Ujwala Samant, Ph.D. – Executive Director

Ujwala Samant’s commitment to social justice began in India with her mother’s work
in grassroots education and her father’s work with sailors of the Indian navy. Her
path has led her to do a Ph.D. focusing on gender, literacy, and social change. She
has worked in the fields of disability, poverty, immigrants, ESOL, disaster relief,
research, adult literacy, intercultural counseling, and food insecurity in the US. She
has developed enduring programs in community health, nutrition, and education in
South Asia focusing on women’s rights, community health, vocational training,
advocacy, and empowerment of girls and communities.

Ujwala is a published author for research as well as a co-author of the first book
pairing Indian haute cuisine with Bordeaux wines. She has done translations from
Indian languages to French and French to English for documentaries and websites.
She continues to do volunteer work on behalf of international women’s rights,
social equity, sustainability, and education.

Ujwala believes in the strength of community coalitions and seeks to work with all
aspects of poverty and social justice. She has worked for policy change and
advocacy for minority rights, gender, children in Asia, the UK, and the US. She has
developed food programs in hospitals, lobbied for school gardens, and developed
culturally sensitive and pocket-friendly healthy culinary programs. She believes in
the power of creative coalitions to break conventional ceilings because light needs
to shine on everyone!

Aarti Doshi – Accounts Manager & Project Coordinator

Aarti Doshi has been with Children’s Hope India since 2013. She oversees donor relations and finances for the organization. Prior to working at CHI, she was assisting with Financial Aid and admissions at Spartan Health Sciences University. Aarti received her bachelor’s degree from H.R. College of Commerce & Economics, University of Mumbai.


Kailey Cashen – Operations Administrative Assistant

Kailey Cashen brings an array of valuable skills–  from operations and logistics to graphic design and social media management. Kailey studied Art History at the University of North Texas, and has developed a varied skill set through her diverse professional experience. She is passionate about the accessibility of education for children of all ages, all around the world, and is honored to put her skills to good use at Children’s Hope India.


Partners

Suneeta Dewan, Esq.
Founder & Attorney At Law, Dewan & Associates, PLLC

Sunita Dewan, Chugh LLP

Suneeta Dewan was born in India where she completed her bachelor’s degree in Economics and Political Science from St. Francis College and her master’s degree in Economics from Osmania University in Hyderabad. In 1978, she moved to the United States. She is graduate from Seton Hall University where she obtained her Juris Doctor degree. She currently lives in the beautiful state of New Jersey, a place that she and her family have called home for over 40 years.

A committed activist, Suneeta is also involved in supporting numerous social causes protecting the rights of women, children, and immigrants. Suneeta runs legal clinics providing pro bono counsel to abused women on immigration matters, filing self-petitions under the Violence Against Women’s Act (VAWA). She is also involved with the Hindu Samaj Temple and Cultural Center where she provides pro bono immigration services. For her tireless work in the community, she recently received a certificate of commendation for outstanding community service from the County Executives of Bergen County, NJ.

In addition to her service with Children’s Hope India, Suneeta serves on the advisory board of Palms for Life, a NY-based organization that supports the creation of infrastructure that provides access to education, food, water, and sanitation for vulnerable communities throughout Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Suneeta is also on the advisory boards of the Indian American Arts Council (IAAC), and Manavi, an organization dedicated to ending all forms of violence against South Asian women.


Sunita Manjrekar, M.A., M.S.Ed., CRC, Deputy Commissioner for Public Assistance and Employment Services

Sunita Manjrekar is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) with over 17 years of experience and proven leadership specializing in the field of substance abuse and workforce development. Sunita has also worked on behalf of Nassau County Dept. of Social Services (NCDSS), where she developed innovative programs to help the public assistance population achieve self-sufficiency and economic independence.


Prashant Prajapati, CPA
Prajapati & Company CPAs LLP


Jim Liggett, CPA
Liggett & Webb P.A.