Pehlay Akshar Family
Radha Goenka
FounderRadha Goenka, Founder - Pehlay Akshar, and Director - RPG Foundation drives multiple programs to empower women, youth and children with education and skills, so that they can find meaningful employment and shape better futures.
Kripa Shankarnarayan
HeadDriven by a deep passion for making learning joyful for everyone, she currently leads operations at the Pehlay Akshar Foundation, to empower every child in India with Functional English Literacy and 21st Century skills, making them job ready. What does "Safe Space" mean to you? Safe space to me means a space of inclusivity, where I can exist without fear, be respected and accepted for who I am.
Poonam Manik
Member, HRHR professional at Pehlay Akshar Foundation, committed to building a safe, inclusive, and engaging workplace. What does "Safe Space" mean to you? A safe space where every individual feels respected, valued, and free to express themselves without fear of judgment. A safe space encourages open dialogue, inclusivity, and trust, enabling people to learn, grow, and contribute with confidence.
Sunayana Kilje
Member, HRManaging HR recruitment and operations. Handling end-to-end hiring processes as well as key HR functions that support the smooth running of our day-to-day operations. What does "Safe Space" mean to you? For me Safe place means a place where we feel free to express ourselves without fear of judgment.
Asma Khan
Member, Teacher TrainingAs the Teacher Training Team Lead for the BMC Training Project, she enhances BMC teacher capacity while overseeing operations and government liaison. What does "Safe Space" mean to you? A place where I can be honest with myself and the people around me.
Chandra Kumar Pandit
Member, MarcomMaking design for social media in terms of videos and carousal, designing collaterals, Ideation. What does "Safe Space" mean to you? A safe space is where you are free to be yourself — no proving, no pressure. You are seen, supported, and accepted, flaws and all. You are not just needed — you are wanted.
Cynthia Rodrigues
Member, Schooling ContentWith extensive experience and expertise in education, she is dedicated to making the teaching-learning process both impactful and enjoyable for students as well as teachers. She ensures that all content meets high-quality standards and aligns with educational goals, driving meaningful and lasting student outcomes. What does "Safe Space" mean to you? Safe space to me is a place that has a culture of trust and mutual respect, where everyone feels valued and supported. Overall, a positive work environment.
Anna Finson
Member, SchoolingAnna manages the Schooling Program for an effective and impactful implementation of the program. What does "Safe Space" mean to you? Safe space means a space where I feel that I can express myself without any fear or doubt and I have the space to explore, make mistakes, learn and grow without any restrictions.
Deepika Dave
Member, Scalable Project- English Rooms on WheelsDetermined to drive the expansion of impactful teacher training program, blending strategy and innovation, ensuring seamless implementation of programs that empower educators and transform classroom learning in government schools. What does "Safe Space" mean to you? A judgement-free zone where I can express freely and feel respected, accepted and protected.
Falak Lakhani
Member, Volunteering and MarComFalak leads volunteering and marketing communications at Pehlay Akshar Foundation (PAF), working to position it as a socio-economic thought leader. She prioritizes authentic engagement on social media and believes that firsthand volunteer experience is essential to grasping PAF's impact. Volunteering with PAF offers a unique opportunity to truly appreciate its mission. What does "Safe Space" mean to you? My safe space is an internal sanctuary I can access anytime, offering comfort and security in any circumstance.
Hirachand Garad
Member, ERW PuneEnsuring seamless rollout and consistent monitoring of the Scalable Program in Z.P. schools across Pune to maintain quality and impact. What does "Safe Space" mean to you? A safe space is a place where there is no discrimination based on caste, religion, culture, or gender—free from bias, racism, and judgment, where everyone feels respected and included.
Maria Chatterjee Roy
Member, Scalable Project - English Rooms on WheelsMaria, ensures smooth operation, delivery and monitoring of the ERW Scalable program in Government Schools, Pune. What does "Safe Space" mean to you? A "safe space" to me is an environment, either physical or virtual, where I feel comfortable in expressing thoughts without fear of being judged, harassed, or discriminated against.
Mansi Kallianpur
Member, SchoolingMansi oversees the day-to-day operations of the BMC school through our English Room initiative. As a member of the QA team, she monitors program impact and specializes in data collection to assess and enhance its effectiveness. What does "Safe Space" mean to you? A space where I can be my authentic self without the fear of being judged.
Meenaz Shaikh
Member, BMC English Room And English Room on WheelsAs a Team Lead for the Schooling Project, Meenaz ensures the effective implementation of English Rooms in BMC schools, overseeing operations, facilitator support, and pedagogical refinement to enhance student learning. What does "Safe Space" mean to you? Safe space means "to be able to be confident with no discrimination, criticism, inhibition or judgement".
Paresh Bhojwani
Member, Digital InitiativesParesh is responsible for overseeing the digital aspects of PAF, managing the app, website, and asset management. What does "Safe Space" mean to you? It is a setting where my experiences and opinions are acknowledged.
Prajakta Toraskar
Tracking and Managing data Across all the ProgramsPrajakta ensures accurate, updated data collection, maintains dashboards and trackers, and supports teams with insights for effective decision-making. What does "Safe Space" mean to you? A safe space for me is where we rise together.
Reecha Dixit
Reporting All Programs & Digital ManagementReecha is responsible for reporting for all the programs and also handles Digital Management and Capacity Building within the Teacher Training team. What does "Safe Space" mean to you? Safe space is a place where I feel secure and accepted, where I can express myself without fear of judgment.
Shagufta Shaikh
Member, Govt. Liasoning & Capacity BuildingAs a committed team member actively engaged in Government liaison activities, contributing to strategic Capacity-building initiatives, and also a part of the Human Resources team to support organization. What does "Safe Space" mean to you? "Safe space" generally means an environment—physical or virtual, respecting others' boundaries and identities.
Shruti Limaye
Member, SupportAs Lead of Support Functions, Shruti oversees the strategic integration of key enabling services to enhance program delivery, visibility, and data-driven decision making that amplifies organizational impact. She joined Pehlay Akshar Foundation with a strong commitment to creating meaningful change through systems that empower people and programs. What does "Safe Space" mean to you? It's an environment where people can be themselves, share openly, and know they'll be supported and treated with dignity.
Syeda Akheela Jahan
Member, Alumni Project, Support: Schooling Capacity Building TeamAs a part of the training team, Syeda focuses on building teacher capabilities and knowledge. What does "Safe Space" mean to you? A commitment to transparency, integrity and accountability.
Prasad Wagh
Member, Digital InitiativesPrasad is responsible for overseeing the digital aspects of Pehlay Akshar Foundation, including the management of the mobile app, website, and digital asset systems. He ensures smooth digital functionality, regular updates, and integration across all online platforms. What does "Safe Space" mean to you? Safe space means to me where everyone feels heard, and differences in opinion are handled calmly.
Tanu Sharma
Member, Alumni Connect Lead, Teacher Training Content & Quality assuranceTanu's role-Leads the Alumni Connect initiative and teacher training content development, with a focus on quality assurance of the programs What does "Safe Space" mean to you? A safe space is an environment where individuals feel secure and respected and are free to express themselves without fear of judgment. It’s a place where people can openly share their thoughts, emotions, and experiences.
Tejal Pokhare
Member, Capacity BuildingManaging Capacity Building for the team What does "Safe Space" mean to you? A space to explore and express.
Vidya Walunj
Member, Training ContentAs a Content Developer at Pehlay Akshar, Vidya is determined to create impactful teacher training content that transforms educational outcomes. What does "Safe Space" mean to you? Safe space is where I feel more engaged, motivated and valued.
