With over 25 years of experience in mentoring teachers, youth leaders, and adolescents, Shani Sen has been an integral part of Pravah for the past 16 years. Her extensive expertise includes curriculum designing and facilitating mindset change learning programs for educators and young individuals across various states in India. Ishani has played a pivotal role in implementing conflict-positive curriculum and mentoring teachers to navigate their personal and professional roles, contributing to whole-school transformations for leadership development and inclusivity.
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.
Vinod is a software engineer with a strong interest in Kerala’s cultural heritage and traditional knowledge systems. Computers are his profession and folklore his passion. His native village is Arangottukara (Kerela), a little hamlet on the banks of the river Nila that’s rich in culture and steeped in tradition. Right from childhood, he had a keen interest in assimilating local knowledge and in observing and absorbing the local ethos.
Satyendra Kumar, as the Co-founder and Strategic Consultant of CSEI and National Convenor of NYEF, plays a pivotal role in advancing equity and social inclusion for marginalised communities, particularly Dalit, Tribal, Muslim, and Nomadic Tribes children and young people. Through his leadership, CSEI focuses on promoting their social, economic, and cultural rights, thereby deepening democracy and fostering social inclusion.
Ritesh, a dedicated MSW graduate with over 10 years of experience in the field of social work, focuses on serving tribal and underprivileged communities, as well as children and youth. Alongside his social work endeavours, he showcases his passion for music as a music director and sound engineer. Ritesh actively engages with youth on topics related to the constitution, citizenship, and overall personal development, aiming to empower them and foster a sense of civic responsibility.
Rameez is a firm believer in unravelling the mysteries of human nature through the lenses of history and philosophy. Engaging with works such as Berger’s “Hold Everything Dear,” Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men,” and Harari’s “Sapiens” has provided him with profound insights into these mysteries.
Piyush Ghosh is a young social entrepreneur and Founder and CEO of The Optimist Citizen - India’s First Purely Positive Newspaper. He is the youngest to win the Mathan Award South Asia Pacific and a Runner-up of Queen's Young Leaders Award 2018. Piyush is also an Ashoka Youth Venturer and a Changelooms Fellow. Piyush has authored a paper on 'Alternative Social Security models for the Unorganised Sector in India' and has been published in several international journals. Piyush recently got listed on the Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 List.
Zeeshan, the founding member of Yeh Ek Soch Foundation, boasts over a decade of dedicated service in the development sector, with a particular focus on gender, youth, and adolescent issues. Armed with a postgraduate degree in Social Work and a Diploma in Electronic Media & Film Production, Zeeshan initially honed his skills in the corporate sector for over four years before transitioning to his true passion for social impact.
Manisha began her career as a journalist before transitioning into the social entrepreneurship sector, where she has made significant contributions over the past 24 years. Notably, she served with Ashoka: Innovators for the Public for a decade, holding positions as the India Country Representative and International Director for Ashoka’s youth programs. During her tenure, Manisha played a pivotal role in fostering a collaborative community of social entrepreneurs nationwide and spearheaded the launch of media and communication campaigns to promote social entrepreneurship in India.
Dinesh is a Catalyst and Executive Director at Audacious Dreams. He is a Global youth policy maker by passion and profession, he had been served with many influential youth led policy making agencies including Commonwealth Secretariat as Asia Regional Representative for Commonwealth Youth Sports for Development and Peace (CYSDP) and Commonwealth Students Association (CSA), Asia Focal point for Commonwealth Youth Council, Global Youth Ambassador for A world at School initiative founded by UN envoy for Global Education.
