Gurugram, Aug 25: Dr. Neelima Kamrah, Principal of KIIT World School, Gurugram, has been selected as the first Teacher Fellow under a new international fellowship programme launched by the prestigious Helen Woodward Animal Center, California, USA. The fellowship is designed to promote humane education and encourage compassion, empathy and a sense of responsibility towards animals among children and young people.
As part of the fellowship, Dr. Kamrah is currently engaging with experts at the California-based centre to gain insights into humane education programmes, teaching approaches and practices that can help integrate empathy and responsible behaviour into school education. She plans to bring these learnings back to India and apply them within her school while also sharing relevant practices with the wider education community.
Speaking about the fellowship, Dr. Neelima Kamrah said, “This fellowship is not just an international opportunity for me, but a meaningful learning experience that connects education with compassion and responsibility. I look forward to applying the approaches I learn here in my school and taking these practices to a wider community of teachers and students.”
With more than 32 years of experience in the field of education, Dr. Kamrah has received several national and international honours, including a State Award for Best Teacher. She has also been associated with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) as a City Coordinator and Training Coordinator, contributing to teacher training, professional development and academic guidance.
The academic collaboration between India and the Helen Woodward Animal Center began in 2024, following which Animal Friends Clubs were established in four Indian schools under the centre’s humane education programme. The initiative focuses on helping students develop greater empathy, kindness and responsible attitudes towards animals and the environment.
Dr. Kamrah’s selection as the first Teacher Fellow under the international programme marks a significant achievement for the education community in Gurugram. It also reflects the growing international recognition of the city’s educational ecosystem and its focus on progressive, value-based and experiential learning.
Through this fellowship, Dr. Kamrah aims to strengthen the integration of humane education into school learning and encourage students to become more empathetic, responsible and socially conscious individuals.