Trustees And Our Team Members
Trustees
Vandana Apte
Founder, President & Child Rights Activist
With 30+ years of work in Maharashtra, I have dedicated my life to strengthening systems that protect,
nurture, and empower children. A trained social worker and institution-builder, my work spans child
welfare, family support, education, life skills, and community development. I have worked closely with
grassroots organisations, schools, parents, government bodies, and CSR initiatives, always with one
clear belief: children thrive when adults and systems around them do better.
As the founder of Let’s Play Trust, I bring a deep field experience, a rights-based lens, and a strong focus
on play, dignity, and holistic development—especially for children from vulnerable communities.
Prakash Apte
Founder, Industrialist
A cricketer and cyclist first, a businessman by profession. I believe sport is one of the healthiest ways to shape personality and build life skills—often without children even realising they are learning.
As a Founder Trustee, my role is to support and strengthen fieldwork, ensuring teams on the ground have what they need to create real, lasting impact. I bring the spirit of play, discipline, and teamwork into everything we do—because play is not luxury, it is a necessity.
As a Founder Trustee, my role is to support and strengthen fieldwork, ensuring teams on the ground have what they need to create real, lasting impact. I bring the spirit of play, discipline, and teamwork into everything we do—because play is not luxury, it is a necessity.
Digambar Birajdar
Child Rights & Protection Expert
Passionate child development and protection worker and trainer. I am a creative thinker, deeply committed to child rights and art-based therapy. With 15+ years of experience, including 10+ years of exclusive work with children, I have supported 500+ cases—from child sexual abuse to children in conflict with the law.
My work centres on community-based interventions and meaningful training that help children heal, learn, and grow. I believe it takes a village to raise a child; and our society strongly needs a healthy ecosystem for nurturing resilient, confident, and compassionate individuals.
My work centres on community-based interventions and meaningful training that help children heal, learn, and grow. I believe it takes a village to raise a child; and our society strongly needs a healthy ecosystem for nurturing resilient, confident, and compassionate individuals.
Sayali Atre
Child Rights & Protection Expert
I am a strong implementor with 15+ years of experience in child protection and development. I have worked extensively in child sexual abuse cases, handling 400+ cases, and within child care institutions, navigating complex systems where consistency and sensitivity matter most.
A trained counsellor and storyteller, using empathy, narrative, and trust as tools for healing and learning. I am deeply committed to the cause—not as a role, but as a lifelong responsibility.
Personally, I believe that every child deserves at least one safe adult and one space where they are truly seen, heard, and protected.
A trained counsellor and storyteller, using empathy, narrative, and trust as tools for healing and learning. I am deeply committed to the cause—not as a role, but as a lifelong responsibility.
Personally, I believe that every child deserves at least one safe adult and one space where they are truly seen, heard, and protected.
Vibha Deshpande
Senior Psychotherapist And Educational Psychologist
I am a senior psychotherapist and educational psychologist with 25+ years of experience working for children’s mental, emotional, and developmental wellbeing. My work spans early childhood, primary years, and adolescence, addressing emotional regulation, learning challenges, attention difficulties,
behaviour, and social skills.
I have designed and led child development initiatives and have worked closely with children, parents, and teachers to create safe, supportive environments. My approach blends play-based methods, behavioural techniques, and psychological counselling, with a strong emphasis on preventive mental health, resilience, and a healthy self-concept in children. I believe children do best when their mental health is supported early, not addressed only in crisis.
I have designed and led child development initiatives and have worked closely with children, parents, and teachers to create safe, supportive environments. My approach blends play-based methods, behavioural techniques, and psychological counselling, with a strong emphasis on preventive mental health, resilience, and a healthy self-concept in children. I believe children do best when their mental health is supported early, not addressed only in crisis.
Pallavi Chipalkatti
Nutrition Professional
I am a nutrition professional with a background in home science and a post graduate specialisaition in
adolescent nutrition. Alongside this, I am an aerobics trainer, certified zumba trainer, additionally a certified personal trainer with over 30 years of experience in aerobics and 8+ years in zumba, currently
working with TDF Studio, Pune.
My work focuses on building healthy habits in ‘all age groups’using fitness as a tool to support physical health, confidence, discipline and emotional well-being. I believe that being a fitness trainer is far more than just a job; it is a dynamic, high-energy fusion of art, passion and science designed to transform lives through movement and music!
My work focuses on building healthy habits in ‘all age groups’using fitness as a tool to support physical health, confidence, discipline and emotional well-being. I believe that being a fitness trainer is far more than just a job; it is a dynamic, high-energy fusion of art, passion and science designed to transform lives through movement and music!
Vaijayanti Pitke
Retired Teacher
I am an artist and art educator, deeply interested in the role of creativity in a child’s development. As a former competitive Kabaddi player, I value the discipline, teamwork and resilience that sport builds in young people. I am also an active advocate for child rights, and I believe in creating safe, supportive environments where children can grow with confidence and dignity.
Through Let’s Play, I am committed to contributing to the holistic development of children through meaningful and purposeful engagement.
Through Let’s Play, I am committed to contributing to the holistic development of children through meaningful and purposeful engagement.