Bridge, an AI-powered platform connecting Indian teachers with global resources, currently serving 500+ rural schools.