pakhi

Linkedin : on a mission to change poor perception of public toilets!

[pakhi @pakhiagarwal06]

Presented our book-“Toilet Tales” at @INKWASH_summit today in the presence of honourable @KTRTRS sir, the youth team also showcased Crypto, feces into charcoal + more.
On a mission to make this bigger and Change the poor perception of Indian toilets!

#InkWash @abhiinath #youth

[Humans of Hyderabad @HumansofHyd]

"I often say my story isn’t just mine — it’s shaped by the people I’ve met, the lessons I’ve learned, and the values I grew up with. I was born and raised in Hyderabad, and my parents always made sure I understood the world beyond our home. They believed privilege wasn’t something to feel guilty about but something that came with responsibility. I remember studying alongside the children of our house help, sharing textbooks and stories. Back then, I didn’t see any difference between us. It was only later that I realised the world did.

My grandmother, Damayanti Bai, has been a huge influence in my life. She spent her days caring for others, and I grew up wanting to do the same. When COVID hit, I was 16. Schools moved online, but I kept thinking about kids who didn’t have access to smartphones or laptops. They weren’t falling behind because they didn’t want to learn — they just didn’t have the means. I couldn’t ignore it, so a few friends and I decided to do something about it. That’s how Raha Foundation started, though we didn’t have a name for it then.

At first, we worked under the United Nations Foundation’s Girl Up initiative, but as we expanded our work to education, healthcare, employment support, and gender equality, we realised we needed to stand on our own. That’s when Raha Foundation was born — Raha means ‘path’ or ‘journey,’ and that’s exactly what we hoped to offer.

One winter, while working with families in Hyderabad’s adopted slums, we realised many didn’t have access to hot water. Something as basic as a warm bath was a luxury for them. We raised funds and donated over 100 water heaters. I still remember a mother telling me how her child, who had asthma, was finally able to sleep better because the cold no longer triggered his breathing problems. That moment made me realise that change doesn’t always have to be big — sometimes, it’s as simple as helping someone sleep peacefully.

Over time, our work has grown in different directions. We partnered with Telangana State Police’s She Teams to organise self-defence workshops for girls, helping over 180 young women feel safer. We’ve also supported Hyderabad’s transgender community, helping them access medical care, jobs, and spaces where they feel seen. Some of the most powerful moments have been listening to their stories and seeing their resilience.

One project that’s especially close to my heart was working with kids of house helps who wanted to start small businesses. They had the ideas but didn’t know where to begin. We broke down simple concepts like budgeting and marketing, and within a week, they had received over 35 orders. Seeing them believe in themselves was something I’ll never forget.

Today, Raha Foundation is run by a team of 30 students aged 13 to 19. Some of our best ideas have come from the youngest members, which constantly reminds me that age doesn’t define impact. We’ve also worked on financial literacy, environmental sustainability, and volunteered at animal shelters like Jeeva Vatsalya Animal Rehabilitation Center.

Right now, we’re planning a fashion workshop to teach rural girls embroidery and tailoring, hoping to connect them with stable job opportunities. Balancing all this with my studies hasn’t been easy, but my parents always encouraged me to start my day early — waking up at 5:30 AM has become my space to reflect, plan, and stay grounded.

Raha Foundation, to me, is more than just an organisation — it’s a promise. A promise that no one should be held back by circumstances beyond their control. I know I can’t change the world alone, but small steps add up. Sometimes, all it takes is a little warmth, guidance, or hope to help someone move forward. And for me, that’s what Raha is all about."

- Pakhi Agarwal, Founder, Raha Foundation

#WomensDay2025 #AccelerateAction #Society #EmpoweredWomen #Hyderabad #HumansofHyderabad

[pakhi @pakhiagarwal06]

@HumansofHyd @RahaFndn_Hyd @hydsheteam Thank you, @HumansofHyd , for shining a light on my journey! Grateful for your support and the incredible stories you bring to life🙏🏻

[pakhi @pakhiagarwal06]

@varooooooon @mkstalin @mkstalin Thank you for supporting us and helping change the poor perception of indian public toilets 💙

[pakhi @pakhiagarwal06]

@SanjanaPulipat1 @mkstalin @mkstalin Thank you for Helping us in our mission to providing Safe, Luxurious and Free2use Public washrooms in Chennai!

[Sanjana Pulipati @SanjanaPulipat1]

A Heartfelt Thanks to the Govt of Tamil Nadu & Shri.M.K Stalin Chief Minister for visiting Loocafe Chennai OMR & extending his best wishes + support in this journey of changing the poor perception of Indian toilets, safety&hygiene for the people of tamil nadu in one 💙 @mkstalin

[Varun Chandra @varooooooon]

Heartfelt Gratitude to the Govt of Tamil Nadu & Shri.M.K Stalin Chief Minister for visiting Loocafe Chennai OMR & extending his best wishes + support in this journey of changing the poor perception of Indian toilets, safety&hygiene for the people of tamil nadu in one💙.@mkstalin

[pakhi @pakhiagarwal06]

A Heartfelt Thanks to the Govt of Tamil Nadu & Shri.M.K Stalin Chief Minister for visiting Loocafe Chennai OMR & extending his best wishes + support in this journey of changing the poor perception of Indian toilets, safety&hygiene for the people of tamil nadu in one💙.@mkstalin

[pakhi @pakhiagarwal06]

Pride in eyes, the tricolour imprinted in our hearts & tshirts,The Loocafe team joins hands with all Loocafe’s PAN India to Hoist our flag & join the Har ghar tiranga campaign Jai hind and happy independence day.
This is how Loocafe spent their Independence day!
#HarGharTiranga

[pakhi @pakhiagarwal06]

Toilet tales a tale to tell:It is a culmination of 28 stories detailing the lives of street hawkers turned entrepreneurs through Loocafe it is providing economic support to these vendors but simultaneously transforming lives & Telangana’s perspective on sanitation and hygiene!

[pakhi @pakhiagarwal06]

Shoutout to Loocafe’s youth team for their hardwork on “Toilet Tales” launched at @INKWASH_summit by @KTRTRS . We have never looked back since then! Eagerly waiting to present our work to everyone & make an impact in WASH with WIH💙
@Chary_VSC @abhiinath @GadwalvijayaTRS

[Anvitha @anvitha_k06]

Thank you to @THubHyd and @KTRTRS for creating such a booming entrepreneurship ecosystem in Hyderabad! It’s so inspiring to see the world’s largest innovation campus here in Hyderabad. @NexteenOrg is thankful to be one of the youngest startups expanding through this ecosystem.

[Anvitha @anvitha_k06]

After months of work for the launch of @NexteenOrg, we’ve finally launched our program.

We’re creating the world’s top problem-solvers, making an impact globally!

Thank you to @THubHyd and the innovation ecosystem set up by @KTRTRS and @jayesh_ranjan for making this possible!

[Ved @VedanthNath]

A Big Thank you to the main man in our #InnovationEcosystem @THubHyd

MSR Sir, CEO of #THub @SriniRa16502535 for being the opening speaker at @NexteenOrg's launch

From making startups, #GenZ in Emerging Tech, sir was the inaugural speaker at our launch

[Ayush Srivastava @tweetitayush]

What an amazing VIBE! All the faces you see are #nexteen_champs coming from different family backgrounds, different culture only to celebrate the spirit of #unconventional_education

The frontiers in the black is the team that made it happen. A big thanks to @KTRTRS @THubHyd

[Harsh Vardhan Shukla @HVS619]

And we finally did it!!
We finally launched @NexteenOrg . And let me introduce you all to our #nexteen_champs . Thankyou @KTRTRS @THubHyd for supporting us with all the resources!

[KTR @KTRBRS]

Outraged & shocked with the news of the rape of a minor in Hyderabad

Request HM @mahmoodalitrs Garu @TelanganaDGP Garu and @CPHydCity to take immediate & stern action. Please don’t spare anyone involved irrespective of their statuses or affiliations

[Ved @VedanthNath]

Ma'am, thank you so much for your time this morning, sharing incredible insights for the #WASH sector & inspiring us with your charisma.

We as #GenZ will do our best to work for the #SwacchBharat Mission - Nationally. 💙🙌🇮🇳
@RoopaMishra77
#Nexteen #LooCafeToiletTales

[pakhi @pakhiagarwal06]

@MrBeast @loo_cafe

[khyatiNaravane @khyati_naravane]

Delighted to meet this youth team with a great idea to make a difference in the society. @ftcci assure's it's support towards #nexteen initiative

[Ved @VedanthNath]

A call with a powerhouse of knowledge. A corporate turned IAS officer @musharraf_ias
Thank you so much for your talk on empowering youth & appreciating our work on #ToiletTales

Now, Working towards a #WASH #Mindset change – we're going to take our #GenZ forward.
#Nexteen