Passionate about systems thinking, ecosystem building, visual storytelling, and Climate Action, Akshit brings 8 years of quality experience in the social development space. In his current role as Associate Director at ComMutiny, Akshit is co-anchoring the Climate Action vertical where he is building the ‘Nourishing Now’ approach to make climate action a priority for youth engagers and young people. He is leading the process of nurturing 200 youth leaders to build climate positive communities through Changelooms: Youth Leaders in Climate Action.
Programme Coordinator (Lead Fundraising and Narratives)
ComMutiny - The Youth Collective
Amlan is a development sector professional previously having worked in the Impact space, with government systems and in the field of political consulting. Currently leading the Visibility, Fundraising and Partnerships vertical, Amlan has pursued his Bachelors in Economics from Jadavpur University and Masters in Public policy & Governance from Tata Institute of Social Sciences.
Anjani's profound connection to the development sector is evident with a keen focus on mental health, women's rights, youth leadership, and restorative justice. Currently serving on the programs team at CYC, Anjani brings a wealth of passion and expertise to her role, driving impactful initiatives that address pressing social issues.
Ankush Thakur is a dedicated professional with a Master's in Social Work from Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi. His work experience spans across various domains from social welfare and education.
Ariba Naim has a Postgraduate degree in Social Work from Jamia Millia University, and brings over five years of extensive professional experience to the table. During her tenure with the Sanjivini Society for Mental Health, she served as a counsellor for four years, offering invaluable support to individuals navigating a spectrum of emotional and mental health challenges.
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
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.
Hiba is a distinguished professional with a master's degree in Social Work, specialising in Women-Centred Practice from Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai. Her career choices have been centred around the dynamic intersection of gender, sexuality, and gender-based violence.
Kanika, the Convener of ComMutiny – The Youth Collective, oversees partnerships and outreach, spearheading efforts to promote the 5th Space approach to youth development. Additionally, she offers advisory support as a board member of the Farm2Food Foundation in Assam. With a wealth of experience spanning 17 years in designing and facilitating interventions for youth-centric development, Kanika has emerged as a staunch advocate for youth work in India.
Lokashish aka Loka, is the Sr. Consultant Programmes and is overseeing programmes and facilitating youth development initiatives along with strongly holding advocacy & fundraising portfolios. A development professional with experience of over 18 years across thematic such as gender, livelihood, child rights, youth development, and citizenship action across leading agencies in India like Vikram Sarabhai center, ASK, Pravah, and CRY- Child Rights, He has also worked with Pravah, heading the SMILE Programme and eventually the Youth Intervention initiative.
Meenu Venkateswaran, an esteemed alumnus of Delhi School of Economics and IIM Bangalore, boasts over 30 years of rich experience spanning both corporate and social sectors. As a founder member and board member of Pravah and Community—The Youth Collective, Meenu has played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of youth development in India. Additionally, she serves as a Trustee of Spanda, a performing arts Trust established by Ms. Leela Samson.
Nadim brings over 13 years of extensive experience across esteemed organisations such as the Dalit Human Rights Defenders Network, Centre for Social Equity and Inclusion (CSEI), Centre for Social Justice (Gujarat), and academic institutions like the National Law School of India University-Bangalore, Gujarat National Law University, and Nirma University. With a robust background in human rights monitoring, training, collectivization, and socio-legal research, Nadim has developed a comprehensive skill set in advocacy and program design.
Neha Buch, currently serving as an Advisory Board Member of Pravah, brings over 20 years of invaluable experience in youth development. Formerly the CEO of Pravah, she made significant strides, leading flagship interventions and fostering innovation within the organisation. Starting her journey as a volunteer in 2000, Neha's dedication and leadership skills propelled her to become the first and youngest non-founder CEO of Pravah.
Oshin is a Co-lead for Narrative Building at ComMutiny - The Youth Collective,working closely in the space of climate change narratives. With a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Delhi and a Master's degree in Development from Azim Premji University, she brings a robust academic knowledge to her role. Oshin has gained valuable experience across various organisations, particularly in the fields of Disability and Inclusion, showcasing her adaptability and dedication to social causes.
Working as an Associate Co-ordinator in the Media & Visibility team with ComMutiny-vartaLeap, Pooja tries to be an avid reader. True to her 5 years journey with Literature, she now depends on the written word to understand the spaces she inhabits – public, private, and the in-between. She believes that kindness is the key and that it is as important to be kind to oneself as it is to others.
Rajesh believes in constantly exploring newer interests and passions, from farming and nutrition security to social entrepreneurship, from photography to youth leadership. His long-term vision is to enable communities to grow their own food forests in all kinds of landscapes. Outside of work, he loves working with soil, reading non-fiction, listening to music, going on road trips, and cooking. He completed his M.Phil.
Dr. Ramnarayan Syag, affectionately known as Syag Bhai, holds a prominent role as a member and co-founder of the Samavesh Society for Development and Governance. With over two decades of experience, he has been a pivotal figure in the organisation's efforts to promote inclusive development and effective governance practices. Additionally, Dr. Syag plays an active role in the coordination team of the MP Swashasan Abhiyan, a civil society organisation dedicated to strengthening local self-governance bodies such as Gram Sabhas and Panchayati Raj institutions.
Ruby is a dedicated HR professional with a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Delhi University. She is currently working as an HR Executive with a strong interest in HR, focusing on managing recruitments, internal processes, and learning and development of employees. Her work showcases her commitment to fostering a positive work environment and supporting employee growth and development.
A dreamer, a reader, and a Delhite, Saloni is a Young India Fellow, Class of 2020 and an Economics graduate from Indraprastha College for Women, University of Delhi. She is someone who is always looking out for new things to try out, ideas to work on and finding people crazy enough to try them out with. From very early on, she has always been very firm on creating and walking on her path.
Shobhit is basically from Raipur and has been in Delhi since 2007. His professional journey spans over 15 years working with International NGOs, National level and grass root level NGOs, NBFC and private companies; also as an independent consultant working with individuals, corporates and industry stakeholders undertaking various profiles within the social development sector. With core expertise in resource mobilisation and fundraising, Business Development & Relationship Management, Facilitation, Training, Field operations & program implementation, Microfinance and livelihood Conc
Passionate about encouraging positive change, I'm dedicated to empowering youth and fostering environmental sustainability. With a commitment to youth engagement, I've facilitated programs encouraging leadership and skill development. Working with youth on their capacity building and understanding SELF is something that fascinates me the most. My focus on environmental initiatives involves advocacy and practical solutions for a greener world. Beyond my professional endeavours, I find joy in capturing moments through my lens, allowing me to express creativity.
Vishal Bhadri is the Associate Coordinator for the Active Citizenship vertical at ComMutiny the Youth Collective. He possesses a master's degree in International Studies with a thematic specialisation in violence, conflict and justice from SOAS, Univeristy of London. His previous professional experiences have consisted of humanitarian aid work on migration routes and refugee shelters in South America, and human rights research and protection work in Thailand among others.
