From a small beginning, our work has grown into a model guided by a clear purpose and long-term vision.
Mission: A world where all children and youth can learn free of cost to learn, lead and grow without fear to reach their full potential.
Vision: To empower 2 million indigenous children through quality comprehensive education
At KISS, we believe that education is the most powerful tool for change. But we also know that books alone aren’t enough.
That’s why our approach goes beyond the classroom. We provide nutrition, healthcare, skill-building and emotional support, designed around the lived realities of tribal communities. Our model is rooted in empathy, cultural understanding and long-term impact.
Our work is guided by a commitment to inclusion, dignity, and respect for Indigenous identity. We align closely with national and global frameworks such as the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ensuring that our approach remains both locally grounded and globally relevant. Long before holistic education became a national priority, KISS had already been practicing it, driven by the vision of our founder and the resilience of our students
At KISS, we walk alongside Indigenous communities in their pursuit of knowledge, cultural pride, and collective well-being. Our approach is built on mutual respect, deep listening, and the understanding that Indigenous children and youth are not just students, but future leaders, knowledge-keepers, and changemakers in their own right.
KISS provides education, nutrition, accommodation and healthcare to thousands of Indigenous students from Class I to doctoral level at no cost, all within a safe, inclusive and culturally rooted environment. This support allows students and their families to pursue education without economic or logistical barriers, while remaining connected to their identities.
Education at KISS isn’t just about academic success – it’s about nurturing dignity, confidence, and cultural awareness. Our students learn life skills, leadership, and emotional intelligence alongside science, math, and the arts. Many go on to serve their communities, drawing strength from both traditional and modern knowledge systems.
KISS Deemed University is the largest university globally with a focus solely on Indigenous communities. It places Indigenous students at the center – as researchers, scholars, and authors of their own stories. Courses span tribal philosophy, governance, heritage, and sustainable development, contributing to a new generation of culturally grounded Indigenous academics and leaders.
Language is identity, and we honour that. Our Mother Tongue Based Multilingual Education (MTBMLE) approach supports early education in students’ native languages while gradually building fluency in Odia, Hindi and English. This inclusive method has improved confidence, comprehension, and academic performance. In 2022, our work received the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize.
KISS has been acknowledged by several UN agencies and international platforms for its community-led, rights-based approach to inclusive education. We’ve even been featured in the Limca and Guinness Book of Records for our reach and innovation, but what matters most to us is the trust we’ve built with the communities we serve.
Classrooms at KISS are inclusive spaces where diversity is celebrated and each learner can grow at their own pace. Education here is a shared journey, co-created by students and educators. Our dropout rate is virtually zero because students feel seen, respected and supported.
Nearly 70% of our students are girls. KISS actively nurtures leadership among tribal girls and young women, many of whom go on to become engineers, doctors, athletes, public servants, entrepreneurs and educators, among other diverse professions.
At the same time, we recognise that achieving gender equality requires active, collective engagement. Through our educational environment, boys and young men are encouraged to practice respect, empathy and equity, helping build more inclusive communities.
KISS offers a stable, caring educational environment for children from regions affected by conflict and displacement. Many of our students have lived through instability, and choose education as a path of peace, healing, and self-determination. We honour their resilience and walk beside them in their journeys.
Through the KISS Foundation, we extend support beyond our core programmes to communities in need, reaching vulnerable groups including underserved families, the elderly, orphaned children and even animals with care and dignity.
In times of crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters like Cyclone Fani, we have mobilised our resources and staff to provide relief to affected communities, including hot meals for stranded migrant labourers and support for monks and Tibetan communities in Odisha.
This reflects our enduring commitment to solidarity and shared humanity, standing with those in need not only in moments of crisis, but every day.
At KISS, sport is not just an activity; it is a powerful pathway to discipline, confidence and opportunity. Together with KIIT, we have nurtured a remarkable number of athletes who go on to represent India at national and international levels.
Through structured training, mentorship and competitive exposure, students are able to discover their potential, build resilience, discipline and the confidence to excel both in sport and in life.
KISS works closely with Indigenous communities, building relationships rooted in trust, respect and cultural understanding. Our engagement extends beyond the campus, through outreach, dialogue and continued connection with families and local contexts.
By staying grounded in the communities we serve, we ensure that our work remains relevant, respectful and responsive to their evolving needs.
KISS alumni are making meaningful contributions across sectors as civil servants, entrepreneurs, athletes, researchers and community leaders, among others. They remain deeply rooted in their cultures while engaging with the world around them.
Many alumni stay closely connected to their communities, creating a ripple effect of change by mentoring, supporting and inspiring the next generation. Their journeys are not just individual success stories; they are part of a larger cycle of growth, where each generation lifts the next.
KISS provides free education, nutrition, accommodation, and healthcare to thousands of Indigenous students from kindergarten to doctoral level – all within a safe, inclusive, and culturally rooted environment. This support allows students and their families to pursue education without economic or logistical barriers, while remaining connected to their identities.
Education at KISS isn’t just about academic success – it’s about nurturing dignity, confidence, and cultural awareness. Our students learn life skills, leadership, and emotional intelligence alongside science, math, and the arts. Many go on to serve their communities, drawing strength from both tradition and modern knowledge systems.
KISS Deemed University is the first university globally with a focus solely on Indigenous communities. It places Indigenous students at the center – as researchers, scholars, and authors of their own stories. Courses span tribal philosophy, governance, heritage, and sustainable development, contributing to a new generation of culturally grounded Indigenous academics and leaders.
Language is identity, and we honour that. Our Mother Tongue Based Multilingual Education (MTBMLE) approach supports early education in students’ native languages while gradually building fluency in Odia and English. This inclusive method has improved confidence, comprehension, and academic performance. In 2022, our work received the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize.
KISS has been acknowledged by several UN agencies and international platforms for its community-led, rights-based approach to inclusive education. We’ve even been featured in the Limca and Guinness Book of Records for our reach and innovation, but what matters most to us is the trust we’ve built with the communities we serve.
Our dropout rate is virtually zero – because students feel seen, respected, and supported. Classrooms at KISS are inclusive spaces where diversity is celebrated, and each learner can grow at their own pace. Education here is a shared journey, co-created by students and educators.
Over 60% of our students are girls. KISS actively nurtures leadership among tribal girls and young women, many of whom go on to become engineers, doctors, athletes, public servants, and educators. Gender equity is not a goal for the future; it is a present, everyday reality in our classrooms and campuses.
KISS offers a stable, caring educational environment for children from regions affected by conflict and displacement. Many of our students have lived through instability, and choose education as a path of peace, healing, and self-determination. We honour their resilience and walk beside them in their journeys.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, KISS extended care to over 200 orphaned children, welcoming them into a nurturing and empowering environment. This action reflects our ongoing commitment to solidarity and shared humanity, not just during crises, but every day.
KISS alumni are making meaningful contributions across sectors – as civil servants, entrepreneurs, athletes, researchers, and community leaders. They remain deeply rooted in their cultures while engaging with the world around them. Their success is not a departure from their identity, it’s an expression of it.
