To be an instrumental force that brings development to children
Bring quality education to children through innovative programs and help them make transition to literacy and a brighter future.
Provide quality education for children up to age of 18
At the heart of the Door Step School Foundation are its people. They are the pillars who drive our vision and mission, working tirelessly to address illiteracy among children from marginalized sections of society.
An educational trailblazer, Ms. Paranjpe established The Society for Door Step Schools in Mumbai in 1989 and subsequently extended its reach to Pune in 1993. Presently, she continues to helm DSS Pune with an enduring fervor and commitment, steadfastly working to ensure that each child enjoys access to a high-quality education. Her visionary leadership has played a pivotal role in shaping the organization’s trajectory and expansion. Remarkably, she recognized the significance of foundational literacy more than three decades ago when she founded DSS, a principle that the National Educational Policy (NEP) now recognizes and prioritizes.
Prof. Dabir is Retired Deputy Director (Admin), Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. Her areas of interest include Violence against women, street children and Juvenile Justice and vocational education She has been a social worker with different NGOs for more than 12 years and has been in academics for 20 years. She is a Master of Social work and also holds a Doctorate Degree. She has authored two books and and many research reports in her areas of interest.
Jayashree Joglekar is a highly accomplished professional with a diverse background in engineering and leadership roles. She holds a Master of Science (Electrical Engineering) from Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA.
With extensive experience in the aerospace and IT industries, Jayashree has held key positions at renowned organizations such as Bendix Aerospace Corporation, contributing to the design of control systems for fighter jets; AT&T Bell Labs, where she played a pivotal role in the development of the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems and Veritas Software as Director and General Manager overseeing their Pune office; and Lastly in Wipro, Pune as Vice President and Chief Operations Office for Wipro’s global Financial Securities Business, as well of Head of Wipro Pune where she played a crucial role in the growth and success of the company’s Pune operations. She was later given charge of Wipro Cares Projects for the state of Maharashtra.
In March 2023, Jayashree Joglekar joined Doorstep School Foundation as Director, bringing her expertise and passion to drive the organization’s mission forward. Prior to this, she held a position of Director in The Society for Doorstep Schools from 2009-2014.
Jayashree has been honored with the “IT Woman of the Year” award by the Computer Society of India.
Ms. Sharmila Paranjpe is a Global Business Leader in Information Technology Services with 30+ years of overall work experience of which 20+ years have been with Wipro Limited.
She has a strong track record of leading businesses, consistently delivering results, and creating value for the organization and its customers. She has a rich and well-rounded global exposure across P&L management, Sales, Operations, Strategy and Compliance. Beyond her corporate endeavours she is passionate about sustainability and corporate social responsibility and spent over 5 years with the Wipro Foundation.
She played a transformative role in increasing employee participation and contributions. She also played a pivotal role in establishing Wipro’s CSR programs in the UK.
She has supported and worked with a social enterprise called Rural shores (a rural BPO) helping them in setting up centres in rural India and building the sales operations, thereby catalysing employment opportunities for rural youth. She is now an Independent director and Business Advisor.
Ameya Kunte is a qualified chartered accountant and Graduate of Commerce from the University of Pune. Ameya Kunte has been associated with Doorstep since 2006 as a volunteer. On the professional front, Ameya is a founder of Globeview Advisors LLP – a boutique consulting firm focusing on corporate and international tax advisory services. Ameya has over 19 years of professional experience and specializes in direct tax, international tax and business & transaction advisory. Before Globeview, Ameya co-founded Taxsutra – a leading b2b tax news and information portal in India in 2010. Ameya has worked with consulting firms – Ernst & Young and PwC. Ameya is based in Pune and loves trekking and travelling. Ameya strongly believes that “education is a great leveller.
Varsha, with a master’s in commerce and a social activist for over 20 years, began as a volunteer at Door Step School and then joined full time to become a computer instructor and rose to the position of Associate Director. During her period of association with DSS, Varsha oversaw multiple programmes providing education to children in different types of communities.
After contributing five years as Associate Director of Finance, Varsha took on the challenge of leading the School on Wheels programme, expanding its reach and providing education to underserved children in Pune. At present, Varsha is heading the overall operations of Door Step School Foundation.
Mandar, a Mechanical Engineer with experience in manufacturing and IT industries, approached Door Step School in 2008 as a volunteer interested in working with children. Mandar has been associated with Door Step School Foundation (formerly the Society for Door Step Schools) in different capacities ranging from projects to technical support, over a period of time.
As a member of various child rights networks and a trainer and consultant with several non-profit organizations for over 15 years, he brings an inclusive and collaborative approach to the organization. At present, he is looking after communication and outreach for DSSF. Mandar is also a prolific writer and a passionate storyteller with considerable experience in theatre and arts.
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