BelongingPath Framework for Holistic Inclusion
Earlier known as the EmpowerPlus Framework for Holistic Inclusion
BelongingPath: Framework for Holistic Inclusion was developed with the vision of creating environments where inclusivity and equal opportunity are accessible to all — irrespective of differences that are not relevant to a role or responsibility.
Previously known as the EmpowerPlus Framework for Holistic Inclusion, BelongingPath offers a comprehensive and practical approach to addressing discrimination and exclusion across sectors. The framework is built around four core pillars:
- Equal Access to Opportunities,
- Dignified Treatment,
- Respecting Personal Agency and Voice,
- and Realizing (by self) and recognition (by others) of Worth
Through these pillars, BelongingPath, developed by Sonal Kulshreshtha, and Avani Kulshreshtha helps programmes, organisations, and communities move beyond numbers and representation to focus on whether people genuinely feel seen, heard, and valued.
Vision
BelongingPath is grounded in the belief that inclusivity is the foundation of a thriving society.
The framework envisions a world where equity and belonging are not exceptions but the norm – where no one is made to feel “less than” because of who or what they are, where they come from, or how they express themselves.
The vision is to dismantle visible and invisible barriers, challenge everyday discrimination, and create spaces where each individual has the conditions to realise their full potential.
Mission
Discrimination persists in many forms – linked to gender, caste, class, disability, age, identity, personality, geography, and more. These layers often limit opportunities and undermine dignity, even in spaces that are formally open to all.
The BelongingPath Framework for Holistic Inclusion has been developed as a comprehensive, adaptable response to these realities. Its mission is to help institutions, programmes, and communities:
- Recognise where exclusion and unequal treatment are happening, including in subtle and informal ways;
- Strengthen systems, culture, and everyday practices to support holistic inclusion; and
- Support individuals and groups in realising their own worth and agency.
Why the BelongingPath Framework?
The BelongingPath Framework for holistic inclusion (BelongingPath is the new name for the EmpowerPlus Framework) offers a holistic, structured, yet flexible way to foster inclusion and belonging:
- Broad applicability: Designed for diverse stakeholders – from programmes and policies to organisations, communities, and learning spaces.
- Actionable strategies: Translates ideas on inclusion into clear, practical lenses and steps that can be used in real meetings, processes, and decisions.
- Sustainable change: Focuses on long-term empowerment through systemic reforms, culture-building, and capacity strengthening – not one-time events.
Where BelongingPath Can Be Used
BelongingPath can be applied in multiple contexts including but not limited to rural communities and local institutions, social programmes, education spaces, workplaces, and networks. The core lens remains the same, while the questions and tools are adapted to each setting.
What BelongingPath Enables
The framework application need refinement, tools and checklists, field studies and diagnostics, learning spaces and trainings, and advisory support. The emphasis is always on making inclusion concrete and usable in daily practice.
Our Approach to Holistic Inclusion
The approach is grounded in lived experience, intersectional, and co-created with teams and communities. BelongingPath is treated as a living framework, it learns from practice and evolves with feedback, rather than being a fixed, one-time model.