“Giving back to society has never felt like a choice for me. It’s something that comes naturally. In Indian philosophy, life is seen in four stages. The first is learning, the second is building a household and career, the third is where giving back becomes important, and the fourth is renunciation. I feel I am in that third stage, and Wishwa Foundation is my way of empowering people to take small actions that ripple out and create meaningful change.
My journey into social welfare began long ago. In 2000, I planted twenty thousand trees in Tanuku, my hometown. I believed that even small actions could grow into something bigger. Those early experiences, combined with my global education and over three decades in corporate governance across multiple sectors, showed me that I could use what I had learned to make a real difference. Our team is working towards making a waste free lifestyle living not just an idea we talk about, but a way of life we can all touch, feel, and practice every day. More than anything, I wanted to create spaces where generosity finds direction, a platform people can truly trust, where kindness meets purpose. A bridge between those who wish to give and those who simply need a hand to stand again.
I started Wishwa Foundation in 2021. Today, our team of over twenty people, supported by many volunteers, runs programs across the city. One initiative closest to my heart is the Pre-Loved Material Donation Drive. Years ago, I bought a tiny woolen cap for my daughter from a pre-loved store called Oxfam in Europe.
It was so beautiful that she wore it for over a year. It kept her warm and protected from colds. I often found myself thinking, why throw away something that still has value? Why not let it bless someone else? That thought became the drive. Over the last four years, thousands of items, clothes, books, toys, furniture, and appliances have found new homes.
Festivals like Diwali and Ugadi became moments to give back, with items flowing from homes, apartments, and societies to old age homes, orphanages, and bastis, bringing dignity and joy.
At Wishwa Foundation, we work closely with children, families, and communities to create meaningful impact. Some of the children we support come from humble backgrounds, yet they are full of determination. Many have completed their 10th, Intermediate, and even degree studies. When they receive good clothes, books, or other essentials through our Pre-Loved Material Donation Drive, their gratitude and joy are deeply moving.
This initiative, which started from a simple idea of reusing items that still have value, has now successfully conducted over 1,640 pickups from individual residences, apartment communities, and office premises, collecting clothes and other items for donation and recycling.
Our Swacch Hyderabad or Zero Waste Movement complements this work by guiding households, apartments, schools, colleges, offices, and places of worship to adopt sustainable practices and reduce waste. More than 2,000 people have attended workshops designed for individual homes, gated communities, offices, schools, and colleges.
Additionally, our weekly Annadanam drives provide hot meals outside government hospitals. We have conducted more than 190 of these drives so far, ensuring that those in need receive nourishment and care.
Through WishwaTalks, our global knowledge-sharing platform, we have hosted over 210 talks, engaging a community of more than 26,000 participants worldwide. This platform serves as an open space where people can ask questions, explore diverse perspectives, form their own beliefs, and shape independent opinions. The topics range from sustainability and mental health to culture, family, and youth empowerment.
The journey isn’t always easy. Raising awareness, managing logistics, and changing mindsets requires patience. But every smile, every family embracing reuse, and every participant engaged in an interactive workshop reminds us that we are moving in the right direction. By making giving a habit and taking responsibility not just for what we own but also for what we leave behind, each reused item and small act of care reconnects us with our community and our purpose.”
- Srivani Mullapudi, Founder, Wishwa Foundation