We thank all our mentors, facilitators and experts for supporting our past & upcoming programmes.
PARTNERING ARTS AND DESIGN MENTORS
DADI
PUDUMJEE
Dadi Pudumjee is a leading puppeteer in India and the founder of The Ishara Puppet Theatre Trust. Many of his performances are designed to appeal to children, but he has also taken up more adult themes, in his work that addresses themes such as HIV/AIDS and substance use.
LEENA
KEJRIWAL
Leena Kejriwal is a photographer and an installation artist. For the last several years she has been working with several ngo's working on the issue of human trafficking and prostitution of young girls. Her new art work M.I.S.S.I.N.G....takes the issue to the public.
SUMANT
JAYAKRISHNAN
Sumant Jayakrishnan is a Scenographer, Designer, Installation artist and Theatre person. He was initially trained in visual communication at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. He has since then been a constant innovator and has developed multi-disciplinary skills to express creativity in different fields.
SHAAZ
AHMED
An innovative storyteller, Shaaz is an award-winning Visual Designer who uses multiple methods, mediums and materials in his process of constructing a visual narrative, be it on a film screen or public spaces. He has worked extensively in the Indian Television and Film Industry.
AYUSHI
RASTOGI
Ayushi Rastogi was born into a family of artists and was quickly instilled with a drive to seek social responsibility in her work. With that spirit, as a graphic designer and illustrator, she’s created a board game for children with dyslexia, illustrated a children’s series that tackles topics of diversity, and designed books on pressing issues from nature conservation to pollution.
HUZEFA
ROOWALA
Huzefa is a Creative Director, Filmmaker & Content Creator. His 20 years career in brand communication & visual media includes work across key television channels and digital platforms. He has special expertise in multi-cam set-ups, print, photography and animation work. He is the winner of two gold and one silver Cannes award.
VARUD
GUPTA
Varud Gupta was bred for the business world until an existential crisis sent him travelling through the culinary cultures of the world. It was in documenting odd jobs as a cheesemonger or asador that his journey as a writer began. His first book, Bhagwaan Ke Pakwaan, was a travel narrative through the faiths and foods of India. And the story of Chhotu, represents the culmination of the first chapter on this existential path.
SOCIAL DOMAIN EXPERTS
WATER and SANITATION:
WaterAid India - V K Madhavan, Chief Executive
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ANTI TRAFFICKING:
Missing Link Trust - Leena Kejriwal, Founder (Arts Activist)
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MENTAL HEALTH:
Dr. Arvinder J Singh - Psychotherapist; Founding Director, Ashoka Centre for Well Being;
Senior Trainer & Executive Body Member - Sanjivini Society for Mental Health
Kalyani Vaish - Psychologist & Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Practitioner
Avantika Malhautra - Psychologist & Expressive Arts Therapy Practitioner
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GENDER ISSUES:
Gulika Reddy - Human Rights Lawyer & Founder Schools of Equality
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HUMAN RIGHTS, EQUALITY & INCLUSION:
Urmi Chudgar - Lawyer & Child Rights Advocate
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ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE:
Saurabh Gupta - Environmentalist & Founder Earth 5R
Arundhati Kumar - Sustainable Fashion Expert & Founder Studio Beej
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HEALTH & HYGIENE:
Dr. Ishita Umre - Dentist
Dr. Divya Sharma - Surgeon
AVANTIKA
MALHAUTRA
Avantika Malhautra - Psychologist & Expressive Arts Therapy Practitioner, uses the interplay of talk therapy with visual art, drama and body movement for expressing and achieving therapeutic goals such as clarity, confidence, trust, healthy boundaries, relationships and communication.
VIVEK
KUMAR
Vivek Kumar started doing theatre when he was around 6, and through his theatre teacher, he learnt the art of puppetry. In 2005, he began working with Dadi Pudumjee, and has been associated with Ishara Puppet Theatre Trust since then. He was also one of the 3 puppeteers to perform in an opera show for theatre du chatelet in Paris that was directed by Indian film director, Vishal Bhardwaj.
ARUN
KUMAR
Arun Kumar has 10 years of experience in the NGO sector and he is committed to the rights of children and young people. His particular interests include sports, childhoods, livelihood, gender, leadership and he has previously worked with Blind Relief Association & International Blind Sports Federation and Magic Bus India Foundation.
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SUPPORTING FACILITATORS