Think Equal

Teaching humanity and values as intentionally as literacy and numeracy

Children are taught to read and count, but not to value themselves, others, or build healthy relationships. Think Equal embeds Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) into early education systems, building 25 competencies - from empathy and emotional regulation to equality - during the brain-building years (ages 3–6), when beliefs, behaviours and lifelong attitudes are shaped.

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Overview

HundrED shortlisted this innovation

HundrED has shortlisted this innovation to one of its innovation collections. The information on this page has been checked by HundrED.

Updated June 2026

Web presence

2016

Established

420K 2024

720K 2025

890K 2026

37

Countries

Students early

Target group

Think Equal's mission is to embed SEL as the missing third dimension of early education, recognised as core and compulsory alongside literacy and numeracy. Introduced during ages 3–6, when the brain is rapidly developing and foundational beliefs, values and behaviours are first formed, Think Equal equips teachers and education systems to shape not only what children know, but who they become. This means embedding SEL system-wide: within curricula, teacher training and everyday classroom practice. It means giving educators structured, evidence-based tools to develop children’s emotional literacy, empathy, self-regulation, prosocial behaviour and sense of justice alongside academic skills. The result is stronger school readiness, improved learning outcomes, better mental health and more inclusive classroom environments. More importantly, it creates a powerful preventive effect: by shaping mindsets early, education can address the root causes of violence, discrimination and inequality before they take hold. Our vision is for every child, everywhere, to receive an education that values both knowledge and humanity, enabling them to build healthier relationships, more inclusive communities and a more peaceful world.

About the innovation

Why did you create this innovation?

The world invests heavily in responding to violence, inequality, and conflict. We build prisons. We try to negotiate ceasefires. We rebuild societies after they fracture. Yet, we rarely ask the more fundamental question: where do these behaviours begin and how could they be prevented?

Across education systems, literacy and numeracy are mandated, but the development of mental health, emotional intelligence, psychosocial competencies, and social justice is often left to families, who may not have the tools or support to value or nurture these skills. As a result, children may not learn how to understand and value themselves, relate to others or to the world around them.

Leslee Udwin founded Think Equal following her documentary, India’s Daughter, which exposed the deep-rooted social conditioning underpinning gender-based violence. The insight was clear: violence is not the disease, but the symptom of discriminatory mindsets, beliefs and biases learned early in life. Neuroscience shows that the early years represent a critical window of opportunity when the brain is most malleable. Yet this is precisely where education systems are weakest.

Think Equal was created to intervene at this foundational stage: Embedding a structured, evidence-based SEL approach into early childhood education, so that every child learns not only how to read and write, but how to be human and contribute positively to societies.

What does your innovation look like in practice?

Think Equal is delivered through a 30-week structured programme for children aged 3-6, designed to operationalise SEL within everyday classroom practice through structured, developmentally appropriate pedagogy. It integrates seamlessly into early years systems, as a tool which operationalises national curricula.

Each classroom is equipped with a complete set of:
- 24 original narrative picture books (printed)
- 90 prescriptive, step-by-step lesson plans (printed + shared as PDF)
- Classroom resources (printed, easy to reproduce)
- Home Kits for parental engagement (digital, audio, and printed adaptations)
The structured pedagogy model enables teachers to deliver high-quality SEL three times a week, without requiring prior expertise and with minimal preparation. Through story-based learning and guided activities, children develop core competencies, including emotional literacy, empathy, inclusion, and peaceful conflict resolution, with measurable improvements observed within a single school term.

Think Equal is implemented in partnership with Ministries of Education, ensuring alignment with national curricula, integration into teacher training and Quality Assurance systems, and long-term sustainability. The programme is grounded in neuroscience and supported by three independent Randomised Controlled Trials, which demonstrate significant reductions in aggression, anxiety and social withdrawal, alongside increases in empathy, prosocial behaviour, and emotional regulation.

How has it been spreading?

Think Equal has operated in 39 countries to date, reaching over 892,000 children and 30,000 educators. The programme is available in 46 languages and has been adapted across diverse contexts, including national education systems, low-resource settings and conflict-affected environments.

In recent years, Think Equal has deliberately shifted from pilot delivery to system-led scale. 14 Ministries of Education have partnered with Think Equal to embed the programme into curricula, teacher training and monitoring systems, moving from short-term delivery to sustained, government-owned implementation. The model is designed for transfer of ownership, with governments receiving perpetual programme licences and implementation capacity embedded within existing systems. In several countries, this has already led to formal integration within national or sub-national education frameworks, enabling full saturation over time.

This approach is strengthened by the Think Equal matching Multiplier Fund, a philanthropist-supported mechanism that provides catalytic co-funding where governments commit to system integration and scale. Think Equal’s model has also been recognised globally, including through the WISE Award, inclusion in the HundrED Global Collection, and recognition at the UN Transforming Education Summit.

Over the coming years, Think Equal aims to deepen national rollouts in priority countries; reaching 10 additional countries each year, and supporting millions more children.

How have you modified or added to your innovation?

The core Think Equal model - a 30-week, structured SEL curriculum delivered through narrative picture books and scripted lessons - remains unchanged. What has evolved is how the programme is embedded, transferred and sustained within education systems. The most significant evolution has been the shift from pilot-based delivery to system integration. Think Equal is increasingly embedded within national and sub-national systems through Ministry partnerships, curriculum alignment, teacher training and monitoring mechanisms, enabling SEL to become part of everyday classroom practice. This shift has been accelerated by the Think Equal Multiplier Fund, which provides catalytic co-funding where governments commit to system integration, scale and sustainability, helping unlock national or regional adoption.

Think Equal has also expanded its focus on pre-service teacher training, working with universities and teacher training colleges so future educators are equipped to deliver SEL from the outset.
A further evolution is the transfer-of-ownership model. Governments receive perpetual programme licences, while implementation capacity is embedded within existing systems, enabling Ministries to manage training, delivery, monitoring and scale-up independently.

Finally, accessibility has been strengthened as an enabler of inclusive scale, with materials adapted into audio, sign language and caregiver-friendly formats, alongside mobile, radio and TV-based delivery where appropriate.

If I want to try it, what should I do?

Think Equal partners directly with Ministries of Education to co-design integration and rollout plans. If you can facilitate a Ministry introduction or would like to support a pilot project, please contact paloma.dowell@thinkequal.org. For families or UK-based nurseries, materials and training are available online via ThinkEqual.org (search EQlicious).

Media

RCT STUDY - Socio-emotional Learning in Early Childhood Education: Experimental Evidence from the Think Equal Programme’s Implementation in Colombia Please explore findings from the independent Randomised Controlled Trial of the Think Equal programme conducted in Colombia: https://publications.iadb.org/en/socioemotional-learning-early-childhood-education-experimental-evidence-think-equal-programs

VIDEO - Leslee Udwin, Think Equal's Founder, speaks at the UN General Assembly https://youtu.be/cvziyfIuLpk?si=Sr-M_ITyHmNnY_eZ

Breaking Cycles of Violence - Building Pro-Social Brains

We are thrilled to be in Wajir County, KENYA, for the official launch of the INSPIRED Programme, of which we are proudly a part of! Our CEO and Programmes Director are visiting local schools to witness the beginning of this incredible journey. Funded by the UK and Turkish governments (FCDO and TİKA), this partnership brings essential SEL to early years education in Wajir and Mandera counties.

Big news from the Seychelles! 🏝️✨ We are thrilled to announce our national partnership with Seychelles' Ministry of Education & Human Resource Development for the rollout of the Think Equal programme nationally in all state schools from Term 2, 2026, embedding Social and Emotional Learning into their education system.

Empowering educators across Ghana with Think Equal! 🇬🇭✨ We’ve had an incredible time conducting teacher training for our Think Equal programme implementation across 29 districts and counting in Ghana. Several teachers shared that in all their years of teaching, this is the first intervention that provided the actual materials and workbooks needed to succeed.

Through our Think Equal stories, children are quietly building the most important skills of all: empathy, inclusion, and kindness. With every Think Equal book, we aren’t just teaching them to read; we’re teaching them how to see the world through someone else’s eyes. One story at a time, we are shaping a more compassionate future.

Implementation steps

Government engagement and alignment

Engage the Ministry of Education or relevant authority to confirm interest and identify best entry points for programme delivery and alignment with national or local curriculum frameworks. This includes completing a curriculum mapping, agreeing on integration within timetables, co-designing implementation, and confirming ownership within the system. A formal agreement is established and executed to support long-term implementation and scale.

Contextualisation and material preparation

The Ministry or relevant authority is invited to review the programme materials and provide feedback on contextual relevance. Think Equal then adapts the content accordingly, while preserving the integrity of the core pedagogy and global citizenship principles. Once approved, materials are translated into agreed local languages, typeset, and printed ahead of distribution to targeted settings.

Master training and orientation of key stakeholders

Think Equal delivers a 3-day Master Training for Ministry-selected Lead Trainers, covering programme objectives, pedagogy, and practical tools to cascade training and support teachers. In line with the co-designed plan, key stakeholders - including head teachers and ministry personnel - receive targeted orientations to ensure strong leadership, effective implementation, and long-term sustainability.

Training of teachers / early years educators

Teacher training is embedded within existing pre- and in-service systems, and usually follows a blended model: a 2-day in-person workshop, additional digital modules via LMS, and Continuous Professional Development. Delivered by trained Lead Trainers with Think Equal support, it combines modelling, mentoring and reflection. Structured lesson plans enable continuous, classroom-based skill development and sustained, high-quality implementation.

Classroom implementation

Once trained and equipped with localised materials, teachers deliver the 30-week programme 3 times per week using the structured, story-based lesson plans. Learning is experiential and builds competencies progressively. The durable materials are meant to be reused for multiple cohorts over at least 10 years. Weekly Home Kits (5 - 10 minute activities) engage caregivers to reinforce learning beyond the classroom.

Monitoring & Evaluation

M&E combines classroom observations (fidelity checks), teacher check-ins, focus groups, and baseline/endline tools. Wherever possible, it is led by Ministry Quality Assurance teams, with technical support from Think Equal or partners. This approach strengthens system capacity, and enables joint delivery where needed, while ensuring progressive transfer of responsibilities.

System integration and strengthening

Over time, Think Equal is embedded within national systems (curricula, pre- and in-service teacher training, supervision, and Quality Assurance), ensuring sustained, government-led delivery. Capacity is strengthened across system actors, enabling full ownership. The process culminates in the transfer of a perpetual programme licence, allowing governments to print and scale resources independently.