Sabriye Tenberken

Due to a progressive retinal disease, Sabriye became completely blind at the age of twelve. Her love for Tibet and desire to learn new things led her to develop the Tibetan Braille script in 1992. Sabriye traveled Tibet on her own in 1997 in order to explore the possibility of establishing a school for the blind – where she met the Dutch technician Paul Kronenberg.

They started a preparatory primary school for blind children, a medical massage training clinic for blind youth and adults, a braille printing press, and an ecological training farm in Tibet together in 1998.

In 2005, Sabriye and Paul finally founded “kanthari” in Kerala, South India – an institute that trains people who – like them – are driven by the passion to make the world a better place through concrete action.

kanthari is an international institute for “Social Impact Leadership.” What makes it unique is that all participants have faced or are currently facing the very problems they aim to solve. Former child soldiers develop ideas here on how they can contribute to peacebuilding in their home countries. Former drug addicts and victims of domestic or sexual violence work on initiatives to protect others from a similar fate. Other participants have experienced the effects of climate change firsthand and design measures for sustainable living in their communities.

A world changed by ethical visionaries, characterized by integrity, equality, and empathy.

280 change-makers from 55 countries have been trained at the kanthari institute since 2009. The unique “Journey in five acts” curriculum developed by Sabriye and Paul offers an intensive, hands-on learning experience that pushes participants to exceed their limits.

The twelve-month, scholarship-funded programme takes place primarily on the beautiful green kanthari campus in Trivandrum. There, participants from around the world grow into leaders for social and environmental change in creative workshops facilitated by international mentors. Through innovative learning modules, such as “Tansalesea,” a fictional country, the kantharis’ projects are rigorously tested. They must defend themselves and their projects before a critical audience and respond to fictitious sponsors, preparing them for real-world challenges.

As a result, over 180 sustainable initiatives have improved the lives of 50,000 people so far. The “kantharis” are committed to positive change in their communities as activists, founders, or inventors. They establish social enterprises, create relevant educational opportunities for their communities, invent sustainable products that simplify the lives of people with disabilities, or use art as a means of promoting peace.