About Us
n+1 Social Foundation is a non-profit organisation working at the intersection of education, community participation, and innovation. We believe that meaningful change does not come from one big solution, but from small, consistent efforts that multiply over time - n plus one.
Our work focuses on strengthening foundational learning among children from underserved communities, while also engaging youth and volunteers as active partners in the change process. By combining human connection, simple technology, and strong local ecosystems, we design programs that are scalable, cost-effective, and deeply rooted in community realities.
Our Story
n+1 began with a simple question:
What if one extra effort - one story, one mentor, one facilitator- could change a child’s learning journey?
What started as a volunteer-led reading initiative gradually evolved into a broader education and innovation platform. Over the years, we saw firsthand how children struggled with basic reading and numeracy, not because of lack of ability, but due to limited attention, weak foundations, and constrained school systems.
At the same time, we witnessed the untapped potential of local youth, volunteers, and community facilitators - people who, when given the right tools and guidance, could create remarkable learning outcomes. Our work is supported by strong partnerships with academic institutions like IIT Bombay (for Monitoring & Evaluation) and NSRCEL, IIM Bangalore (for mentorship and ecosystem building), ensuring that compassion is matched with rigor.
Our work has been result-oriented and evidence-driven. Insights and learnings from our programs have not only shaped our interventions on the ground but have also contributed to academic research. Our work has been documented in a research paper that was published at an international conference hosted at IIT Madras, reflecting our commitment to combining grassroots action with knowledge creation and rigorous evaluation.
Over the years, our work expanded from reading programs to foundational numeracy initiatives, supported by community facilitators, schools, and academic institutions. As our ecosystem grew, so did the interest from students—especially high school and college learners—who wanted deeper, more authentic ways to engage with education and social impact.
Innovate 4 Education was created to respond to this need: a space where learning, service, and reflection come together through well-designed programs that are grounded in communities and guided by experience.
Our Flagship Programs
Read-a-story (RAS)
What it is
A volunteer-driven literacy program where stories are read aloud to children in government schools and underserved communities.
Why it matters
Many children can decode words but struggle with comprehension, confidence, and expression. Reading aloud builds vocabulary, listening skills, imagination, and a lifelong relationship with books.
How it works
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Structured reading sessions aligned to the academic calendar
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Orientation and support for volunteers
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Consistent engagement rather than one-time exposure
Reach
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~800 students annually - 5000+ teaching hours clocked
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Operates during the school year (pauses during exams and summer break)
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Strong volunteer participation from colleges and professionals
Foundational Numeracy Program
What it is:
A structured foundational numeracy initiative designed for primary school children in government schools, implemented through local community facilitators.
How it works:
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Daily math practice using a custom-built mobile app
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In-person support from trained community facilitators
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Continuous monitoring and evaluation
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Backed by academic rigor and data analysis
Reach:
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7000 + students across 45 Zilla Parishad schools
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Implemented with device support from the Rotary Club of Powai
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Monitoring & Evaluation supported by IIT Bombay
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40+ Community Facilitators
Why it matters:
Poor student - teacher ratios and weak foundations in basic arithmetic limit future learning. This program shows that with the right tools and local support, children can make rapid, measurable progress. The program was scientifically studied and findings were reported in a research paper published in an international academic conference.
Solve-with-Bharat (SWB)
Our Team
Amod Joshi
Amod is a co-founder of n+1, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving foundational literacy and numeracy for children in underserved communities. Before transitioning to the social sector, he worked in the field of designing and testing computer chips. He studied at the College of Engineering in Pune (COEP) and Penn State University. At n+1, Amod collaborates closely with his team to develop practical and scalable solutions that enhance learning outcomes in these communities.
His work reflects a strong belief in combining technology with empathy to create lasting change.
Gauri Mehendale
Gauri Mehendale has over 20 years of experience working in the social sector, especially in education and community development. She studied Sociology at Delhi University and went on to complete her Master’s in Social Work from the Karve Institute in Pune. Over the years, she has worked with organizations like Bhartiya Samaj Seva Kendra and Daily Dump. Co-founder of n+1, she is part of the core team, where she works with a committed group to build programs that help children in underserved communities strengthen their basic learning, using a mix of technology and human support.
Saarang Rajguru
Saarang Rajguru works at the intersection of education, design, and technology, focusing on improving foundational learning outcomes in rural India. A Teach For India alum, he brings experience in program design, product thinking, and project management to build practical, scalable solutions for students and educators. His work centers on creating user-friendly tools and learning experiences, particularly in foundational numeracy, while collaborating closely with schools and community facilitators.
Nitin Katare
Nitin Katare has close to 30 years experience in the information technology space, running a gamut of different job roles within the same company (Oracle Corporation), from Product Strategy, Sales Consulting, and Global Sales across Europe, Asia, and North America. Nitin has two masters degrees, one in Engineering and one in Marketing from the US and is currently settled with his family in West Lafayette, Indiana, US, a small town that feeds into Purdue University where both his children attend college.