Dr. Mohan Das

Mohan holds a Ph. D degree in Sociology from the Bangalore University. He has worked with The Promise Foundation for more than a decade and is a specialist in career guidance. Mohan's strength is delivering careers services to young people from extremely disadvantaged homes. He reaches more than 3000 students every year through his work at Promise.
Mohan says his reason for joining the Jiva team is: 'We are a part of society and society is a part of us. Making choices is the result of society and us. Jiva will help both the individual and society to contribute to each other harmoniously.'
Mohan's extensive experience with the poor and underprivileged and his skills for working through government departments have shaped the Jiva Project in a significant way.

Jayashree Vyasarajan

Jayashree holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and Engineering. Her involvement with adolescence-related projects during her college days drew her towards the field of education and careers. She began the shift from Computer Science towards the field of Social/Behavioural Sciences by taking up an Advanced Diploma in Montessori education. Before joining The Promise Foundation, she gained work experience through various short term projects related to children and youth.
According to Jayashree: 'The whole concept of Jiva aligns so closely to my idealistic goal and hence I am able to relate to it naturally. Jiva is also aimed at serving the human community in realizing one's potential. That is why I feel so connected and excited to be a part of it.' In addition to being a Master Career Counsellor Trainer, Jayashree has supported the Jiva project with her computer skills. She played a key role in developing career information software called Career Information Data Manager (CIDM), as well as the Jiva website. She has recently acquired an M Phil in Career Counselling and Livelihood Planning.

Nagesh R.

Nagesh holds a Master's degree in Library Science and an M Phil degree in Library and Information Science. He has also done a Post graduate Diploma in Computer Application. He has wide ranging experience in knowledge management within the context of educational institutions. Before joining The Promise Foundation, he was the information coordinator at a large higher education institution in Bangalore.
Nagesh's motivation to be a part of Jiva is: 'To make the correct information available, at the right time in the appropriate package.' A vital element of career guidance is career information and Nagesh is our Documentation Officer. He has contributed immensely in putting together the CIDM. He takes care of acquisition, organisation, storage and dissemination of careers information to our users. He also trains our partners to use the CIDM and also manages Jiva Career Resource Centres.

Sachin Kumar

Sachin holds a Master's degree in Geography and an M Phil degree in Career Counselling and Livelihood Planning. He started his career from Indian Military Academy, Dehradun and then worked as a Lecturer in Geography in different government colleges under Himachal Pradesh University in North India. Sachin has wide ranging experience in working with young people and in training teachers and youth workers. Sachin has been a friend of The Promise Foundation for many years. He was one of the Foundation's first trainees as well as a research partner.
For him Jiva is: 'An opportunity to touch the lives of generations of young people by pooling all my understanding, experience, skills, values and networks and to grow in the process both as a person and as a professional.'
Sachin works in Jiva project as a Counsellor, Master Career Counsellor Trainer and Project Manager.

Vijo K. Jose

Vijo holds a Master's degree in Social Work and an M Phil degree in Career Counselling and Livelihood Planning. He has been involved in community work, organizing training programs for rural and urban women, training programs for school children and delivering counselling services to students and young people. Before joining Jiva project, Vijo worked as the training coordinator of an important Indian NGO.
The motivation for his involvement with Jiva in his words: 'The idea of Jiva suited well my dream of reaching out to people. Through Jiva I can reach many in the community and lead them to a fully actualised life.'

Karuna Chandrashekar

Karuna holds a Master's degree in Psychology from Delhi University. She is keenly interested in looking at the interface between Human Development and Social Psychology.
According to Karuna: 'Jiva is an opportunity to help individuals discover their potential and help them in reaching that potential. It is also an attempt at bridging the personal with the social - this is what excites me about Jiva.' Karuna works as a Counsellor in the project.

Kala B.

Kala is a member of The Promise Foundation's core team. She provides information technology support in developing and designing Career Development resources. As our data manager, she helps in all activities related to research.

Robert D' Souza

Robert is a member of The Promise Foundation's core team. He is an accountant and administrator. Robert supports Jiva for all aspects related to finances, budgets, accounts and administration.

Dr. Sonali Nag

One of the Directors of The Promise Foundation, Sonali is a clinical psychologist. She holds an M Phil degree from National Institute for Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) in India and a doctoral degree from University of Portsmouth, UK. Sonali is a Research Fellow at the University of York, UK and was recently awarded the Newton Fellowship by the Royal Society. She is an international consultant to various national and international agencies such as UNICEF and ILO in the field of early childhood education and literacy acquisition. She has played a key role in curriculum development and resource management for Jiva. She is one of the faculty members for the Foundation's M.Phil Programme. She is the key contributor in designing and implementing all the research projects undertaken by Jiva.

Dr. Gideon Arulmani

Gideon is the Founder and Managing Trustee of The Promise Foundation. He holds an M.Phil in Medical and Social Psychology from the National Institute for Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (India) and a doctoral degree in Career Psychology from the University of Portsmouth (UK). Gideon has long experience in designing research and interventions related to career development of young people in the developing world context. He is well known for his book: Career Counselling - A Handbook, McGraw Hill, 2004.
Gideon is a consultant to the World Bank, UNICEF and the Asian Development Bank, for whom he has executed assignments on guidance and counselling in Sub Saharan Africa and South Asia. He is a member of the International Association for Educational and Vocational Guidance, and an Honorary Research Fellow, University of Portsmouth, UK. He is an International Fellow of the National Institute for Careers Education and Counselling, UK and Visiting Senior Lecturer at the University of Canterbury Christ Church, UK. He is the president of the newly created Indian Association for Career and Livelihood Planning. He is an expert resource person to the National Curriculum Focus Group and the Ministry of Human Resource Development of the Government of India for its projects on counselling and guidance. He is a member of the Working Group for Adolescents' Development and Youth Affairs for the Government of India's 11th Five Year Plan.
Based on his experience of more than 15 years he conceived Jiva and leads the project as its Director.