Miss World Opal Suchata, Julia Morley CBE, and continental winners were briefed on grassroots work underway in India’s shantytowns, especially in Hyderabad, as  Special Chief Secretary Jayesh Ranjan spotlighted the Devarsh Foundation’s on-the-ground programs and invited collaboration on child-centered development. The visiting winners engaged with the presentation and shared examples from their own countries, aligning on a simple, shared idea: education is the essential lever for long-term change.

Founded to honour the memory of Master Devarsh, the Devarsh Foundation serves vulnerable communities by supporting children from tribal and migrant families with essentials like school materials, clothing, food and medical help, and even ensuring respectful rites for unclaimed bodies. 

In the briefing, Ranjan, who has led impactful government initiatives across IT, Industries and Tourism, outlined how Devarsh Foundation identifies local priorities and then designs targeted interventions. That model resonated with the Miss World’s “Beauty With A Purpose” focus on practical, measurable impact.

Community priorities first, with girls at the center

Devarsh Foundation focuses on education, healthcare, nutrition, environmental sanitation, green initiatives, livelihood promotion and social protection. Programs are designed only after listening to community needs, with a clear preference for reaching young children, especially girls. This lens ensures that every rupee and volunteer hour is aligned to what families say will change their lives fastest. 

Manasa Varanasi, Miss World India from Hyderabad and a Miss World Top 12 semi-finalist in the Festival’s 70th edition (2022), is part of the Advisory Board of the Devarsh Foundation.

Built for transparency and scale

Operationally, the Foundation is structured for credibility and growth: a professional Director leads day-to-day work, overseen by an independent Board (with the founder serving as member-convenor), and a commitment to audits, annual reporting and open communication. This governance backbone gives partners and donors confidence that impact is being delivered—and measured—responsibly.

Leadership rooted in lived experience

The Foundation’s founder, Ms. Alyana Dilleshwari, brings years of service and journalism experience, and a deeply personal motivation to uplift families facing hardship. Her story informs the organisation’s insistence on dignity—whether it’s helping a child get to school with supplies or ensuring respectful care for those without kin.

As the Miss World winners noted, the exchange of knowledge across countries can accelerate what’s already working. With a child-first approach, strong governance, and community-driven design, Devarsh Foundation offered a compelling roadmap for partnerships focused on the most powerful outcome of all: opportunity through education. 

See what Miss World and the other MW continental titleholders had to say about it: