Raju Kendre

About Raju Kendre

Raju Kendre is a social entrepreneur, development practitioner, and first-generation college graduate from the historically marginalised Nomadic Tribe community of Vidarbha (Central India). Having experienced firsthand the challenges of accessing higher education, he founded the Eklavya India Foundation in 2017 after completing his first master’s degree. The organisation is dedicated to expanding access to higher education and nurturing grassroots leadership among first-generation students from historically marginalised communities. Raju holds a Master’s in Development Studies from SOAS, University of London, as a Chevening Scholar, and is also an alumnus of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). His work has been recognised on 30+ national and international platforms, including as an Echoing Green Fellow, German Chancellor Fellow, Affiliate Ashoka Fellow, Inlaks Fellow, Swedish Institute Fellow, British Council Alumni Awardee, and FRSA. He has also been nominated for the CNN-News18 Indian of the Year award and featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 and LinkedIn Top Voices (Social Impact). His work and insights have been featured in Forbes, LinkedIn, TEDx, BBC, The Hindu, and several other global and national platforms. Eklavya India Foundation increases access to world-class higher education and leadership opportunities in India and abroad. The foundation fosters the growth of underrepresented leaders, empowering them to champion their own narratives and issues. By breaking cycles of poverty and exclusion, its students return as change-makers, driving transformative progress in their communities. Since 2017, Eklavya has reached over half a million students through 700+ workshops, guided first-generation students into 100+ leading universities in India and worldwide, and built a strong alumni network of 600+ role models, creating a ripple effect. Collectively, its students have secured over USD 7M in scholarships and benefited from more than one million hours of mentorship and guidance. With over a decade of experience working with rural and tribal communities, Raju combines academic rigor with on-the-ground practice to advance equity in education and leadership. He envisions building an interdisciplinary university in Central India to empower historically underserved rural and tribal populations. He aspires to dedicate his life to creating a more equitable and just India for these communities.

Experience

1. Global Fellow

   Echoing Green

   Aug 2024 — Present

Education

• Centre for Development of Advanced Computing

  Diploma in Information Technology

• SOAS University of London

  Master of Science - MS

• Savitribai Phule Pune University

  State Eligibility Test

• Tata Institute of Social Sciences

  Master of Social Work (MSW)

• Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University

  BA in Public Services

• University Grants Commission

  National Eligibility Test

Skills

• Sustainable Development
• Social Media
• Social Entrepreneurship
• Qualitative Research
• Primary Research
• Tribal Law
• Organizational Development
• Public Health
• Agribusiness
• Youth Development
• Political Campaigns
• Social Networking
• Leadership Development
• Rural Community Development
• Advocacy
• Leadership
• Microfinance
• Rural Development
• Campaign Management
• Farmers
• Campaigns
• Grassroots Development
• Microsoft Office
• Sustainable Forest Management
• Data Analysis
• Agriculture
• Social Movements
• Product Development
• Social Research
• Activism
• Social Skills
• Organizational Leadership
• Social Studies
• Disaster Risk Reduction
• Grassroots Organizing
• Innovation Development
• Strategic Planning
• Teamwork
• Disaster Response
• Educational Leadership