Ashoka Fellowship and K‑12 Prevention

Sachin Chaudhry, founder of TrustCircle, is an Ashoka Fellow. He has also joined Ashoka's Mental Health Fellows Network.

For schools, the fellowship matters less as an honor than for the work it supports: prevention that starts in the school day, and staff who follow up.

Where the work began

TrustCircle began close to home. When Sachin's brother became unwell in his school years, the early signs were hard for the adults around him to see, and support came later than it could have. Sachin set out to build something schools could use to notice earlier and act.

TrustCircle brings a short daily check-in into K–12 schools. Students reflect privately on how they feel. Over time, patterns in those check-ins help counselors and support staff see who may need attention, so they can follow up early. It is prevention built into the school day, alongside the support schools already offer.

What the Ashoka Fellowship means

Ashoka Fellowships go to social entrepreneurs working on lasting, system-level change. For Sachin and TrustCircle, that means:

Visibility beyond borders: sharing TrustCircle's approach with more communities, starting with schools in under-resourced areas.
Peer collaboration: working with other Fellows on frameworks for sustainable mental health support.
Support to grow: access to Ashoka's mentorship, networks and approach to system change, so TrustCircle can reach more schools with care.

The recognition backs a simple idea: emotional well-being belongs in how schools work every day, not as an extra.

Why this matters for K–12 schools

Many students carry stress into school: academic pressure, time online, worry about the future, and the after-effects of the pandemic years. Most students are fine most days. Schools want to notice when that changes, and many lack the time, training or tools to do it early.

TrustCircle is built for that early step:

Early signs, shared with the right people: patterns in check-ins help support staff notice when a student may need attention, before a problem grows.
Daily check-ins and well-being activities help students build self-awareness and resilience.
Community-driven models support equity and inclusion across a school community.

The fellowship supports that mission: emotionally safe schools, in the U.S. and around the world.

A personal mission

The aim is a school day where mental health is normal to talk about, and support is there when a student needs it. The message TrustCircle wants every student to hear is simple:

"You are heard. You are supported. You matter."

What comes next

As TrustCircle works with more schools, the message stays the same: education should include mental health, and prevention should be part of the school day. Ashoka's recognition is encouragement to keep doing that work carefully, alongside the educators, counselors and families who make it count.

A note on support

TrustCircle is not a crisis service. Check-ins are reviewed during school hours, and urgent concerns go to school staff, a trusted adult or local emergency services. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. For support with thoughts of suicide or emotional distress, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Learn more

TrustCircle: www.trustcircle.co. How the daily check-in and follow-up work in K–12 schools.
Ashoka Mental Health Fellows Network: ashoka.org/en/mental-health-fellows-network. Ashoka's network of Fellows working on mental health.

Let's build schools where mental well-being is foundational, not forgotten.