Born and brought up in the serene town of Chamba, Himachal Pradesh, Afsana finds deep grounding in the beauty and calm of her hometown. For her, Chamba is more than just a place—it’s a source of emotional strength and reflection, a space she turns to whenever life feels overwhelming. The values that continue to guide her—growth, independence, mutual respect, and a love for learning—have remained constants across every phase of her journey.

With a strong academic foundation in science, Afsana holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Zoology, along with a B.Ed. However, despite being rooted in the world of content and curriculum, she began to feel a deeper calling—a desire to create impact that went beyond the four walls of a classroom. This led her to join the Teach For India Fellowship.

The Fellowship became a pivotal chapter in her life. It exposed her to the complexities of India’s education system and the many challenges that students, teachers, and parents face. It also revealed how crucial collaboration is in driving change—and how that change, while slow, is absolutely possible with consistency, intention, and heart. A key learning during this time was recognizing the disconnect that often exists among stakeholders in a child’s learning journey—a misalignment that can hinder a student’s growth. These insights shaped her commitment to resilience, perseverance, and long-term work in education.

Afsana’s journey eventually brought her to Simple Education Foundation (SEF), driven by a need to deepen her impact. She felt a strong pull to work at the systemic level—where lasting change could be designed and nurtured across schools, not just in one classroom. She believes that teachers are at the heart of meaningful education, and they deserve the kind of support that is responsive, rooted, and real. At SEF, she hopes to contribute to that vision, continue growing, and learn alongside a community equally committed to reimagining education in India.

As a child, I was observant, joyful, and emotionally connected to nature. Growing up as the middle daughter, I naturally learned to care for others—a trait that still guides how I show up today.