Leadership

Our Founders

Meet the two people whose belief — that every child deserves a chance — set Mahadev Maitri Foundation in motion.

VA
Director
Focus Areas
Early Childhood EducationPreschool PlanningCommunity OutreachRural India Programs

Varsha Arora

Co-Founder & Director

Varsha Arora is the driving heart behind Mahadev Maitri Foundation. Her passion for early childhood education was shaped by years of witnessing the opportunity gap that exists between urban and rural India — a gap that begins before a child ever enters a classroom.

With a vision for accessible, high-quality early education in rural communities, Varsha co-founded the Foundation in 2023. She leads the Foundation's educational programs, community outreach, and the planned Neemrana Preschool initiative — working to bring structured, nurturing learning environments to children aged 2 to 8 in this fast-growing but underserved industrial town.

Her approach blends warmth with rigour. She believes every child, regardless of their zip code, deserves an education that honours their curiosity, builds their confidence, and prepares them for a world full of possibility.

"Every child is born curious. Our job is simply to protect that curiosity long enough for it to become capability."

— Varsha Arora
ND
Director
Focus Areas
Organisational StrategyUniversity PartnershipsWomen EmpowermentInternship Programs

Nidhesh Dhawan

Co-Founder & Director

Nidhesh Dhawan brings strategic vision and operational clarity to the Foundation's work. A systems thinker by nature, he recognised early that lasting change in rural education requires more than goodwill — it requires sustainable models, strong partnerships, and measurable outcomes.

He leads the Foundation's internship program, women's empowerment initiatives, and organisational strategy. Under his direction, the Foundation has partnered with IIT Delhi, JNU, IGNOU, and over ten other universities, connecting students with meaningful NGO experiences that create real community impact.

Nidhesh is particularly committed to women's economic empowerment — building programs that give women in rural communities practical skills, financial literacy, and pathways to part-time and remote employment. He believes education and economic agency go hand in hand.

"Systemic change is slow, patient work. But when communities own their transformation, the results outlast any single program."

— Nidhesh Dhawan
Together

One shared mission

Varsha and Nidhesh bring complementary strengths to a single goal: ensuring that no child in rural India is left behind for want of a good start. Their combined work spans early childhood education, women's empowerment, university partnerships, and community development.