Chairman
Joy K
Mr.K.Joy is the Founder and Managing Trustee of the Common Grounds Foundation and the guiding force behind Common Grounds International Academy (CGIA), established in 2014.His journey began in social work, inspired by the literacy movement. Years of engagement with marginalised communities shaped his conviction that meaningful change must come from within. This experience strengthened his belief that education whether formal or informal is the most powerful tool for gaining personal dignity and transformation.He later worked as a trainer and management consultant across South India, focusing on organisational change management and human capacity building. With over three decades of experience in education, training, and leadership, he now serves as the Chairman of CGIA, working to translate vision into practice and build a model of inclusive education.He believes that education must be inclusive and responsive to the diverse needs of children. It should nurture the whole person and empower young minds to lead purposeful lives that contribute to the common good and national growth.
Experience with CGIA
My journey began even before the public announcement of CGIA. It started with a simple desire to support a few friends from the West who had come here for business and were searching for a way to educate their children. They wanted to initiate a homeschooling effort, and I suggested Joicy as a teacher to walk alongside their children in those early days.As some of our common friends expressed interest in sending their children to learn together, I sensed a deeper purpose unfolding. I offered to bring this growing initiative under the Common Grounds Foundation for which i am the chief functionary, and CGIA quietly took its first steps. Growth came gradually, year by year, often through challenges that shaped our character and strengthened our commitment.In 2016, our journey found deeper meaning when Hanna joined us as our first child with special needs. This moment shaped our identity as an inclusive school. Without models to guide us, we learned through listening, practice, and reflection, allowing each child to teach us how to grow.Today, despite our limitations, CGIA stands as a place of inclusion and belonging in this region. This journey has been made possible by the generous support of many from local community and friends from the west who shared not only skills but their hearts.I have been privileged to serve in a leadership role throughout this journey, but CGIA has always been a shared story. It continues to remind me that meaningful education is built on relationships, compassion, and a deep respect for the dignity of every child.