Exploring Livelihood Strategies in Rural India Last month, I assisted cherysh Trust’s educational projects in Haliyal, gaining insights into project management and community needs. The experience highlighted the importance of inclusive environments, challenges like unreliable electricity, and the determination of local women in sustainable development efforts. Hi, I’m Samantha Kennedy, an intern from the University of […]
Sanjiv Shanmugam, a third-generation industrialist, is the Managing Partner of MLC Estates LLP. He has diversified the company’s activities by including real estate, angel investing and solar power. He graduated from Wilmington College with a major in Business Administration and a minor in Economics. Sanjiv is an active member of society and holds various prestigious positions. He is a founding patron of Art Bengaluru, an avid golfer and a member of numerous clubs. Sanjiv has been a donor with CherYsh since a decade, a cause he holds dear, which aims to empower rural women and enhance the education of the girl child.
Sapna Ravindran is a highly passionate and decisive senior executive with over 27 years of experience in the development sector. Throughout her career, she has been engaged in program development, quality implementation, strategic partnerships and alliances, government relations, new business development, revenue raising, social marketing, franchising, and monitoring & evaluation.
Currently, as the CEO of CherYsh Trust, Sapna provides strategic leadership in steering the organization, fundraising, and managing and fostering stakeholder relationships. Prior to this role, she was the Vice President of Resources & Sustainability at Smile Foundation, where she was responsible for new business development, corporate partnerships, fundraising, and overseeing operations in South India. Sapna’s leadership, commitment to social change, and ability to build impactful partnerships have made her a respected and influential figure in the development sector.
Monica Chakravarthy is the Lead Technology Officer and Computing Educator at CherYsh Trust, where she plays a strategic role in overseeing all programs, including those focused on livelihood initiatives. With over seven years of experience as a technical trainer, Monica is dedicated to inspiring and empowering learners through her expertise in software programming, pedagogical principles, and hardware maintenance. She manages a wide array of responsibilities, including the selection and maintenance of hardware technologies, cloud services, and internet accessibility. Monica designs and delivers the computing curriculum for students and teacher trainers while providing technical leadership and mentorship. Her commitment to creating an inclusive technology environment extends to collaborating with academic institutions and industry partners to organize workshops and develop internship programs. Eager to embrace new technologies, Monica implements strategies that enhance efficiency and reliability in CherYsh’s computing infrastructure, ultimately aiming to transform the educational landscape for children and women in rural India.
Anita Singh has worked in the advertising and marketing industry for several years, handling brands across various industries, including IT services, consumer durables, and ice creams. She is a highly motivated strategic leader with more than 25 years of global corporate experience and success in aligning people, brand and organization propositions to deliver business value – both for scaling and growth.She is dedicated to supporting education and livelihoods for underprivileged women and children and supporting the needs of the elderly and less fortunate. As a Trustee for the CherYsh Trust, she works to better the prospects of women and children through programs that prepare them for future challenges.
Kala’s Kala has over two decades of professional experience in business development. She has worked in foreign government and Indian private organisations across India, Middle East and Singapore. Kala has a deep understanding of the education and sports sector. She is currently Director of Sports Advisory at KPMG in India.
Anita Singh has worked in the advertising and marketing industry for several years, handling brands across various industries, including IT services, consumer durables, and ice creams. She is a highly motivated strategic leader with more than 25 years of global corporate experience and success in aligning people, brand and organization propositions to deliver business value – both for scaling and growth.She is dedicated to supporting education and livelihoods for underprivileged women and children and supporting the needs of the elderly and less fortunate. As a Trustee for the CherYsh Trust, she works to better the prospects of women and children through programs that prepare them for future challenges.
Nagaraj Kulkarni has first-hand experience with the limitations of the Indian education system. This experience motivated him to change children’s lives and improve communities, leading him to switch careers and earn a Master’s in Social Development from Azim Prem Ji University. Nagaraj has worked with several development organizations in the education and livelihood sectors. For Nagaraj, CherYsh represents hope and brings joy to communities by offering new possibilities. Although he is an introvert and a reserved person, his passion for development work pushes him out of his comfort zone.
Shantha Doddamani has a MSW from Belgaum and has been part of the CherYsh team since 2015, making her the first employee of CherYsh. Shantha’s interests lie in the education and livelihood sectors, and she is always eager to learn new things. To Shantha, CherYsh is like her baby, and she is deeply committed to the organization’s goal of improving the lives of girls and women in the Haliyal region through sustainable work. She is hopeful that her work will contribute to community development and help change people’s mindsets.
Praveen Siddi is a graduate of Bangalore with experience in various organizations focused on education and community development. In 2023, he joined the CherYsh team as an English Shiksha Coordinator in the Haliyal region. His role involves raising awareness about the importance of English education and fostering a mindset shift among students and the local community to embrace learning. Praveen aims to create positive change in students and people’s attitudes toward education through his work.
Sahana Sagali is the Coordinator for Electronic Shiksha (eShiksha) at CherYsh Trust, where she plays a pivotal role in managing and overseeing educational programs that leverage technology to enhance learning experiences. With a strong background in educational technology and program management, along with experience in technical training from her time as a Graduate Trainee at HCL Tech, Sahana is dedicated to empowering students and educators through innovative digital solutions. Her responsibilities include designing and implementing technical learning modules, coordinating training sessions for teachers, and ensuring the accessibility and user-friendliness of CherYsh’s digital platforms. She collaborates closely with educational institutions, schools, and community organizations to foster partnerships that align with CherYsh’s mission of providing quality education to underserved populations. Passionate about creating inclusive learning environments, Sahana focuses on addressing diverse learning needs and promoting digital literacy. By continuously exploring emerging technologies and best practices, she strives to enhance the effectiveness of CherYsh’s programs and contribute to improving technical educational outcomes in the communities they serve.
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