Aastha Khursija

Associate Coordinator

National Youth & Adolescent Intervention

Aastha graduated from Hansraj College, Delhi, and completed her Post-Graduation in Mathematics from NCWEB. During her postgraduate studies, she began exploring the development sector through internships with the Indian School of Democracy and Umeed. Her journey at Pravah began when she volunteered and underwent the SMILE In-turn-ship, Fellowship and Professionals Programme. Her passion is to work on sustainable cities and she got the opportunity to make this her Social Action Project during the SMILE Fellowship. She also had a brief stint at ComMutiny - the Youth Collective before working full-time at Pravah.

Akash Paliwal

Rajasthan

Age 23

Akash is pursuing a Master’s in Social Work after earning his Bachelor's degree in the same field. As a Youth Facilitator, he collaborates with various social organizations to creatively address youth issues, share experiences, and implement solutions. With seven years of volunteering in Jaipur, Akash is well-versed in tackling diverse social challenges.

Akhilesh Kumar Singh

Senior Associate Coordinator

Accounts and Finance

Akhilesh began his career as an Article Assistant and later worked with Atlas Law Partners as an Accounts Assistant. With over nine years of experience in finance and accounting, he brings extensive knowledge to his role. He holds a CA (PE II) qualification from Delhi and a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) degree from Jai Prakash University. His professional journey reflects a strong foundation in financial management and accounting practices.

Amreen Ali

Madhya Pradesh

Age 23

Amreen is a passionate learner currently pursuing further education. With a commitment to actively participating in both learning and teaching, she aims to articulate her perspectives and deepen her understanding. Amreen brings significant hands-on experience from working closely with youth, particularly adolescent girls, at the grassroots level, making her a vital voice for change.

Arjun Shekhar

Co-Founder

Pravah, ComMutiny – The Youth Collective, Vyaktitva

Arjun Shekhar, a prominent figure in the vartaLeap Coalition, stands as a co-founder of Pravah and ComMutiny – The Youth Collective, alongside being the visionary founder of Vyaktitva, a distinguished performance support consulting firm. Renowned for his expertise in designing structured experiences, Arjun possesses a diverse range of interests and engagements in the realm of human development. His impactful contributions span both social and corporate sectors, where he has crafted innovative learning and leadership interventions tailored to nurture individual potential. An accomplished author, Arjun has co-authored works such as 'Ocean in a Drop: Inside-Out Youth Leadership' and 'ComMutiny – Sparking an Inside-out Youth Revolution,' serving as invaluable resources for the youth development field. With a master's degree in economics and an alumnus of XLRI, Arjun brings a unique blend of academic rigour and practical insight to his endeavours. His dedication to empowering youth and fostering holistic development underscores his unwavering commitment to catalysing positive societal change.

Arunima Singh

Uttar Pradesh

Age 24

Arunima, an Advocacy Ambassador at Project CACA, holds a Master’s degree in Social Work and specializes in SRHR, capacity building, life skills development, and child rights. With experience at organizations like Pravah and UNICEF, she is committed to addressing urgent youth issues and amplifying marginalized voices through her advocacy efforts.

Ashraf Patel

Co-Founder

Pravah, ComMutiny – The Youth Collective

Ashraf has played a key role in shaping the youth work field for nearly three decades as co-founder of Pravah and ComMutiny - The Youth Collective. She is a passionate advocate of inside-out youth leadership and committed to strengthening youth-centric development and societal wellbeing based on the constitution values. Towards this aim she is currently part of co-creating the vartaLeap Coalition in her volunteering capacity. This is a cross-sectoral community with 180 leading organisations, youth work practitioners, policymakers and key stakeholders who are working together to scale with soul, the mission ‘Every Youth a Jagrik, Every Space Nurturing Jagriks’ (Jagrik being a self-awakened, active citizen). Ashraf is committed to coalition building and collectivisation. She is the co-founder Commonwealth Alliance of Youth Worker Association (CAYWA) and in the past has been part of steering groups of a number of collectives including WNTA, Vikalp Sangam, Catalyst 2030 and International Forum for Volunteering Development. With Vyaktitva she is contributing to the OD and culture portfolio specifically with development organisations and collectives. She is also Guest faculty at ISDM offering a course called Par-us-Par, Spurring Collectivisation: Nurturing Alliances, Networks and Coalitions. A graduate in Physics from Delhi University and a postgraduate in PM&IR from XLRI, Jamshedpur, Ashraf began her professional life in HR and Organisation Development in the corporate sector before shifting to the field of adolescent and youth development. She is an Ashoka Fellow (1997), a Jubilant Bhartia Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award (SEOY) Awardee (2020), and a Schwab social entrepreneur (2021). A certified MBTI facilitator, she was also part of the Harvard Executive Education program on Leadership for System Change(2023) and has co-authored a number of learning resources and a field resource book 'Ocean in a Drop – Inside Out Youth Leadership' (Sage 2013).

Bandi Venu

Telangana

Age 24

Bandi holds a Master’s degree in Social Work and serves as a Gender Sensitization Trainer at Sri Ram Charitable Trust. His work focuses on educating students about gender issues and medical psychiatric concerns. An active participant in rural community engagement, Bandi is also a Youth Ke Bol leader and has volunteered in various impactful campaigns, driving social change.

Bhavi Barad

Program Coordinator

Fundraising and Visibility

Bhavi is deeply invested in building strategic partnerships and networking to drive resource mobilisation at Pravah for impactful community action and sustainable growth. For her 5+ years of dedicated efforts towards youth development and gender equality, she has been recognised as one of six UN India-YuWaah Youth Advocates (2022-24). She has actively contributed to policy discussions and remains deeply committed to amplifying youth voices on influential platforms, both nationally and globally. Before joining Pravah, she served as a Core Member and Organisation Development Fellow at Sauhard, a youth-led non-profit in Ahmedabad (Gujarat). She has a Master's in Development from Azim Premji University (Bangalore) and a Bachelor's in Arts (Psychology) from St. Xavier's College (Gujarat). Her leadership journey has been shaped by multiple prestigious fellowships, including the Sauhard Youth Fellowship, 360plus Youth Collective Junior Fellowship, Changemakers' Fellowship by Pravah, Ashoka Youth Venture, and more. Besides playing her role as a changemaker, you will find Bhavi enjoying Bollywood music and movies, along with some occasional cooking.

Chinmayee Oruganti

Senior Associate Coordinator

National Youth & Adolescent Intervention

Chinmayee holds a Master's in Environment and Development. With over three years of experience in youth development, she has led programmes fostering leadership, decision-making, and negotiation skills among young people in Telangana, empowering them to lead meaningful lives and drive social change. Passionate about social justice, she focuses on issues of identity, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Gouran Dhawan Lal

Co-Founder

Pravah

With a background in Management, Media, and Communication, Gouran currently engages with organisations and individuals in the areas of Learning and Development, and Media Understanding. Skill-building in Media Engagement, Communication, and Interpersonal Conflict Resolution are key areas she focuses on. Having partnered with the Mental Health Foundation to help design and deliver wellbeing curricula for adolescents, she strongly believes in embedding informed practices for better health and resilience building into the daily lives of young people. Gouran’s interactive sessions have led her to engage with uniformed and civil service officers at the National Police Academy Hyderabad, LBSNA Mussoorie, the Internal Security Academy Mount Abu, and the National Academy of Direct Taxes Nagpur. She also engages extensively with the Indian Institute of Mass Communication. Today, she continues to consult with organisations in the areas of Human Resource Empowerment, Youth Engagement, and Media Management Strategy.

Hari Priya Gupta

West Bengal

Age 22

Hari Priya is pursuing a Master’s in International Relations and is deeply passionate about social justice issues. She joined the YAB to advocate for policies that support youth and cultivate future leaders. Her previous volunteer work with M4H and LSTF has equipped her with valuable insights into community challenges.

Harsha Singhi

Senior Associate Co-ordinator

National Youth & Adolescent Intervention

Harsha has completed her Graduation in BSc (Home Science) and a Master's in Social Work (MSW) from Banasthali University, Rajasthan. She has interned at Madhya Pradesh Vigyan Sabha, Bhopal, and Jwala Mahila Samiti, Indore. During her Master's, she interned at SPID Society, Delhi. She has been an active volunteer at Ashta Utkarsha Seva Sansthan Samiti, Ashta, Madhya Pradesh. She is a creative and keen observer who loves travelling and exploring new places. She also enjoys cooking and has a fondness for baking. Community service and volunteering are among her top priorities.

Hiba Ishaq

Associate Coordinator

National Youth & Adolescent Intervention

Hiba Ishaq is a Senior Associate Coordinator at Pravah's National Youth and Adolescent team in Delhi. Hiba started her journey at Pravah in 2021 as a SMILE intern and joined the Youth and Adolescent Team at Pravah in 2022. She has worked extensively in nurturing and facilitating journeys of young people in Delhi through programmes like SMILE, and MLMF. She has mentored and facilitated journeys for international students from the University of Washington, Bothell and Macquarie University Australia. Hiba has earned her Bachelor's from St. Stephen's College, Delhi and a Master's in Conflict Analysis and Peacebuilding from Jamia. Her areas of interest are experiential learning, intersectional feminism and gender-based approach to learning.

Ishani Sen

Director

Learning Voyages

Ishani is driven by her belief that education is essential for building a just and compassionate society. For the past thirty years, she has designed, facilitated, and led programmes that harness education to inspire personal growth and foster broader societal change. Her extensive experience working with youth, educators, facilitators, and social entrepreneurs across India and South Asia underscores her dedication to using education as a catalyst for development and positive community impact. Currently, Ishani leads the capacity-building work of Pravah, specialising in instructional design to create tailored experiential frameworks that address the unique needs of diverse communities and organisations. Her expertise encompasses 21st-century skills, active citizenship, peace education, and conflict resolution. She also leads two of the most impactful programmes for development professionals: Big Ticket – A course on Instructional Design and Facilitation, and Ocean In A Drop – A course for youth sector professionals. Ishani has also served as a resource person for the B.EL.Ed programme at Delhi University for a decade and contributed to the life skills curriculum for CBSE and the Gender Toolkit for SCERT. In 2022, she led a research project supported by ARROW on the impact of COVID-19 on young people, emphasising the urgent need for support in mental health and comprehensive sexuality education. Ishani holds a postgraduate degree in Sociology and a Bachelor's in Education. Before joining Pravah, she worked as an Education Coordinator for the Butterflies Programme for street and working children, facilitated the establishment of adolescent watch groups in rural India to prevent the migration of young girls to urban areas for work, and coordinated groups at Mirambika, a free progressive school in Delhi.

Ismail Begum

Telangana

Age 22

Ismail, with a Bachelor of Computer Applications, is deeply passionate about youth empowerment and community development. As a member of the YAB, she aims to engage meaningfully with youth, gain diverse insights, and enhance her leadership skills. Her volunteer roles include participating in events like Hyderabad Pop Culture Con 2024 and the Twin City 10k Run.

Jagmohan Gole

Madhya Pradesh

Age 23

Jagmohan is currently pursuing his Master’s in Social Work, motivated by a desire to aid in the personality development of youth and create opportunities for them. His previous roles include serving as a Youth Facilitator in Pravah's MLMF program and as a member of the Global Opportunity Youth Network, where he actively engages with youth development.

Jyoti Mishra

Consultant

Uttar Pradesh

Jyoti has over 13 years of diverse experience spanning the corporate, vocational training, and social development sectors. Passionate about youth development, she has been contributing to Pravah since 2021, where she actively explores new opportunities to create meaningful impact. She has played a part across various programmes at Pravah. With Learning Voyages, Jyoti has co-designed and facilitated consultancy programmes and workshops for Educate Girls across various states. She has also been instrumental in conducting needs assessments and contributing to research on the impact of COVID-19 on youth, with a particular focus on Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE). She has also worked with Changelooms and has has provided comprehensive support to Pravah's fundraising efforts, focusing on research, proposal writing, and data management. Before joining Pravah, Jyoti held various roles, including Project Associate and Chief Mentor, at organisations such as Agilent Technologies, Shri Sai Alakhya Career Gurukul, and the Aditya Birla Skills Foundation. She holds a Master's in Microbiology from Integral University and is currently pursuing a Postgraduate Diploma in Development Studies from IGNOU. She has received several certifications, including recognition from NAAC and the BOLO app for her contributions. Jyoti is committed to continuous learning and making a lasting impact through her work.

Malavika Pavamani

Director

Fundraising

Malavika joined Pravah in 2011 and has taken on various roles over the years, such as leading Adolescent Interventions, supporting early-stage start-ups through Changelooms, and heading the capacity building arm of Pravah called Learning Voyages. She has supported the sustainability of youth-led start-ups, designed curricula, facilitated the capacity building of grassroots organisations, and represented issues of youth leadership in working groups of the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Commonwealth, and United Nations Forums. She is also an Acumen India Fellow (2022). She has completed her Master's in Social Work from Delhi University and a Bachelor's in Economics from St. Stephen's College.

Meenu Venkateswaran

Co-Founder

Pravah, ComMutiny – The Youth Collective

​ Meenu Venkateswaran is a Senior Consultant at Vyaktitva, and a member of their leadership team. She is co-founder of Pravah & ComMutiny the Youth Collective - NGOs working with young people and youth workers. She is also part of the founding team of vartaLeap, a multi-sectoral coalition incubated by ComMutiny the Youth Collective. She is co-founder of Indicult, a social enterprise set up to promote Indian craft and handmade, and is a Trustee of Spanda, a performing arts trust set up by Ms Leela Samson. ​ ​ She is an alumnus of Delhi School of Economics (1985) and IIM Bangalore (1990) and has worked with leading organizations in the corporate and social sectors. As Head of Fundraising at CRY Child Rights and You, she set up the Direct Mail fundraising program at CRY. She was a member of the Management Committee of CRY which was set up to run the organization as a shared leadership team for a few years after the death of the founder. As CEO of Pravah from 2005 - 2010, she led the strategy development process for the organization and its various programs, managed and nurtured a team of competent professionals, and provided oversight to all of Pravah’s programs. ​ ​ She has been actively engaged with the design and implementation of innovative programs for organizations and collectives, young people, youth facilitators, and social sector leaders. These include leadership development programs and OD interventions with such as ‘Saanstha’ and ‘Adaptatva’. Saanstha focuses on building living, breathing organizations in the social sector through an OD journey with senior leadership teams. She has extensive experience in coaching & mentoring leadership team members from both the corporate and social sectors. She is also a guest faculty at ISDM offering a course called ‘Par-us-Par’- Spurring Collectivisation: Nurturing Alliances, Networks and Coalitions. She is co-author of ‘Ocean In A Drop – Inside Out Youth Leadership’ (Sage 2013).

Meghamala Sengupta

Director

Abilities Beyond Skills

Meghamala has over sixteen years of experience in the development sector and heads the Employability, Entrepreneurship and Organisational Development vertical at Pravah. She also had a brief stint in the corporate sector following her MBA in HR and Marketing. Her core competencies are in organisational development, project management, fundraising, instructional design, and facilitation. Her passion lies in working with and building the capacities of youth, youth facilitators, and youth organisations. She was also the National Focal Point of the YPeer (UNFPA initiative) Network from India. Additionally, she founded her dance group, Ekyantarang, in 2011.

Mehreen Khan

Associate Coordinator

Human Resources

Mehreen Khan holds a post graduation degree in Sociology from Delhi University. She brings with her a deep understanding of social dynamics and human behaviour. With 3 years of experience in human resources her passion lies in fostering and nurturing a positive workplace culture and supporting Pravah team in achieving their goals while ensuring that all HR practices align with its mission and values. She is committed to make a meaningful impact by engaging in initiatives that promote social development.

Nandani Verma

Associate Coordinator

National Youth & Adolescent Intervention

Nandani holds an M.A. in Social Work with a specialisation in Women-Centred Practice from TISS. She is passionate about advancing gender equality and is dedicated to working with young people.

Nayanika Das

Team Lead

Fundraising and Visibility

Nayanika Das is a Team Lead at Pravah, focusing on resource mobilisation and organisational development to support community-based psychosocial interventions. With over five years of experience in fundraising for social-purpose organisations, she is passionate about strengthening organisations by securing the resources they need to achieve their impact. She enjoys facilitating workshops and discovering the power of words. Before joining Pravah, Nayanika worked with Iswar Sankalpa, a Kolkata-based organisation dedicated to upholding the rights and dignity of homeless persons with psychosocial disabilities. Her experience there deepened her commitment to addressing the resource gaps grassroots organisations face. Nayanika holds a Master's in Social Work in Mental Health from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, and a Bachelor's in Mass Media (Journalism) from Sophia College for Women. Outside of work, she enjoys amateur art, body movement, and exploring the mind-body connection for well-being.

Nazish Parveen

Rajasthan

Age 22

Nazish holds an MA in Urdu and is a dedicated Youth Jumbish Volunteer. She is passionate about engaging youth in discussions surrounding Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and aims to make a meaningful impact through community advocacy. With extensive volunteer experience, Nazish has taken on leadership roles in initiatives like Smile Fellowship and Azad Foundation’s FLP Leadership.

Neeru Mulhotra

Programme Operations Lead

Pravah

Neeru Mulhotra is currently working as Programme Operations Lead at Pravah. She has also served as the CEO of Direct Interventions from January 2019 to January 2022. Her work experience prior to this was with Uninhibited as the Country Director and IT for Change, Bengaluru. She is pursuing a Master's in Psychology from IGNOU, has a Master's in Social Work from TISS, Mumbai, and a Bachelor's in Psychology from Delhi University. Her interest lies in working with young people and exploring the intersection of gender and power in everyday life. She is an avid reader and loves travelling as it gives her ample time to read.

Nehal Raj Pradhan

Program Coordinator

Fundraising and Visibility

Nehal is a creative practitioner and development sector professional. He is an alumnus of the Indian School of Development Management and St. Xavier's College, Kolkata. As an artist enthusiast, he is inspired by a deep comprehension of the interconnections between nature and design. He is always curious and willing to be around people, places and things that challenge him to grow. His program management and communication skills come from working with grassroots communities. Nehal is the Founder of The Earth Circle, a network of creative practitioners, and a Founding Partner at Muhaan, focusing on bio-cultural conservation through sustainable tourism models across the eastern Himalayan region. His community-centred work earned him the prestigious 'Future is Now - Champion of Change for Climate Action' award, presented by H.E. Shonai Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator of India, and H.E. Dia Mirza, UN Secretary General’s Advocate for SDGs. Nehal’s passion extends further - as a Fellow of One Million Leaders Asia and has been recognised as one of the top 20 in Asia to receive a grant for his project on Leadership in Sustainability through Youth Cultural Exchange.

Nehal Sharma

Consultant

Rajasthan

Nehal, a Consultant in the Rajasthan team, graduated in Political Science from the University of Delhi. As a youth development practitioner, she has worked with several young people through Pravah's leadership programmes over the past four years. She has also taught briefly in a low-income, CBSE-affiliated school in Jaipur as an English teacher, where she discovered her passion for coaching and learning. She is passionate about gender, building leadership skills, and education. She has been an active volunteer with many social impact organisations since her graduation.

Nivedita Soni

Director

National Youth & Adolescent Intervention and Human Resources

Nivedita is one of the Directors in Pravah and has worked extensively with young adults on building life skills for over 16 years. Nivedita has led international cross-cultural volunteering exchanges in different capacities, including the Pravah International Citizen Service programme from 2015 to 2018. She has worked with the artistic mediums of clowning and theatre to create learning processes with parents, educators, organisations, and students. Nivedita currently leads HR at Pravah, along with the National Youth and Adolescent programmes in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Delhi.

Om Prakash Rai

Team Lead

Accounts, Finance and Administration

Om Prakash Rai leads the Accounts, Finance, and Administration team at Pravah as the Team Lead, having held various roles since joining in 2010. He began his career as an accountant with Ramniwas Aggarwal & Co and later worked with Sanjeev Chopra & Co as a Senior Account Assistant and Auditor. He holds a B.Com (Hons) degree from Vinoba Bhave University and has over 20 years of experience in finance and accounting. His expertise spans financial reporting, tax filings, budget management, and audits across diverse sectors, including multinational companies and non-profit organisations.

Polash Ari

Resource Person

Administration and Resources

Polash Ari has been a dedicated member of Pravah since 2011, following his experience at Infinity Consultancy, where he worked for about four years. At Pravah, he holds the position of Administrative and Resource person, becoming the reliable go-to individual for every little thing over the past 13 years. His deep commitment and resourcefulness have left a lasting impact on many Pravah alumni, who fondly remember him for his support and contributions.

Pratiksha Balaji

Associate Coordinator

National Youth & Adolescent Intervention

Pratiksha is a dedicated development professional, working as an Associate Coordinator with the National Youth and Intervention team in Delhi. With a Master’s degree in Development, she’s all about connecting with communities and driving collective transformation. Her work even took her to Jerusalem, where she got to work with different groups and see the region’s challenges up close. But it’s not all work for Pratiksha—she has a big love for languages. For her, they’re more than just words; they’re a way to connect with people and share stories from all over the world. She’s currently diving into her seventh language and loving every moment of it.

Puja Mahato

Senior Associate Coordinator

Abilities Beyond Skills

Puja Mahato is a dedicated youth development professional with extensive experience working with grassroots communities on youth leadership programmes, particularly addressing learning loss among adolescents and building life skills. She is currently working as a Senior Associate Coordinator in the Abilities Beyond Skills Team at Pravah, focusing on values, attitudes, and behaviours that promote sustainable employability and entrepreneurship. Puja also leads the Youth Advisory Board of Pravah. She has played a key role in designing and facilitating Dasra's Youth Advisory Group and contributed to their 2022 guidebook on "Setting up a Youth Advisory Group." Before joining Pravah, Puja was an Exchange Alumni at the U.S. Department of State's Community College Initiative Programme (CCIP). She has a background in Media Studies from St. Xavier's College, Kolkata, and interned as a reporting journalist with Maricopa Community Colleges in Arizona, where she was recognised as the Cultural Brand Ambassador for CCIP in 2017-18.

Rajdeep Singh Chundawat

Team Lead

National Youth & Adolescent Intervention

Rajdeep is a Postgraduate in Social Work with over thirteen years of experience working in the development sector on issues related to youth and adolescents. His core competencies lie in communication, public relations, and team management within reputed national and international organisations based in Rajasthan and Delhi. He has conducted a variety of training sessions and workshops on positive masculinity, gender equity, menstrual health management, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and life skills at the grassroots level for organisations and government officials. Currently, he is working with Pravah as a Team Lead to support youth and adolescent interventions in Rajasthan and Telangana.

Ramsha Shafiq

Uttar Pradesh

Age 21

Ramsha is a recent graduate dedicated to addressing the barriers preventing girls from attending school. She has joined the YAB to advocate for youth education and tackle the challenges faced by young people in small localities. With experience in Pravah’s MLMF and Changelooms programs, Ramsha is committed to solving these pressing issues.

Renuka Motihar

Board Member

Pravah

Renuka Motihar is an independent senior consultant working on social development issues. With a background in the social sciences, Renuka works in the areas of young people’s health and development, reproductive health, and broader social, leadership, and gender related issues in India and Asia. Renuka has worked as a programme consultant with various international and national agencies, including UN agencies, private foundations, consulting firms and nonprofits. Her focus has been on programme strategy; impact assessments; programme evaluations; knowledge building and coaching. She has been with Pravah as a board member since its inception.

Ritikaa Khunnah

Chief Executive Officer and Board Member

Pravah

Ritikaa Khunnah has over 20 years of experience in the development sector. She is currently the CEO of Pravah and a member of the VartaLeap coalition. Pravah, a well-established youth development organisation, has been working with young people for 25 years, offering innovative, high-impact programs, including capacity building for youth organisations and workers. With its partners, Pravah has nurtured 500,000 youth leaders, incubated 500 young social entrepreneurs, and carried out social experiments across 20 states, reaching over 15 million online. The VartaLeap coalition, a growing group of 170+ youth-focused organisations from the development sector, government, media, educational institutions, and UN agencies, aims to mainstream Youth-Centric Development through shared design principles. Ritikaa has also been a member of the UN Women multi-country civil society advisory group promoting gender equality. Her expertise spans gender equality, youth development, curriculum design, facilitation, and deep self-awareness. Previously, she headed Pravah’s training arm and continues to mentor youth leaders and facilitate capacity-building interventions. Prior to Pravah, Ritikaa worked extensively on gender and violence issues, contributing to redefining rape law and establishing workplace sexual harassment legislation in India. She also facilitated gender equality and women's rights training with the Indian judiciary. Her current passion is Pravah’s new employability curriculum, ‘Abilities Beyond Skills,’ which builds life competencies in the skilling sector. She holds a Master's in Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences and a postgraduate diploma in Human Rights, International Humanitarian and Refugee Rights from the Indian Academy of International Law.

Safya Mirza

Associate Co-ordinator

National Youth & Adolescent Intervention

Safya graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Political Science (Honours) from Amity University. Following her graduation, she began her journey with Pravah as a volunteer. During her time as a volunteer, she participated in the SMILE Internship, which had a profound impact on her. This experience inspired her to develop a stronger sense of self-trust and confidence. Building on the skills and knowledge she gained during the internship, Safya continued her journey with Pravah as part of the SMILE Fellowship. Her focus area was Gender Equality and Professional Development. After completing the fellowship, she joined Pravah as a full-time team member, further solidifying her commitment to creating positive change.

Sarvagya Asthana

Uttar Pradesh

Age 23

Sarvagya holds an MSW in Human Resources and is a Field Development Officer at HCL Foundation. His interests range from travelling and poetry to movies and swimming. Passionate about representing young voices, he aims to advocate for their expectations on influential platforms, drawing from his extensive volunteer experience with UNICEF and other foundations.

Satyam Kumar Tiwari

Associate Co-ordinator

National Youth & Adolescent Intervention

Satyam holds a Master's degree in Social Sciences with a specialisation in Mental Health from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. Satyam's journey into the social sector began after his experience as a teacher in Jharkhand, where he witnessed firsthand the inequities present in society. Driven by a strong commitment to social change and mental well-being, he is now focused on working with young people and adolescents, empowering them to navigate their challenges and build a more equitable future through his work at Pravah.

Setu Modwal

Team Lead

National Youth & Adolescent Intervention

Meet Setu, a dynamic Team Lead at Pravah with over two decades of experience across IT, banking, start-ups, and the non-profit world. For the last seven years, Setu has channelled her passion into the non-profit sector, finding her Ikigai and driving change with a smile. With a postgraduate degree in Marketing and a diploma in Merchandising, Setu blends strategic acumen with hands-on expertise. To stay ahead in her field, Setu is a firm believer in continuous learning and adaptation. She finds her mettle while representing the organisation in industry webinars and conclaves and also likes to stay updated on the latest trends and innovations. Networking with peers and mentors provides fresh perspectives and insights that keep her inspired and informed. Additionally, she’s an avid reader of relevant books and journals and enjoys experimenting with new tools and techniques in her daily work. This hands-on approach helps her apply what she’s learned and stay practical and innovative. Outside the office, Setu is a craft enthusiast who enjoys getting her hands dirty with various creative projects. Setu hopes to be remembered for living a life full of enthusiasm, curiosity, and joy.

Shivali Dubey

Madhya Pradesh

Age 24

Shivali is passionate about professional social work and is currently seeking significant fellowship opportunities to enhance her expertise. With a postgraduate degree in Social Work, she joined the YAB to lead youth in addressing social issues for holistic development, drawing from her valuable experience with Pravah’s Changelooms Fellowship.

Shraddha Pandey

Associate Consultant

National Youth & Adolescent Intervention

Shraddha initially joined Pravah as an intern under the "My Life, Mere Faisle" programme and is now leading the Madhya Pradesh team at Pravah. Shraddha holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Applications and a Master's in Social Work (MSW). Since her graduation, she has worked with various organisations for her community and youth. She is particularly interested in women's empowerment, gender equality, and sexual health. Shraddha enjoys being close to nature and loves writing poetry and stories.

Sidra tul Muntaha

Program Coordinator

National Youth & Adolescent Intervention

Sidra completed her Master's in Social Work from Jamia Millia Islami and trained as a mental health counselor, Sidra has worked with the geriatric and adult population on their mental health and lifestyle issues. Post that she joined Pravah and has been working for the capacity building of the adolescent and youth. She has worked with the international student internship program, Self-development curriculum, and various programs on different thematic with young people. Her core belief is to bring a stir toward change.

Sriya Kishore

Associate Co-ordinator

National Youth & Adolescent Intervention

Sriya is a part of the National Youth and Adolescent Intervention team in U.P. She holds a Master's degree in Social Work with a specialisation in social work interventions with women and children from the University of Lucknow. Before joining Pravah, she has been a fellow of Pravah's "My Life Mere Faisle" program and a member of Dasra’s Young People Advisory Group, where she shared her knowledge on SRHR and gender issues with youth. Passionate about advocating for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and gender rights, she enjoys working with young people and adolescents on health and well-being issues.

Sukannyaa Lahon

Team Lead

National Youth & Adolescent Intervention

Sukannyaa is currently engaged with Pravah as Team Lead of the National Youth and Adolescent Interventions, which works directly with young people from five states in India. In her 7+ years at Pravah, she has designed and led numerous learning and leadership journeys, including internships, fellowships, campaigns, and action projects for young people in schools, colleges, and communities. Her expertise lies in issues of youth leadership, gender, SRHR, and peace and conflict management. She has also worked with educational institutes like Jesus and Mary College, Miranda House, and Ambedkar University as a Guest Faculty. She holds a graduate degree in Economics and a postgraduate degree in Sociology and Social Anthropology from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences.

Suman Kumar

Board Member

Pravah

Mrs. Suman Kumar is a highly respected educationist and an invaluable member of Pravah's board, with over 11 years of dedicated involvement in the organisation. Formerly the Principal of Bluebells School International and currently the Chairperson of the Bluebells Educational Society, Mrs. Kumar brings a wealth of experience in education and leadership. Her passion for nurturing young minds aligns seamlessly with Pravah's mission of youth development, making her a guiding force in shaping the organisation’s journey.

Sunita Menon

Board Member

Pravah

Sunita is a gender expert and strategist with over 24 years of experience in systems change. She has led national and global partnerships to deliver impactful programs and campaigns, aligning feminist leadership with strategies to end violence against women and girls and promote active citizenship. An experienced instructional designer and facilitator, she has conducted over 1000 capacity-building programs across diverse social issues. At Breakthrough, she co-developed large-scale gender programs focusing on adolescent empowerment, particularly building the agency of girls to prevent gender-based discrimination, early marriage, domestic violence, sexual harassment, and biased sex selection. She helped design “Taaron Ki Toli,” a gender equity program that has reached over 850,000 adolescents in India since 2013. Sunita also co-created the 'Bell Bajao' campaign to address domestic violence, which was adopted globally as ‘Ring the Bell’ by the UN and was adopted by organisations in Bangladesh; Nepal, Afghanistan and China. Empanelled as a technical expert for Gender and Rights at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Administrative Academy, she regularly leads workshops for senior civil servants on gender, domestic violence, and sexual harassment. Sunita is an alumnus of the International Visitor Leadership Program by the US State Department and the Dasra Social Impact Leadership Program, where she is also a facilitator.

Unnati Singh

Associate Coordinator

National Youth & Adolescent Intervention

Unnati is the Associate Coordinator at Pravah, working with the National Youth and Adolescents team in Rajasthan. She has completed her Master's in Development from Azim Premji University and has been a part of Pravah ever since. Driven by a passion for empowering young people, she is dedicated to fostering leadership development and encouraging youth to express their ideas for societal change. With a keen interest in observing human behaviour, she seeks to understand individuals better and support their growth. Unnati is committed to creating spaces where young voices are valued and heard.

Yatharth Bahukhandi

Program Coordinator

National Youth & Adolescent Intervention

Meet Yatharth, Project Coordinator at Pravah's National Youth and Adolescent Team from Uttar Pradesh. Yatharth has completed his Honours and Master's degrees in Social Work, specialising in healthcare and health management. He joined the Pravah family in 2021, focusing on youth centrality and working with young people. Yatharth is a former KYBKYR Fellow (Know Your Body, Know Your Rights), a flagship programme on SRHR by the YP Foundation. His passion for designing and facilitating programmes drives him daily, giving him the motivation to pursue work he truly loves. His work spans SRHR (Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights), peace and harmony, and 21st-century skills, all centred around working with young people and developing their skills in various dimensions. His aim is not to change society for others but to create a world he wants to live in, one that encompasses equality, empathy, and joy. Outside of work, you'll often find Yatharth indulging his passion for food as a true enthusiast, exploring different delicacies. When he's not savouring new flavours, he's likely immersed in sports or games, channelling his love for competition and physical activity. Whether it's discovering the next great dish or giving his all on the field, Yatharth fully embraces his passions in every aspect of life.

Zohran Jilani

Associate Coordinator

National Youth & Adolescent Intervention

Zohran Jilani is a 26-year-old peace advocate. Currently, he is involved with SMILE programming at Pravah. He has completed his Graduation in Social Work and a Master's in Conflict Analysis and Peacebuilding. He started his journey as a SMILE fellow with Pravah in 2019 and worked to create peace, justice, and equality within society. He is passionate about working on communal harmony and human rights. Besides this, Zohran enjoys reading and writing poetry. He has come up with a quote to define the purpose of his work: "In kaavisho'n ke sholo'n ko abhi aur tapaana hai, Mujhe muhabbat ka ek shaher banana hai." I still need to fan the flames of endeavour further, since my goal is to create a city of love.