Who We Are
Younghood Foundation is a registered Section-8 non-profit organization established in 2024, headquartered in Pune, Maharashtra, and working across Maharashtra and Goa.
We are committed to ensuring that children, women, and families from vulnerable and marginalized communities live with dignity, safety, and opportunity.
Our interventions focus on child protection, education, health and nutrition, skill development, livelihood, and digital empowerment.
We work closely with government systems, local NGOs, and community networks to ensure that every child grows up in a safe and nurturing environment and every family has access to basic opportunities to thrive.
At our core, we are driven by a simple belief:
“Real change begins when compassion meets accountability.”
Our Story
The seeds of Younghood Foundation were sown during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the need for collective action and community support became vital. Our founder, Amruta Pawar, envisioned an organization that bridges the gap between opportunity and access for vulnerable communities.With decades of experience in social development, Amruta Pawar brings deep insight and compassion to every initiative. Before joining the Women and Child Development (WCD) Department, she worked in Electronic Data Processing and with the BAIF Development and Research Foundation, leading programs across Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand.
During her tenure, she worked with BPL and APL families, as well as tribal communities, helping them improve livelihoods and animal husbandry practices. Her experience with rural and tribal communities in livestock management and livelihood interventions gave her a deep understanding of grassroots challenges and prepared her for her role at the Women & Child Development (WCD) Department, Pune, where she witnessed first-hand the plight of families affected by crises such as Covid-19.
Message from the Founder
For more than two decades, I have walked alongside communities from tribal families in remote villages to mothers in urban slums. My journey began in electronic data processing, but my true calling emerged when I joined the BAIF Development and Research Foundation. As Head across Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan, I worked closely with BPL and APL families, witnessing how livestock was not just a source of income but a lifeline deeply tied to livelihood, nutrition, and dignity.
Through field visits, I saw women as the backbone of rural progress and children dreaming of a better future despite hardship. These experiences shaped my understanding of grassroots development and inspired the creation of Younghood Foundation, focused on empowering women, children, and youth through livelihood programs, education, and holistic community development.
For more than two decades, I have walked alongside communities — from tribal families in remote villages to mothers in urban slums. My journey began in electronic data processing, but my true calling emerged when I joined the BAIF Development and Research Foundation. As Head across Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan, I worked closely with BPL and APL families, witnessing how livestock was not just a source of income but a lifeline — deeply tied to livelihood, nutrition, and dignity.
Through field visits, I saw women as the backbone of rural progress and children dreaming of a better future despite hardship. These experiences shaped my understanding of grassroots development and inspired the creation of Younghood Foundation, focused on empowering women, children, and youth through livelihood programs, education, and holistic community development.For more than two decades, I have walked alongside communities — from tribal families in remote villages to mothers in urban slums. My journey began in electronic data processing, but my true calling emerged when I joined the BAIF Development and Research Foundation. As Head across Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan, I worked closely with BPL and APL families, witnessing how livestock was not just a source of income but a lifeline — deeply tied to livelihood, nutrition, and dignity.
Through field visits, I saw women as the backbone of rural progress and children dreaming of a better future despite hardship. These experiences shaped my understanding of grassroots development and inspired the creation of Younghood Foundation, focused on empowering women, children, and youth through livelihood programs, education, and holistic community development.
Later, with the Women & Child Development Department, I saw another reality children without parental care, survivors of abuse, and families fractured by crisis. It became clear that children need more than temporary relief they need consistent protection, education, love, and opportunities for a future. This is why Younghood Foundation was born to protect children, stand with families in distress, and empower communities with health, education, skill development, and resilience. Every child deserves not just survival, but hope, dignity, and a chance to thrive.
I invite you to join hands with us as volunteers, partners, or supporters to make this vision a reality.
~ Amruta Pawar
Our Team
Younghood Foundation is led by professionals and volunteers from diverse fields — social work, law, psychology, technology, health, and education — all united by one goal: to build a society where every life matters.
Leadership
- Amruta Pawar – Founder & Director
(Development Professional, Ex-WCD & BAIF, M.Com, M.C.M) - Chhaya Shingte – Director
(Educationist, Former Principal & Mentor to Underprivileged Children) - Dr. Ajinky Pawar – Advisor
(Naturopathy Doctor & Community Health Specialist)
Chhaya Shingte
Director, Younghood FoundationA retired school principal, Chhaya Shingte devoted her post-retirement years to teaching underprivileged children free of charge during Covid through online classes. She continues to tutor and mentor children from vulnerable families, instilling values of discipline and confidence. Her decades of experience in education have become a guiding force for Younghood’s learning programs.
Dr. Ajinkya Pawar
Advisor- Younghood Foundation and Naturopathy DoctorA doctor dedicated to naturopathy, Dr. Ajinkya has spent years providing affordable health services to marginalized communities. He strongly believes that preventive and holistic health care should reach the most underserved groups. Through Younghood, he has initiated wellness programs for police personnel, ST bus drivers, and vulnerable workers, helping them improve health and reduce stress through natural practices.
Amruta Pawar
Director, Younghood Foundation
With a Master’s in Commerce and a Master’s in Computer Management, Amruta left her professional career path to serve society full-time. Her analytical background, grassroots exposure at WCD, and field experience in livelihood and animal husbandry projects across multiple states helped her understand both policy frameworks and ground realities. She is passionate about child protection, women’s empowerment, and disaster rehabilitation, ensuring that no family is left unseen in times of crisis.
Adv.
Advisor – Younghood Foundation and Child Welfare Committee Member, PuneA respected lawyer, psychologist, and Child Welfare Committee (CWC) Member in Pune, Adv.has been instrumental in shaping Younghood’s legal framework and guiding its vision. His vast experience in child rights, legal protection, and institutional care ensures that the Foundation’s work aligns with government systems while maintaining compassion for every child.
Our Story
The seeds of Younghood Foundation were sown during the Covid-19 pandemic. Our founder, Mrs. Amruta Pawar, has decades of experience working with diverse communities and developmental projects. Before joining WCD, she worked in Electronic Data Processing Departments, and with BAIF Development and Research Foundation, serving as the head across Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan.
During her tenure, she closely observed and worked with BPL and APL families, as well as tribal communities, helping them improve livelihoods and animal husbandry practices. Her hands-on experience with rural and tribal communities, including livestock management, income-generation initiatives, and livelihood interventions, provided her a deep understanding of grassroots challenges.
This rich background prepared her for her subsequent role at the Women & Child Development (WCD) Department, Pune, where she witnessed first-hand the plight of families affected by crises such as Covid-19.
She came across countless cases: children who lost parents, widows suddenly without income or literacy, families sinking into poverty, and children being pushed into child labor or early marriage. One case that left a lasting impression was of a father who passed away due to Covid, leaving behind his illiterate wife and two small children. Amruta personally guided them through the process of securing the ₹50,000 Covid relief scheme and ensured the children continued their education.
This was not an isolated case — there were hundreds like them. Amruta realized that systematic support and organized action were the only ways to protect such vulnerable families.
The People Behind Younghood:
Amruta Pawar (Director, Younghood Foundation)
With a Master’s in Commerce and a Master’s in Computer Applications, Amruta left her professional career path to serve society full-time. Her analytical background, grassroots exposure at WCD, and field experience in livelihood and animal husbandry projects across multiple states helped her understand both policy frameworks and ground realities. She is passionate about child protection, women’s empowerment, and disaster rehabilitation, ensuring that no family is left unseen in times of crisis.
Mrs. Chhaya Shingte (Director, Younghood Foundation)
A retired school principal, Mrs. Shingte devoted her post-retirement years to teaching underprivileged children free of charge during Covid through online classes. She continues to tutor and mentor children from vulnerable families, instilling values of discipline and confidence. Her decades of experience in education have become a guiding force for Younghood’s learning programs.
Dr. Ajinky Pawar (Advisor- Younghood Foundation and Naturopathy Doctor)
A doctor dedicated to naturopathy, Dr. Ajinky has spent years providing affordable health services to marginalized communities. He strongly believes that preventive and holistic health care should reach the most underserved groups. Through Younghood, he has initiated wellness programs for police personnel, ST bus drivers, and vulnerable workers, helping them improve health and reduce stress through natural practices.
Adv. Paresh Khadilkar (Advisor – Younghood Foundation and Child Welfare Committee Member, Pune)
A respected lawyer, psychologist, and Child Welfare Committee (CWC) Member in Pune, Adv. Khadilkar has been instrumental in shaping Younghood’s legal framework and guiding its vision. His vast experience in child rights, legal protection, and institutional care ensures that the Foundation’s work aligns with government systems while maintaining compassion for every child.
What Make Us Different
We Educate
We help local nonprofits access the funding, tools, training, and support they need
We Help
We help local nonprofits access the funding, tools, training, and support they need
We Build
We help local nonprofits access the funding, tools, training, and support they need
We Donate
We help local nonprofits access the funding, tools, training, and support they need
Years of
Foundation
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Why We Exist
The Covid-19 pandemic and the 2019 floods in Maharashtra taught us that children, women, and elderly people are the most affected in any crisis. Orphaned children, child marriages, children forced into labour, widows without support, and families without income — these were not just numbers, but real human stories we encountered.
Our family, along with friends and volunteers, dedicated ourselves to serving these communities. What began as small acts of volunteering grew into the realization that a structured, accountable organization was needed. Thus, Younghood Foundation was formally incorporated in 2024 to carry this mission forward with wider reach and greater impact.
Meet Our Volunteer Team
Andrew Larson
Amare Daliah
Lulu Kroifer
Bahati Imani
Sabra Kalifa
Josh Broiler
Our Inspiration
