At KISS, community engagement is not a separate activity; it is embedded into our philosophy of holistic education, inclusion, and empowerment. From working closely with Indigenous elders and parents to running state-wide humanitarian responses, our outreach reflects our deep-rooted commitment to the people and places we serve.
Each area is interconnected, building toward the common goal of sustainable, inclusive development.
Building bridges between traditional knowledge and modern education through community participation.
KISS Deemed to be University consults with a Tribal Advisory Council made up of respected leaders, scholars, and community members from across Odisha’s tribal communities. The TAC guides decisions related to institutional development, inclusion, and Indigenous knowledge systems. Their inputs have led to the appointment of 14 Professors of Practice (masters of Indigenous knowledge), the launch of three tribal research chairs, and development of culturally grounded curricula.
We recognize that meaningful education begins at home. KISS actively involves parents and community leaders in the educational journey of our students through regular dialogue, cultural exchange, and home outreach. These engagements help build trust, ensure culturally relevant pedagogy, and foster long-term family participation in a child’s learning journey.
Through initiatives like Mission UDAY, Project Samarthya, and our Life Skills Education programme, KISS raises awareness about issues like child marriage, gender equity, menstrual hygiene, disability inclusion, and human trafficking. These efforts are backed by counselling, media outreach, and direct engagement with parents and communities.
In partnership with global and national institutions, the Kalinga Fellowship advances SDG 5 by convening government, civil society, and business leaders to build a collective response to gender-based violence and exploitation.
This community media initiative, piloted in Rayagada district, empowered transgender women to deliver street performances on child nutrition and WASH practices. This inclusive model brought health education to areas with limited media access, transforming behaviour at the household level.
Creating awareness and driving positive social change through targeted campaigns and partnerships.
Leading emergency response efforts during crises, ensuring no one is left behind.
From operating COVID hospitals to feeding over 3 lakh people during lockdowns, KISS and KIIT played a central role in Odisha’s emergency response. We reached out to tribal families, urban slums, transgender communities, stranded migrants, and even animals in distress
Even during the Covid-19 crisis, education didn’t stop. KISS delivered textbooks, food packets, and digital resources to over 30,000 students across 30 districts, ensuring continuity in learning and well-being.
Since 2013, the KISS Foundation has been extending financial, medical, and emotional support to destitute persons, orphaned children, elderly citizens, and people impacted by natural disasters.
More than 10,000 KISS students come from LWE-affected areas. Education offers them an alternative to violence, allowing them to reclaim their futures and reshape their communities with hope. Many have gone on to become teachers, athletes, civil servants, and social changemakers.
In partnership with TRIFED and the Ministry of MSME, KISS delivered enterprise and skills training to over 10,000 tribal youth across 156 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras in Odisha, creating new livelihood pathways rooted in Indigenous knowledge
A leadership and life skills programme, UDAY empowers 1,500 tribal adolescents across Odisha to become agents of social change in their own communities.
In partnership with UNFPA and the Government of Odisha, this project brings life skills, SRH education, and empowerment to over 8,700 adolescents with disabilities enrolled in 157 special schools.
Creating sustainable pathways for growth and transformation through education and skills development.
At KISS, we believe the most powerful change comes from within. Our community engagement efforts are built on mutual trust, cultural respect, and the conviction that tribal and marginalised communities must be at the centre of their own development journey. As we move forward, we remain committed to listening deeply, learning continuously, and co-creating solutions that are inclusive, sustainable, and led by the people we serve.
