Since 2022

From a single spark to a living system.

Guiding Dreams began with a question: what would it take to make emotional safety the daily default in every school?

This is the story of the people, the learning, the failures, and the milestones that shaped the Harmony system across Assam, Meghalaya, and beyond.

2022

The Spark — UNLEASH Global Innovation Lab

Our Founder, Arnab Barua , was selected for the UNLEASH Global Innovation Lab working on systems level responses to mental wellbeing.

This experience shaped the foundation of Guiding Dreams connecting global innovation with real-world implementation.
U-Lab
2022–2023

Building the Founding Team

Shruthi Vijayakumar joined as Leadership Coach. Valentina Ghatak joined as Co-Founder, leading on-ground implementation and research in schools.

Arnab
Valentina
Shruthi
U-Lab
2023

Systems Thinking — Presencing Institute (MIT U-Lab)

Guiding Dreams project was selected for U-Lab 2X by the Presencing Institute.

We learned to prototype responsibly, listen deeply, and work at the level of culture not just activity.
U-Lab
2023

Founding Champion — Dr. Nachiket Mor

Dr. Nachiket Mor joined as founding champion and advisor in public mental health and systems thinking.

The work was anchored in preventive mental health reducing external stressors and building resilience within school systems.
First pilot
2024

First innovation — Classroom Harmony
@ Natun Fatasil Town High School

India's first contextualized implementation of the Good Behavior Game

Harmony became daily practice not theory.
U-Lab
2024

Recognised by The Circle India

Classroom Harmony received The Circle India Micro Innovation Grant.

The toolkit was formalised, documented, and strengthened for scale.
First pilot
2024–2025

Scientific Review — Centre for Public Mental Health

The Centre for Public Mental Health visited to assess implementation and learning fidelity through a preventive mental health lens.

Iti Bhargava joined as Research & Innovation Advisor. Advisory structure became formally multi disciplinary.

U-Lab
2025

Government Recognition

Inspector of Schools (Samagra Shiksha, Kamrup (M), Assam) formally recognised the work and issued certification.

The model was validated within the public education system.
15 additional schools identified as expansion sites.
U-Lab
2025

From Classroom to School Harmony

We realised harmony cannot survive in isolated classrooms. School Harmony expanded to whole school systems.

Student leadership structures Whole-school anti-bullying systems
U-Lab
December 2025

Invitation — MPOWER Meghalaya

Guiding Dreams was formally invited by the Government of Meghalaya under MPOWER to participate in the Consultative Workshop on the Meghalaya Adolescent Wellbeing Curriculum, held in Shillong.

First cross-state institutional engagement. The model began influencing state level conversations beyond Assam.
U-Lab
February 2026

St. Anthony's LP School, Shillong

Guiding Dreams conducted structured Classroom Harmony teacher training at St. Anthony's Lower Primary our first cross-state implementation.

U-Lab
February 2026

Launch of Harmony Hub

The first batch of Harmony Hub launched with students from Natun Fatasil. Harmony extended beyond school hours into community continuity.

After-school · Harmony Hub Moving toward home integration
U-Lab
This marked the beginning of a long term ecosystem model.
What's Next

The story is
still being written.

If you believe children deserve emotionally safe classrooms there is a place for you in this story.

2022
and growing