Founder's Note

Together, We're Building Stronger Communities.

I started Catalyst for Causes in Grade 9 because I was tired of how complicated it was to actually make a difference. Students had ideas, NGOs needed help, but there was no space where those worlds met. So I built one.

From designing the user journey and raising funds at school events, to leading platform strategy and partnerships, I have been hands-on with every part of this project. I did not just want a website. I wanted a movement. A space where students could find opportunities, start their own initiatives, and turn service into something real.

That’s been my goal in everything I do, whether it’s building a personal finance website to simplify money for teens, raising lakhs for the Indian Cancer Society through Relay for Life, organising a crowdfunding campaign funding 48 school kits for low-income children, or running art workshops for under-priviledged students at Angel Xpress Foundation. I have always believed that tech, creativity, and purpose can, and should, work together.

Catalyst for Causes is my way of proving that. It is not just a platform, it reflects my service journey, and it is a launchpad for students ready to lead and contribute.

- Manishka Erande (Founder & President)  https://www.linkedin.com/in/manishka-erande-1a957b242/

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Teams

Our Team

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Manishka Erande

FOUNDER & PRESIDENT (Grade 11, Oberoi International School OGC) Passionate about social innovation, digital tools, and community impact, I founded Catalyst for Causes to bridge the gap between student initiative and actual execution. I’ve led everything from concept to code, recruited the team, and personally oversee platform design, strategy, and content. She is a co-project head of Relay for Life OGC, has conducted research into personal finance and designed a website to educate students on the topic, hosted art workshops for under-priviledged students from Angel Xpress Foundation, and hosted a crowdfunding campaign for GreenSole foundation, raising 44,000 INR.

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Laavanya Agarwal

VICE-PRESIDENT (Grade 11) Oberoi International School OGC Laavanya leads everything community at Catalyst for Causes—from NGO partnerships to school outreach. With a sharp eye for impact and a deep belief in youth-led change, she’s helped grow C4C into the collaborative space it is today. She works with Aasha Foundation on educating young women, she is a team member of Relay for Life OIS, and engages in numerous other service activities.