About Us – Avanti Foundation

A.V Suresh

Managing Trustee

A.V. Suresh, is a Cartwright Gold Medalist in Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Hons) from University of Madras (1978) and an alumni of India’s premier Management institute- IIM Calcutta. (1981 ) Known for his techno-commercial and people management skills, AVS has successfully contributed to various management portfolios over 35 years in Corporate sector and has made significant contribution by heading Manufacturing, Sales and Marketing, Customer Service, Supply Chain, HR, IT and corporate social initiatives ( Community fulfillment ) in National and International roles.
He is a keen sports enthusiast and has won many National Tennis tournaments. He is an active Rotarian and is a member of Rotary Club of Deonar, Mumbai working on multiple projects for the community in health, hygiene, education and livelihood. He was the President of Rotary Deonar in 2016-17 and a chair of the Rotary District 3141 Water Thrust team.Currently he is into community fulfilment role working on sustainable projects in providing safe drinking water to urban slum and rural communities in association with Rotary, Lions International and other NGOs. He is a trustee in Tandarust Bharat Foundation. He is also the founder and Managing Trustee of Avanti Foundation working on skill development, empowerment and creating livelihoods for women and youth

P.J Reddy

Trustee

P J Reddy, aged 75 years, is a businessman involved in the manufacture of filters and related components for purification of drinking water. He is a graduate in mechanical engineering with a PG diploma in Management. Retired as the CEO of Aquamall Water Solutions Limited, one of the leading manufacturing Companies in India for water purification systems. He has been an active Rotarian for nearly 20 years and was the President of the Rotary Club of Bangalore Cantonment in the year 1986-87. Generally involved in Community Development activities including the upgradation and financial support to a Government School in his village.

Zarine Commissariat

Trustee

Zarine has over 20 years experience in Marketing and Communication, heading marketing in one of India's premier sales and marketing organisations. She decided few years ago to invest her skills and knowledge to work with the under privileged and currently heads Corporate Social Responsibility in a multi billion dollar diversified business group. Her association with Avanti Foundation helps bring the combined expertise of corporate work style to solve social and environment related issues.

"Aftertaste"

Aftertaste is a social enterprise started by Teach for India alum, Ms. Shalini Datta, with the vision to empower the women from marginalised communities, by making economically independent using art and craft. Aftertaste makes handcrafted gifts that empower women to create a better future for themselves, their children and the communities of the slums in Mumbai. Aftertaste currently works with unskilled women from disadvantaged communities of Ambuzwadi in Malwani, Malad (West), and Irani Wadi in Goregaon East Mumbai. At Aftertaste the women in addition to art and craft, learn basic financial literacy, importance of health and hygiene, women's rights, the relevance of educating their children thereby resulting in greater awareness and empowerment.

Started in January 2013, with three women, Aftertaste was operating as a small unit with minimal resources, in the home of one of the women. As of March 2018, after Avanti’s continued support and contribution, Aftertaste has blossomed into a team of 35 women with its independent office and is able to sustain and grow with its own revenue. Aftertaste along with Avanti Foundation now has a dream of empowering and improving the lives of 100 women and their families in the slums across Mumbai by 2020.