Our Accredited Course Offerings
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Kathalaya’s International Academy of Storytelling (KIAS)
Where Stories Find Their Voice
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In 2003, Kathalaya planted the seed for something extraordinary — The International Academy of Storytelling (KIAS) — the first and only globally recognized institute dedicated to the art and science of storytelling. Founded and led by Geeta Ramanujam, KIAS grew from a vision to nurture storytellers who could inspire, teach, and transform lives through the timeless power of story.
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Over the years, KIAS has evolved into a global learning space, drawing teachers, scholars, artists, doctors, professionals, parents, and dreamers from across the world. Each course — from accredited diplomas to immersive beginner programs — is thoughtfully designed by experts to blend art, education, and communication.
From its roots in Bengaluru, KIAS has blossomed with branches in Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Chennai, and the Himalayas, and now reaches learners worldwide through its vibrant online courses.
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To date, over 2,000 storytellers have been certified through KIAS programs, and Kathalaya’s wider workshops and webinars have impacted more than 99,500 people globally — weaving stories that continue to connect hearts and cultures across continents.
Level 1
Certified Intensive Beginner’s
Course In Storytelling
Great stories have always inspired the way people think. Great philosophers and motivational speakers use stories to state a fact or to drive home a message effectively.
Storytelling Taps, Tells and Transforms people to craft their stories to stimulate an emotional and intelligent response from the participants. They are engaging and effective because they activate the listener’s imagination.
Storytelling techniques helps people to communicate the story effectively using the right language tone and voice.
Level 11
Certified Diploma
Course In Storytelling
The Diploma course opens you to a whole new dimension of Storytelling. You will explore and discover stories that have evolved through times in the different regions of the World. You will travel to myths and mysteries of the fantasy worlds and discover the difference between a legend and a fairy tale or the time difference between a folk tale and a fable. Why were they told and what did it mean to people will be the journey that will leave you with awe and a sense of wonder. And so connect you to your own source. We equip you with new skills from the music, arts and crafts fields besides allowing you to discover your own potential to discover yourself as a truly professional storyteller.
Intensive Batch 179 April 2025
Workshops
WORKSHOPS are mainly conceptualized to help people become aware of Storytelling- an offering of the varied approaches though short understandable and practically applicable modules both for Education as well as for other professions like health, corporate communications, Diversity and Inclusion, Career growth, Special needs in Education, Mental wellness, Emotional Wisdom, and so on .
Since 1998 through our workshops we have reached AS MANY AS 99,206 PEOPLE to become aware of STORYTELLING AS A MEANS TO ADDRESS ANY ISSUES.
For Children
KATHALYA’ STORYTELLING EXPERIENCE since 1998 began with schools to make concepts interesting in Education. Though we had positive responses all children were not able to participate in the workshops offered to them within the school premises. That is when we at Kathalaya customized workshops for children under different headings like “Story Weavers” “Storytelling for young adults” “Kathakalash” etc.
After offering it as a monthly program and customizing them Kathalaya through a consistent diet of storytelling helped students to reflect on their own positions in society subtly choosing tales with an underlying message or value.
Stories and storytelling required children to actively engage through activities following the story using both their emotional intelligence and their cognitive ability.
They liked the storytelling sessions because of their entertainment value like the fun value and recently Amrit after watching Ramayana felt that Kumbhakarna was "funny," "cool," and "loving."
Kathalaya’s workshops are theme based which help children make connections to their own lives as well as relating empathetically with others. Every storytelling workshop helps children participate primarily as a listener and then a teller.
Storytelling for Grownups – The Kathalaya Way
The Story Way for Grownups
Storytelling breathes life into ideas and makes even the most complex concepts easy to grasp. Facts and data may fade, but stories linger—turning dry information into experiences that speak to the heart.
At the root of all learning lies listening. True communication begins when the storyteller listens—not just with the ears, but with full presence. When we, as adults, listen with curiosity—to a moment in history, a tale of relationships, or an experience shared—something awakens within us. Our minds engage, our hearts open, and our imagination stirs.
But how do we learn to tell stories that touch others? How do we carry a tale from one heart to another?
Through practice, reflection, and shared experience. In our workshops and webinars, participants slowly and steadily hone the craft of storytelling—learning how to use voice, gesture, emotion, and silence. With every telling, confidence grows. We begin to polish our inner stories and shape our outer narratives, discovering that every word we speak carries the power to move, inspire, and connect.
And what is the storyteller’s greatest tool?
Ourselves.
Our own faith, conviction, and presence form the canvas upon which every story is painted. When we truly believe in the story we tell, that belief becomes contagious. The emotion we pour in—like the right ingredients in a dish—transforms the tale into something nourishing, memorable, and deeply human
Our Corporate Shout
Founded in 1998 with a vision to create positive social change through education, Kathalaya’s Academy of Storytelling soon expanded its reach beyond classrooms into the world of business and leadership.
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Today, Kathalaya brings the transformative power of storytelling into corporate spaces—using it as a dynamic tool for building leadership skills, enhancing communication, fostering inclusion, and strengthening teams.
In our programs, stories are not just told—they are experienced. Each narrative becomes a mirror through which participants discover their own meanings.
A story may come from the outside, but its true resonance emerges from within. And when that happens, the insight it leaves behind stays long after the story ends.
Storytelling, at its core, is a shared process between the teller and the listener—a bridge of emotion, understanding, and empathy. In the workplace, it becomes a powerful medium to communicate values, vision, and purpose—cutting across barriers of hierarchy, age, and ideology.
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For leaders, stories are more than metaphors—they are instruments of change. Through Kathalaya’s specialized programs such as “The Art of Storytelling”, professionals are guided to rediscover their authentic voices, craft compelling narratives, and embody the change they wish to lead.
At Kathalaya, we believe that every individual carries a story worth sharing—and through storytelling, organizations can connect, inspire, and transform from within.