In this episode of Give It a Go, Naghma Mulla sits down with Ronnie and Zarina Screwvala, co-founders of the Swades Foundation. Together, they unpack what it really means to give with intention - why vision matters, why agility is key, and why starting early changes everything.
From shaping India’s media landscape to driving rural transformation, the Screwvalas share their journey of redefining philanthropy. They speak about community participation, holistic development, and tackling mental poverty head-on. The conversation also explores how personal wealth can align with meaningful impact and offers grounded advice for anyone looking to begin their own giving journey.
00:00 Highlights of the Episode
01:10 Meet the Guests: Ronnie and Zarina
02:06 Early Ventures and Media Industry Insights
07:06 From Media to Philanthropy
22:04 Building and Scaling the Swades Foundation
29:27 Moving Beyond Charity to Empowerment
30:04 Why Patience Matters in Development Work
30:40 Advocating for a Holistic Model
31:18 The Role of Community in Sustainable Change
31:34 Challenges and Convictions in Philanthropy
31:56 Corporate Lens vs. Community-Centric Reality
33:03 The Dream Village Vision
33:29 Empowering Communities Through Participation
38:41 Village Development Committees
39:05 The Joy and Challenges of Volunteering
43:04 Success Stories and Inspirational Leaders
44:42 Learning Through the Process
45:31 Inspiring the Next Generation to Give Back
48:03 The Fear of Getting It Wrong
51:12 How to Start Your Own Philanthropic Journey
53:17 The Power of Community-Led Initiatives