Our Team
Our team is the backbone of our work. Every morning, we sit together for quiet time, where we reflect and share on how we can change and grow in our own lives, which translates to honest, impactful work in the villages. Most of our staff are from nearby villages, so we have significant understanding of the contexts of our work. We seek to be the change that we wish to see, both as individuals and as an organization.
Our Change Stories
Kamal More
Soon after marrying her son, Kamal Maushi's daughter in law wanted to resume her education so she went back to college. With Kamal working at Grampari and her daughter in law in college, there was much work in the house that didn't get done. Kamal would often get frustrated and take her anger out by yelling and fighting with her daughter in law.
One day during quiet time she realized that her behaviour towards her daughter in law was wrong. She then apologized to her and promised not to yell at her. They went on to repair their relationship and build greater harmony in their house.
Dhananjay Ambrale
Senior Manager
Dhananjay is a commerce graduate and joined Grampari in 2013. He worked on the Arghyam funded springs project and currently leads the work on Spring Protection in the western ghats. Dhananjay also oversees our NABARD projects. He has attended and presented at conferences on springs around India and has been certified as a para hydrogeologist.
Ganesh Pujari
Senior Manager
Ganesh has over 10 years experience in rural development work, including 3 years in watershed management. In addition to his six degrees including an Masters in Social Work, Ganesh also brings his talents in singing and acting to Grampari. He joined Grampari in 2011 leading the work of Grampari School Hand Washing with Soap Programme where he works with schools in the Wai, Jaoli and Mahableshwar talukas. He has taken on the responsibility of overseeing the work of some of the Grampari Adopted Villages.
Vishal Bagade
Manager
Vishal has a Masters in social work and joined Grampari in 2015. He leads our youth programme overseeing the Residential programmes for boys and girls, the residential programmes for Master in Social Work and Bachelors in Social Work students in the district as well as around India. He also is the rural lead for the Urban-Rural Programme, deepening understanding and trust between young students from the cities and villages in India that falls under the Trust Building Programme of Initiatives of Change.
Jayashree Rao
Founder
Jayashree Founded Grampari in 2008 with a vision to bring together the ideas of IofC and rural development to alleviate poverty in the world. Associated with the ideas of Initiatives of Change (formerly MRA) since the 1960’s Jayashree continues to play a pivotal role at Grampari and the work of IofC. Her work with IofC and Grampari has always been voluntary. She completed her diploma in Business Management and ran a successful machine tool trading organisation in Bangalore for 30 years. Learn more about her story here.
Archana Rao
Director
Archana is the Director of Grampari with an overall responsibility for the work and a particular focus on building strategy and ensuring financial sustainability through philanthropic and other means. She serves on the board of IofC UK and contributes her time voluntarily to both Grampari and IofC India.
She is on the leadership team of a US based Educational NGO and is passionate about leaders reaching their greatest potential through work she does with the UN. Her 25+ year career has spanned several continents and leadership roles. She holds an Msc in Development Economics from SOAS, UK.
Dipak Jadhav
Deputy Director
Dipak has worked in grassroots rural development work since 2008 starting his career at Chaitnya Organization, Pune where he worked in 4 years. He has been with grampari since 2012. His experience has spanned, Governance, School Hand Washing with Soap Programme, youth and leadership training. He has initiated several interesting community building programmes and leads the work of the 'Grampari Adopted Villages'. DIpak oversees the execution of the entire Grampari project. He has a Masters in Social Work and is Married to Manisha and has a daughter,Garima
Vijay Bade
Manager
Vijay has completed a Diesel Mechanic course. After participating in a Grampari one month residential programme in 2014, he joined the team in 2015. Vijay’s primary role is in Springshed Development He also supports the youth programmes in particular the Urban Rural Connect Project. Vijay is a skilled filmmaker and photographer and looks after all of Grampari’s technical needs. He also has built and maintains the Grampari website.
Sagar Bhilare
Senior Programme Coordinator
Sagar is an agricultural graduate with expertise in sustainable farming. He has worked with Grampari since 2013, overseeing sustainable farming activities. Sagar looks after the development of Grampari's farm, coordinates an indigenous seed bank, and promotes sustainable farming in the villages.
Kamal More
Kamal has been working for Grampari since 2014. Her responsibilities include keeping the facilities clean, cooking for residential programs and general upkeep of the Grampari centre. Kamal regularly shares her inspiring story of change with participants nationally and internationally and leaves a deep impact on people.
Kiran Kalambe
Programme Coordinator
Kiran supports the team on various projects and takes overall responsibility for the work of Inner Development at Grampari as well as in the villages. He also looks after the functioning of the kitchen. He has been with Grampari since 2019
Shashikant Khandagale
Shashikant has been working with Grampari since 2010, and supports the work done on Grampari's farm.
Aditi Rajpure
Finance Assistant
Aditi works part time with grampari as she completes her bachelors in commerce. She supports the team with all the expenses and monthly budgeting administration work.
Shoba Beloshe
Shoba joined Grampari in 2017 and helps manage activities on the farm. She also takes care of 'Gowry,' Grampari's cow.
Rani Nanavre
Programme Coordinator
Sonia Deshpande
Consultant
Our Contributors
It is important to aknowledge the work of past employees, volunteers, and interns, who have contributed greatly to Grampari's growth and development.
Jared Bueno: One of Grampari's first employees, Jared worked at Grampari from 2009-2014. He completed a PhD in hydrogeology in the US. He designed the springbox that was implemented in numerous villages and was instrumental in developing Grampari's watershed programme.
Sowmya Somnath: Sowmya also worked at Grampari from 2009-2014. A civil engineer from Canada, Sowmya introduced the Tippy Tap and set up Grampari's school hand wash programme.
Anandi Gandhi: Anandi came from Pune to work at Grampari for six months in 2012. She played a large role in setting up Grampari's garden and farm.
Dipak Burkule: Dipak joined Grampari in 2014. A retired civil engineer, Dipak now works for Grampari as a full time volunteer, assisting with engineering projects in waste management and watershed.
Arthur Adams: Arthur came all the way from Arizona, USA to spend two months at Grampari in 2013. He started planting coffee crop at Grampari and AP farm.
Aparna Shrivatsav: Aparna worked at Grampari from 2011-2013. She contributed greatly to Grampari's livelihood programme, as she taught how to make smokeless chulas.
Yoni Maltsman: Yoni is from Illinois, USA and spent two months as an intern for Grampari, helping address the impacts of technology and mobile phones in schools and villages. He also built this website, so send your complaints his way.
Prathamesh Murkute: Worked at Grampari from 2020-2022 and led the NABARD work, and also led the initial work of the Trust Building Project. He also supported the whole team during the very difficult COVID years