To create a value-based social movement to empower the child and its community towards a brighter future.
To facilitate holistic development for children and diverse groups, in and around the community, to build a sustainable and equitable society.
Founded in 2003 by Joy Srinivasan, Makkala Jagriti emerged from a deep-seated concern for the educational disparities faced by children in marginalized communities. Drawing from her personal experiences of overcoming adversity in her corporate career, Joy recognized the prevalent misconception that growth and success were inaccessible to these vulnerable children. This realization sparked the inception of Makkala Jagriti, aiming to bridge the gap and provide equitable educational opportunities.
Over the years, Makkala Jagriti has evolved into a movement that empowers thousands of disadvantaged children and youth through its unique holistic development model. By creating safe, non-threatening learning spaces within government schools, urban slums, and childcare institutions, we augment formal education with activity-based learning. Our SPICE (Social, Physical, Intellectual, Creative, and Emotional) model ensures a comprehensive approach to development, fostering self-confidence, curiosity, and a love for learning among children.
Makkala Jagriti began with a simple yet powerful question: “Why is education not equitable?” From one learning centre in an underserved community, it has grown into a credible, values-driven movement transforming education and empowering communities across hundreds of centres.
At Makkala Jagriti, we see the world from a child’s point of view. We follow a child-centric approach which allows us to respect the child’s physical, professional, and learning boundaries. We unconditionally accept all children, irrespective of their background, gender, and ability levels. We trust and believe that children have the freedom to make their own choices.
Makkala Jagriti was founded by Joy Srinivasan with a vision to provide equal educational opportunities for children from underserved communities in Bangalore.
We opened our first community centre, where children discovered a safe, joyful and non-judgmental space for the first time, along with initiatives to engage parents and scholarships for students’ education.
Inspired by a child’s voice, we started working in Child Care Institutions to reach the most vulnerable children, isolated from society, and facilitate not just learning, but hope.
By partnering with the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Makkala Jagriti took a significant step towards institutionalising holistic child development by setting up Learning Centres in government schools in Karnataka.
To bridge foundational learning gaps among children, Makkala Jagriti launched the Early Childhood Education that focused on training Anganwadi functionaries. We also launched Yuva Jagriti, empowering youth from urban poor communities.
Entered State level partnerships that helped us reach children in Anganwadis and in Child Care Institutions across the state virtually. Our first Anganwadi Habba to strengthen community involvement in early childhood education was a resounding success.
Celebrated 20 years of the social movement. We started scaling our work starting with early childhood education program while deepening our work in the communities with children and youth across age-groups to enable “school readiness to life readiness”
We are poised to scale Makkala Jagriti’s growth further through knowledge partnerships and scale and continue to march towards our vision of a social movement that empowers children towards brighter futures
Registered u/s 12A of Income Tax Act of India
Valid FCRA registration to receive foreign funds
Tax Deductions for donors u/s 80G of Income Tax Act
Registered with Ministry of Corporate Affairs via Form CSR-1
Chairperson & Managing Trustee
Trustee
Trustee
Member
Satyen is the CEO of Symphony SummitAI and a technology leader with over 25 years of experience. He has held senior roles including Vice President at IBM (India and South Asia), General Manager at Dell India, and Founder & CEO of the Vitage Group. An alumnus of IIM Bangalore and Nagpur University, Satyen is passionate about improving access to education. At Makkala Jagriti, he contributes his expertise in strategy and innovation to help the organisation scale its impact and reach more children.
Member
Kavitha is the Founder and Co-Director of The CanBridge Academy and Managing Trustee of Kilikili, initiatives that champion inclusion for children and young adults with disabilities. An alumnus of TISS Mumbai, she began her career with YUVA and MAYA, working in education, research, and advocacy. A trained Arts-Based Therapy practitioner, she designs creative, inclusive learning experiences for children with autism. Kavitha’s work reflects her belief that every child deserves opportunities for expression, learning, and belonging—values that strongly align with Makkala Jagriti’s mission.
Chief Executive Officer
Sunayana has been with Makkala Jagriti since 2016 and has led the organisation as CEO since 2020. She has been instrumental in shaping its strategy, scaling programs, and building strong teams to drive impact across schools, Anganwadis, child care institutions, and communities. An alumna of NIT Surathkal and SIBM Pune, she transitioned from the corporate world to the social sector through the SBI Youth for India Fellowship. Passionate about education equity, she believes in the power of education to transform lives and create opportunities for every child to thrive.
Director, Programs
Rohit brings over 24 years of experience across the industrial and development sectors. His journey in the social space began as a volunteer with organisations working on child rights, education, and the environment. Since 2011, he has worked full-time in the sector, contributing to programs in public health, education, and child protection. With expertise in community coordination, policy advocacy, and organisational development, Rohit brings depth and perspective to Makkala Jagriti as a leader, thinker, and influencer committed to social transformation.
Deputy Director - Programs
An educator with over a decade of experience, Amrutha leads the Early Childhood Education program at Makkala Jagriti. A former Teach for India Fellow, she has trained teachers across 700+ schools and holds Montessori certification. She works closely with Anganwadi teachers to create joyful, inclusive preschool spaces rooted in play and child development. As both a mother and educator, she believes that nurturing, developmentally appropriate early learning can transform a child’s lifelong educational journey.
Deputy Director - Programs
Vivek leads the School Program at Makkala Jagriti, bringing over a decade of experience in education, instructional design, and school transformation. With a Master’s in Education from Azim Premji University and an engineering background, he combines analytical thinking with a deep understanding of pedagogy. His work focuses on holistic development, child-centered learning, and professional growth for educators. Vivek is passionate about designing context-responsive programs that strengthen schools and empower teachers to create meaningful learning experiences.
Senior Program Manager - HDLC
Born and raised in a government school ecosystem, Thanuja now leads the Holistic Development and Learning for Children (HDLC) program at Makkala Jagriti. With over a decade of grassroots and system-level experience, she drives strategies that make learning spaces joyful and inclusive. Her expertise in teacher training and school transformation is grounded in empathy and her lived experience. For Thanuja, this work is both personal and purposeful—driven by her belief in equitable, child-centric education for every child.
