Our Team

The Anganwadi Project was initiated through the work of Jodie Fried, the founder of Bholu in 2005 after an 11 year association with the NGO Manav Sadhna, based in Ahmedabad. Over this period she conducted workshops with the children in the slum communities of Tekra. Through these workshops Jodie became aware of the extremely poor conditions of the anganwadis, and she was inspired to rebuild anganwadi Bholu 1 with the help of Manav Sadhna.

Architect, Jane Rothschild, (originally from Architects Without Frontiers, Australia) and Jodie Fried from Bholu met and joined forces in 2007, with AWF providing skilled volunteers and architectural support to the project. The Anganwadi Project was independently incorporated as a not-for-profit volunteer association in 2011, which provides Australian design expertise to communities in India, helping communities in the construction of their physical and social infrastructure.

Jillian Hopkins, a past volunteer and extraordinarily innovative architect joined as Volunteer Coordinator in 2010. On the ground in India we have our fearless leader Neeta Jadav and the wonderful team from Manav Sadhna to bring the project to life.

Jane Rothschild

Project Director
Architects Without Frontiers

Jane Rothschild is one of the Project Directors of the Anganwadi Project.

Jane graduated from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design in 1984 and completed a Masters of Heritage Conservation the University of Sydney in February 2011. In 1992, she co-founded Dickson Rothschild, a multi-disciplinary firm of architects, urban designers, landscape architects and planners in Sydney. Jane became a Director of Architects Without Frontiers in 2007.

Prior to her involvement with AWF, Jane worked with Habitat for Humanity on several projects in Australia, Banda Aceh and Vietnam, developing model house designs and construction training manuals.

Jane has a passion for heritage architecture, travel and working in different cultures. Her vast experience in architecture offers great leadership to keep the aim of the project community driven, sustainable and functioning at a grass roots level.

Jane often speaks about The Anganwadi Project at architecture events, design firms and conferences.

Jodie Fried

Project Director
Bholu

Jodie Fried is one of the Project Directors of the Anganwadi Project.

Jodie founded her homewares design company Bholu in 2005, where the philosophies are based on creating a sustainable incomes and opportunties for traditional artisans in India and benefitting local communities.

In 2008, Bholu won the NSW Telstra Business Awards for Social Responsibility for demonstrated leadership by a business to education, environment, people and the community as well as being chosen as one of the Time Magazine’s Top Green products for 2009.

The Anganwadi Project was initiated by Jodie in 2006, through the art and craft workshops she conducted with the children in the slum communities of Tekra.

Through these workshops Jodie became aware of the extremely poor conditions of the anganwadis, and she was inspired to make a difference to these children’s lives, and soon, The Anganwadi Project was born!

Jodie has a deep love and respect for India and its’ people.

Neeta Jadav

Project Coordinator - India
Manav Sadhna

Neeta Jadav is the Anganwadi Program Co-ordinator based in India and works tirelessly for The Anganwadi Project, alongside local dedicated volunteers from Manav Sahdna.

Neeta has worked in this community for many years, starting with once being an Anganwadi teacher herself. Neeta is deeply committed to making a difference in these communities and the future and health of our children is her passion.

Manav Sadhna is an Indian NGO based at Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad. The organisation is comprised of a young group of dedicated individuals working to uplift the lives of poor and needy children.

Inspired by the Gandhian principles of truth, non-violence, uplifting the poor and oppressed, Manav Sadhna promotes health and sanitation, and education for the poor.

Viren Joshi , Jayesh Patel and Anar Patel are the founders of Manav Sadhna and provide constant guidance and inspiration to the project.