Pallvee Shah

Co-Founder, Chief Executive and Chair of Trustees, UK

Pallvee Shah

Co-Founder, Chief Executive and Chair of Trustees, UK

I co-founded Help Change Lives in 2019 along with Parus. I devote all my working time towards running Help Change Lives on a voluntary basis and I am also a trustee of the charity. I have a degree in Law (LSE) and a masters in Investment Management. I am a Chartered Accountant and a Chartered Tax Advisor.

I worked in London at Andersen and Deloitte as a corporate tax advisor for almost 15 years. I then moved to Tax Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Deloitte for just over a year before I left to found and run Help Change Lives.

I was born and brought up in Kenya and saw the problems associated with poverty and the difference a helping hand can make. Giving back is something that I have always been very passionate about and I have always been involved with various charitable initiatives. I now feel very fortunate that I am able to help vulnerable people and give back on a daily basis.

I am also on the committee of Shishukunj International Projects and a volunteer ambassador for Mary’s Meals and RajSaubhag UK (Humanitarian) and – all UK charities working to help vulnerable people in developing countries.

I co-founded Help Change Lives in 2019 with Pallvee. I am a trustee of the charity and do this role on a voluntary basis. I was born and brought up in Kenya before coming to the UK for university. I have a degree in Management Science and a masters in Accounting and Finance from LSE. I currently work in finance in London.

I am very passionate about giving back and helping those that are in need as I saw the devastating effects of poverty whilst growing up in Kenya.

Seeing the impact that we are having on people’s lives in alleviating poverty is really wonderful.

My role at the charity is to provide input into strategic decision-making, assist with project selection and due diligence, donations and networking. I find it really fulfilling to see the difference we are making in helping the vulnerable.

Parus Shah

Co-Founder, Trustee, UK

I co-founded Help Change Lives in 2019 with Pallvee. I am a trustee of the charity and do this role on a voluntary basis. I was born and brought up in Kenya before coming to the UK for university. I have a degree in Management Science and a masters in Accounting and Finance from LSE. I currently work in finance in London.

I am very passionate about giving back and helping those that are in need as I saw the devastating effects of poverty whilst growing up in Kenya.

Seeing the impact that we are having on people’s lives in alleviating poverty is really wonderful.

My role at the charity is to provide input into strategic decision-making, assist with project selection and due diligence, donations and networking. I find it really fulfilling to see the difference we are making in helping the vulnerable.

Prashant Amatya

Independent Trustee, UK

Prashant Amatya

Independent Trustee, UK

I am a trustee of Help Change Lives and do this role on a voluntary basis. I am a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants England and Wales and am currently Head of Audit at Miller Insurance Services. I have over 20 years of internal and external audit experience (including Deloitte) and am also a member of the Chartered Insurance Institute’s Audit Committee.

I was introduced to Help Change Lives by Pallvee and Parus. Having come from a developing country myself (Nepal), the ethos of making real changes to the lives of struggling people in those countries compelled me to help in the running and development of Help Change Lives. I am an independent sounding board and overseer of governance.

I like the fact that the charity connects directly with people who need help and is making their lives better. The satisfaction and joy from seeing smiling faces on the photos of people who have been helped and readingabout the impact we have had on individual lives is incomparable.

I have a degree in Social Work from Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kakamega, Kenya. This has enabled me acquire skills such as listening, communicating and research. I chose social work as I am passionate about helping individuals and communities and love seeing them transformed.

I love my social work in Kakamega, Kenya for Help Change Lives because at the end of the day I put smiles on people’s faces and also give hope to the hopeless. This is the special gift one can receive. I also love my work because through it people are empowered and self motivated. What makes me most happy is changing their lives from worse to better. Improving someone’s life below poverty line to above poverty is great.  Most people lack basic needs. Seeing people acquire these makes me happy and brings hope that theirs is a better tomorrow.

Maureen Okweya Musungu

Social Worker, Kenya

I have a degree in Social Work from Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kakamega, Kenya. This has enabled me acquire skills such as listening, communicating and research. I chose social work as I am passionate about helping individuals and communities and love seeing them transformed.

I love my social work in Kakamega, Kenya for Help Change Lives because at the end of the day I put smiles on people’s faces and also give hope to the hopeless. This is the special gift one can receive. I also love my work because through it people are empowered and self motivated. What makes me most happy is changing their lives from worse to better. Improving someone’s life below poverty line to above poverty is great.  Most people lack basic needs. Seeing people acquire these makes me happy and brings hope that theirs is a better tomorrow.

I have a degree in Social Work from Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kakamega, Kenya. I am a member of Social Work Society Of Kenya (SSK).

I chose Social Work as a profession because of its nature to help the vulnerable population to alleviate poverty and enhance individual and collective well-being.

While growing up I always had this feeling of being concerned with the welfare of others and dreamed of one day being in a better position to provide assistance to the less fortunate.

Through working with Help Change Lives Charity and being able to transform the lives of many vulnerable people, I can proudly say that my dream is being fulfilled. I feel grateful for this opportunity and hope to continue changing many lives from worse to better.

Maxwell Masoni

Social Worker, Kenya

I have a degree in Social Work from Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kakamega, Kenya. I am a member of Social Work Society Of Kenya (SSK).

I chose Social Work as a profession because of its nature to help the vulnerable population to alleviate poverty and enhance individual and collective well-being.

While growing up I always had this feeling of being concerned with the welfare of others and dreamed of one day being in a better position to provide assistance to the less fortunate.

Through working with Help Change Lives Charity and being able to transform the lives of many vulnerable people, I can proudly say that my dream is being fulfilled. I feel grateful for this opportunity and hope to continue changing many lives from worse to better.

Poonam Shah

Volunteer (pharmaceutical advice), Kenya

Poonam Shah

Volunteer (pharmaceutical advice), Kenya

I am a UK qualified pharmacist and worked for a national pharmacy chain in the UK for 8 years before returning to Nairobi. I am a registered pharmacist in Kenya, where I now live.

I now volunteer for Help Change Lives, where I give advice within my capacity to confirm what certain drugs are for, check for interactions and also confirm whether the person the charity is assisting is receiving appropriate medical treatment locally.

Volunteering for Help Change Lives has helped me feel inspired in helping the underprivileged. It is wonderful to see the journey the people go through from coming from absolute poverty to how Help Change Lives empowers their lives from providing shelter, to food and medical care and treatment. This has given me utter fulfilment in my volunteering with this particular charity.

I am a qualified accountant by profession.  I developed a passion for educating and giving back to the community after being the head teacher for SCVP – Young Jains Nairobi in 2018 and 2019.

I love to make a difference and drive change in the Kenyan community. By volunteering with Help Change Lives with my husband, it is truly inspiring to see the difference we are making through the various projects and initiatives. Giving is not just about making a donation, but creating a difference and Help Change Lives does exactly this.

At the end of the day, I feel really happy being able to put a smile on someone’s face and working with Help Change Lives, a charity that does this for thousands.

Bejul Shah

Volunteer, Kenya

I am a qualified accountant by profession.  I developed a passion for educating and giving back to the community after being the head teacher for SCVP – Young Jains Nairobi in 2018 and 2019.

I love to make a difference and drive change in the Kenyan community. By volunteering with Help Change Lives with my husband, it is truly inspiring to see the difference we are making through the various projects and initiatives. Giving is not just about making a donation, but creating a difference and Help Change Lives does exactly this.

At the end of the day, I feel really happy being able to put a smile on someone’s face and working with Help Change Lives, a charity that does this for thousands.