Ms. Mala Giridhar, Trustee and Chief Coordinator at Kalike, holds an M.Phil in Medical and Social Psychology from NIMHANS, Bangalore, and a Masters in Clinical Psychology from Mumbai University. With her experience gained through 25 years of clinical practice in Sirsi, she actively plans and implements projects related to child and adolescent development.
Mala has been a part of the team that has established a sustainable occupational rehabilitation model for individuals with disabilities through a social enterprise. Drawing from comprehensive research findings on learning levels and the underlying factors contributing to poor educational outcomes in over 80 percent of school-going children, she has devised and is currently implementing remedial education programs at Kalike.
Mala actively works to inform various stakeholders in the education system about the complex reasons behind children’s learning challenges, including issues like intellectual disabilities and Dyslexia. She passionately advocates for the establishment of inclusive, supportive, relevant, meaningful, and joyful learning environments in schools. She is committed to developing educational settings that address the diverse needs of students, aiming to provide a comprehensive and enriching experience for each child.