Twenty-five years ago, Christel House opened its first school in India with a bold vision: that every child, regardless of their circumstances, deserves the opportunity to learn, thrive, and build a brighter future. What began in 2001 with just 320 students in Kindergarten through Grade 2 has grown into a movement that is transforming lives across India.
Today, Christel House India serves nearly 2,800 students annually across four campuses—Bangalore, Atal Nagar, Pune, and Thane. Thousands of graduates are pursuing higher education, building successful careers, supporting their families, and creating lasting change in their communities. As we celebrate this milestone, we honor the vision that made it all possible and look ahead with renewed purpose.
Today, Christel House India is creating new opportunities for children across four schools. Building on the success of its established schools in Bangalore and Atal Nagar, Christel House India opened new schools in Pune and Thane in 2026, welcoming students in Kindergarten through Grade 2. The new schools will add a grade each year, extending the Christel House model to more students and communities as they grow toward full K–12 schools.
Christel House exists because one woman believed poverty should never determine a child's future. Christel DeHaan believed every child deserved not only an education, but also the opportunity to succeed in life.
Our founder, Christel DeHaan, believed that education should not merely interrupt poverty, it should break its cycle forever.
That belief continues to shape every classroom, every teacher, every graduate, and every opportunity created through Christel House India. Christel reminded us why this work matters:
The obstacles facing Christel House students are daunting. But every day our students come to school, learn, and set their sights on a better tomorrow. They are breaking through the barriers of poverty to build a new and better life for themselves and a future for their families. They are our heroes and role models for others to follow.
At the Bangalore campus, Christel’s legacy is permanently reflected in a remarkable sculpture titled Mother and Child. Created by a team of students and parents under the guidance of art teacher Dhanaraj, the sculpture represents Christel DeHaan lifting a child beyond their circumstances and giving them wings to fly. Students from Grades 8 through 12 helped bring the vision to life, creating more than a work of art, created a symbol of hope that inspires everyone who visits the campus. And like the sculpture itself, Christel’s vision continues to lift generations of young people toward lives filled with possibility.
Read more +In our first quarter century, Christel House India has grown beyond a single school. Today, the Christel House model reaches students across four campuses, providing not only high-quality education, but also healthcare, nutrition, character development, family support, career guidance, and postsecondary success services that help students achieve upward economic mobility. Every graduate represents a life changed—and a family whose future has been forever transformed.
What started with 320 students has become a thriving community of thousands of learners, alumni, teachers, families, partners, and supporters working together to break the cycle of poverty.
Every milestone over the past 25 years has been made possible by the unwavering support of our students, families, communities, alumni, teachers, donors, partners, Board members, government agencies, volunteers, and friends.
Your trust, compassion, and commitment have helped transform lives and create opportunities that reach far beyond the classroom.
As we celebrate 25 years, we thank you for believing in our mission and walking this journey with us. Together, we look ahead with renewed purpose—ensuring that every child has a seat at the table of life and every opportunity to build a brighter future.
25 stories, divided into five topics, that explain the efficacy of our transformative model and methods, and illustrate the success of our mission.
