kanthari TALKS 2026
A Celebration of Ideas, Flavours & Cultures
“What if a speech could take you beyond the stage?
What if a taste could open a window into another world?”
On 11 and 12 December, 20 speakers from 11 countries take the stage for their final speeches before returning to their communities. Paired with FOOD FOR THOUGHT, speeches inspire, conversations connect across sectors and generations, and authentic flavours make cultural exchange unforgettable.
DAYS
HOURS
MINUTES
SECONDS
Six Thematic Sessions Across Two Days
Each session focuses on a distinct social challenge. Delegates can register for individual sessions matching their exact organizational and personal interests.
Session 1
Day 1 • 10:00 – 11:55
Four International Voices, One Planet
🌱 Rethinking Our Environmental Future
What if waste became a resource, farming a force for regeneration, and local action a catalyst for global change?
Session 2
Day 1 • 10:00 – 11:55
Beyond Classroom Conventions
📚 Rethinking the Art of Teaching
What if education empowered teachers, reached children in forgotten corners and valued practical skills as much as academic grades?
Session 3
Day 1 • 15:20 – 16:30
Sparks, Spirits and Solutions
🌍New Ideas to Bridge Old Gaps
Meet changemakers helping young people build skills, confidence and the power to shape their futures.
Session 4
Day 1 • 17:10 – 18:20
Who Cares for Those the World Forgets?
🫶 Inclusion and Dignity
Changemakers standing alongside people with disabilities, older people and families affected by incarceration.
Session 05
Day 2 • 09:30 – 11:50
From Violence to Voice
📚 From Insult to Celebration
Women challenging gender-based violence, standing beside survivors and transforming how society values women.
Session 06
Day 2 • 11:50 – 13:35
Who Cares for Those the World Forgets?
🫶 Inclusion and Dignity
Changemakers standing alongside people with disabilities, older people and families affected by incarceration.
Step-by-Step Experience
Your Journey on Campus
From the moment you arrive before 10:00 AM on Day 1 to your final dialogue under the amphitheatre .
1
Arrival • Before 10:00 AM
ARRIVE. SETTLE. CONNECT.
Welcome to kanthari! Meet, connect, share stories and create memories together.
2
AUDITORIUM · TALKS & Q&A
DREAMS THAT MOVE THE WORLD
Hear inspiring journeys, explore bold ideas, ask questions and spark meaningful conversations.
3
Mini Documentaries
kanthari+ | BEYOND THE JOURNEY
Watch alumni-led change unfold through stories of communities transformed back home.
4
SESSION BREAK · FOOD REVEAL
EVERY DISH HAS A STORY
Come savour a theatrical dish reveal, where flavours unfold stories, memories and cultures.
5
AMPHITHEATRE · FOOD & NETWORKING
TASTE. SHARE. CONNECT.
Step beyond the stage! Taste global flavours, meet speakers and spark new connections.
6
AUDITORIUM · NEXT SESSION
BACK TO THE STORIES
Join session again for inspiring changemaker stories, bold questions and fresh perspectives.
Who Will Be in the Room?
Curated seating capacities preserve intimate, meaningful dialogue across sectors.
🏢 NGO Practitioners & Social Sector Leaders
20–25 places / Session
Exchange field-tested approaches and spark cross-border collaborations.
🎓 Social Work Faculty & Academics
~5 Places / Session
Connect academic classrooms directly with frontline global realities.
⚡ Young Minds & Emerging Changemakers
~10 Places / Session
Find international mentors and map your pathway into social impact.
🤝
Philanthropists, Donors & Impact Partners
~5 places
Engage directly with grassroots founders and scalable community solutions.
Secure Your Pass
Select your pass tier to reserve your auditorium seat and amphitheatre tasting experience.
📍 The Campus Setting
The kanthari Campus • Vellayani Lake, Trivandrum
Set on the serene Vellayani Lake in southern Kerala, kanthari is a Laurie Baker-inspired sustainable campus, recognised by HUDCO as India’s 2nd greenest campus.
Bird's-Eye View of kanthari Campus on Vellayani Lake
Where 20 global change makers from 11 countries assemble under open-air brick domes, surrounded by tranquil freshwater ecosystems and lush coconut groves.
About kanthari
Bold visions. Lived experience. Social change.
kanthari supports social-change leaders whose lived experiences fuel bold visions for a more inclusive, just and sustainable world.
The setting
Laurie Baker Eco-Campus on Vellayani Lake
- 🚆 Trivandrum Central (TVC): 12 km (approx 25 mins by taxi/auto)
- ✈️ TRV International Airport: 15 km (approx 30 mins)
- 🏖️ Kovalam Beach: 10 km
- 📍 Campus Gate: Near Vellayani Agricultural College bypass
kanthari TV
Watch kanthari TALKS on kanthariTV!
Feel the fire of their passion, build empathy, and get inspired to fuel your own mission for a fairer, bolder world.
kanthari Intake 2027
Are you a changemaker with a plan?
Applications are open for the next 7-month kanthari Leadership Training Course starting April 2027.
