Who we are


Marcel is a Brazilian electrical engineer (UNICAMP) and currently studies financial management as a post graduation (Insper IBMEC - SP). He works as a volunteer at Mann Deshi Bank and is engaged in two projects related to (i) clients default information reports building and (ii) developing a structure of a Chambers of Commerce for rural entrepreneurs women in Maharashtra state.


Emilia is an Italian international affairs student at SAIS Johns Hopkins University. She works on two projects relating to (i) reorganization of the structure of Mann Deshi Business School and (ii) writing and reviewing partner’s funding proposals.


Both will be in Mhaswad (Mann Deshi headquarters) for 2 months providing it with help in their knowledge related areas.


Apart from these main activities at the Bank, from the start both have been involved in other initiatives: Marcel is a Soccer Trainer for Mann Deshi Champions Program(link) and Emilia is an English Teacher for children and adults.

Marcel Tavelini: “Starting with my new “duty” as a soccer trainer has been the greatest experience so far. Causing smiles on simple children with just the fact of being there trying to make their lives funnier and facing the huge difference between my life and theirs was enough to light up the ideas candle in my mind.
Now we turned it into a project where you can be involved and help, wherever you are! As Ashoka’s (International NGO which supports thousands of initiatives worldwide like the Mann Deshi Foundation and Bank) vision says, “Everyone a Changemaker”, you now have the opportunity to do it: be a change maker, Be In Their Shoes!!!”

Emilia Galiano: “When we first started thinking about what we could do for the children I felt helpless and discouraged. But then when Marcel first told me about this project I just thought it was amazing! Could there be something better than helping children, encouraging them to do sports, and at the same time having fun? I will not lie to you, the creative process surrounding this whole project, the proposals to make it entertaining, the structure of the blog, the pictures and layouts and the writing of the text, has been the most exciting thing I’ve been involved in. I truly believe that we will be successful and, being interested in International Development, I strongly hope that other projects like this one will come across my way, giving me the real opportunity to help others and change things, even just a BIT.”