Team

Yashna Batra is an international lawyer with cross-border experience spanning tier-1 mergers and acquisitions and confidential investigations for United Nations specialised agencies. She holds a Master of Law from the University of Cambridge, where she specialised in artificial intelligence regulation and wrote her thesis on how AI systems can discriminate against women and minorities in the financial sector.

Selflessly Yours grew out of Yashna’s time volunteering at Asha Grih, a home in New Delhi for runaway and orphaned children, where she began tutoring children on weekends in 2013. Hearing their stories of abuse, exploitation and neglect, she founded Selflessly Yours in 2014, aged 16, with a group of school friends. Its aim was to support underprivileged children directly and to act as a bridge for the NGOs already working with them. What began with a fundraising stall at the Indian festival of ‘Diwali’ quickly grew. Since then, Yashna has authored a guide to child rights, which was acknowledged by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights of India. She also received a Letter of Appreciation from the Government of India, Ministry of Women and Child Development, and was appointed a Youth Champion by the South Asian Initiative to End Violence Against Children (SAIEVAC).

Today, Selflessly Yours runs fundraisers, tuition and expert-led workshops for more than 100 children each year, and its Women Empowerment Programme has helped more than 70 women find employment through vocational training.

Simran Pahuja is a Cloud Consultant in Oracle’s Supply Chain Practice. She graduated from the University of Miami with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Advertising and was a Foote Fellow.

Simran has been associated with Selflessly Yours since her school years and is the Founder of the organisation’s Karnataka Chapter. Her involvement began as an IB Diploma student at Indus International School, where she was actively involved in initiatives supporting children and the wider community.

As part of her early work, Simran tutored children in Mathematics and conducted reading sessions at the Indus International Community School. Through her involvement with Kalahalli orphanage, she organised activities and brought indoor and outdoor games to children from underprivileged communities.

Her community work also extended beyond education and child-focused initiatives. Simran volunteered at blood donation drives, supported e-waste and waste segregation awareness campaigns, and was involved in fundraising for a community school library and a science exhibition organised for and by children in the community.

Through Selflessly Yours, Simran has contributed to the organisation’s focus on creating opportunities for children to learn, participate and develop confidence. Her early involvement reflects the organisation’s emphasis on encouraging young people to take an active role in their communities and use their time and skills to support others.

Today, Simran continues her professional career in technology and cloud consulting while remaining connected to the values that shaped her involvement with Selflessly Yours. Her journey from volunteering and community initiatives as a school student to building a career in technology reflects the organisation’s belief that young people can contribute meaningfully to their communities while pursuing their own ambitions.

Nazuk is a graduate of the Lady Shri Ram (LSR) College. Following a one-year stint in advertising, Nazuk has been a part of Delhi’s top Galleries, an Auction House and a leading contemporary art magazine. She has assisted in curating exhibitions of several renowned artists and has engaged in collaborations with various art fairs and biennales.

Her entry into the world of art and an inclination towards music, literature and gastronomy, has only heightened her appreciation of the world’s diverse cultures. Nazuk has worked with various animal shelters given her love for animals and strongly advocates a holistic approach towards health, fitness and general well being.

Mahima Devanahalli is a Senior Software Engineer at PreVeil, where she works on security-focused technology. She graduated from Brandeis University with a degree in Computer Science and has continued to build a career in technology and software engineering.

Mahima has been involved in community initiatives from an early age. As a student at Indus International School, Bangalore, she was actively involved in initiatives supporting children and women in underserved communities. Through Selflessly Yours, she contributed to tutoring and educational activities for underprivileged children, including mathematics and English support.

She also led a student initiative focused on producing affordable sanitary pads for underprivileged women and girls in India. The initiative sought to address access to menstrual hygiene products while raising awareness among students about the challenges faced by women and girls in underserved communities.

Her interest in education and mentorship has continued alongside her professional career. At Brandeis University, Mahima was involved with Girls Who Code, where she taught high school students introductory computer science and helped coordinate educational activities, including events, trips and guest speakers. She has also worked as a coding instructor, continuing her interest in making technology and learning more accessible to younger students.

Mahima remains connected to Selflessly Yours and its belief that young people can contribute meaningfully to their communities. Her journey from volunteering and community initiatives as a school student to building a career in technology reflects the organisation’s emphasis on encouraging young people to use their skills and opportunities to create a positive impact.

Nimisha is a Human Factors Design Engineer II at Medtronic in Los Angeles, where she works on the design and development of medical technologies. She graduated from Rice University with a Bachelor of Science and has built her professional career at the intersection of engineering, design and healthcare technology.

Nimisha has been involved with Selflessly Yours since her school years with the organisation’s Bangalore chapter. Her involvement began with a commitment to supporting the education of children in underserved communities. She regularly volunteered with NGOs and government schools, providing educational support and participating in initiatives focused on improving access to learning.

As part of her work with Selflessly Yours, Nimisha was involved in fundraising initiatives supporting organisations working with children and communities. She helped raise ₹2,50,000 for Bal Utsav, funding the education of 65 children. She also contributed to child protection awareness by creating a video focused on child abuse.

Her commitment to community engagement continued during her time at Rice University. She volunteered with the Partnership for the Advancement & Immersion of Refugees (PAIR), working weekly with refugee students to support their transition into education and life in the United States. She also served as an Outreach Representative for Lovett College, organising community service opportunities and connecting students with local non-profit organisations.

Alongside her community work, Nimisha developed an interest in using engineering and design to address real-world challenges. At Rice, she worked with the Rice360 Institute for Global Health Technologies on projects focused on global health and medical innovation, including the development of a neonatal temperature monitoring device.

Nimisha remains connected to the values that shaped her involvement with Selflessly Yours: using education, skills and opportunities to contribute meaningfully to the communities around her.