The People Behind the Wings
Visionary Leadership.
Grounded Action.
Dr. Jahnavi
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Dr. Jahnavi
Founder, EqualWings Foundation
A Journey That Began at 11
Turning Passion Into
Purpose, One Life at a Time
Dr. Jahnavi is not a typical young leader — she is a force. Her journey into social change began at the age of 11, driven by an unshakeable belief that every girl deserves dignity, education, and the freedom to dream. By the time she was 14, she had founded Girl Up CHIKKA under the United Nations Foundation, creating a grassroots platform for adolescent girls to discover their power.
Her path has been paved with extraordinary milestones. At 17, she received an honorary doctorate — a testament to the depth and impact of her social work. She went on to be recognized as an Ashoka Young Changemaker (2024), join Forbes India's prestigious "We Serve India" Regional Awardees (2025), and earn global platforms as a TEDx and Josh Talks speaker.
On the world stage, Jahnavi serves as the SRHR Lead of the Commonwealth Youth Council (UK), representing millions of young people across the Commonwealth on the critical issues of sexual and reproductive health rights.
At home, she has been personally invited by the President of India to Rashtrapati Bhavan and was recognized under the Swachh Bharat Mission by the Prime Minister — acknowledgments of the real, on-the-ground change she has created for over 75,000 girls and women across India.
Jahnavi is also Miss Teen India 2022, an international documentary actor, and a theatre artist who uses the performing arts as a powerful vehicle for social storytelling and transformation. For her, every stage — whether a conference hall, a village school, or a theatre — is an opportunity to amplify voices that the world needs to hear.
From Volunteer to Visionary
Rising From the Ground Up,
Never Forgetting Her Roots
Pooja Kumari's story is proof that the most powerful changemakers are often those who have lived the very challenges they choose to fight. Growing up in an underprivileged community, Pooja did not wait for opportunity to find her — she went out and built it herself.
She began her journey with EqualWings Foundation as a dedicated ground volunteer, spending years doing the quiet, relentless, essential work that sits at the very heart of grassroots transformation — going door to door, organizing awareness sessions, and standing alongside the community women she served.
Her commitment, empathy, and natural leadership did not go unnoticed. Over time, her hands-on experience and deep understanding of the communities EqualWings serves made her the natural choice to step into the role of Director. Today, Pooja brings that same ground-level authenticity to every strategic decision she makes.
Her lived experience is not a limitation — it is her greatest strength. Pooja leads with the conviction that real change is built from within communities, by the people who belong to them. She is a reminder to every young person from a marginalized background that your beginnings do not define your ceiling, and that purpose, persistence, and passion can take you all the way to the top.
Pooja Kumari
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Pooja Kumari
Director, EqualWings Foundation