In the heart of India’s diverse destinations, a remarkable transformation is underway. PashooPakshee, a social enterprise founded by Savini Sonavaria, is revolutionizing the souvenir industry by creating destination-specific mementos that go beyond mere shelf ornaments – they create lasting impacts on local communities.
A Vision Born from Experience
The story of PashooPakshee begins with Savini, an avid wildlife enthusiast and former corporate professional who identified a significant gap in India’s tourism landscape – the lack of quality, meaningful souvenirs. Armed with her engineering background and a passion for conservation, she left her corporate career in 2016 to establish PashooPakshee. Co-founder Nikhil Dhanuka, a product designer with expertise in new product development, joined her mission to transform how tourists remember their experiences across India’s destinations while empowering local communities.
Design | Train | Sustain: The Three Pillars of PashooPakshee
PashooPakshee’s approach revolves around three core principles that guide its creative manufacturing and handmade ecosystem:
- Design: Creating culturally appropriate and environmentally conscious products is the foundation. Each item is developed with processes that can be executed by rural communities using simple tools to ensure consistency and minimize errors.
- Train: PashooPakshee collaborates with communities, often with no prior artistic skills but immense potential. The training evolves continuously, empowering artisans to think creatively and grow independently.
- Sustain: The organization ensures a continuous workflow through various sales channels, including B2B partnerships, online platforms, and “Crafts for Conservation” souvenir stores. By providing tools and raw materials, PashooPakshee eliminates the financial burden on artisans, ensuring product quality and stability.
Celebrating Craftsmanship Across Destinations
PashooPakshee celebrates India’s cultural heritage through a wide range of handcrafted products, from eco-friendly stationery and lifestyle accessories to elegant home décor. Each piece reflects the creativity and resilience of rural artisans, blending functionality with timeless artistry.
Committed to fair trade and sustainability, PashooPakshee supports artisan communities while promoting environmental preservation. These products are not confined to wildlife destinations – they are crafted to represent India’s iconic locations, including heritage sites, temples, and marine destinations. Each souvenir tells a unique story, connecting buyers to India’s cultural roots and fostering a deeper appreciation for its artistic legacy.
Transforming Communities Beyond Crafts
The most inspiring aspect of PashooPakshee’s work lies in its impact on local communities. Craft centers established near prominent destinations, such as Panna, Pench, and Kanha, provide alternative livelihoods for communities traditionally dependent on natural resources.
In Pench and Kanha, women have transitioned from forest-dependent activities to skilled artisanal work, producing 65% of PashooPakshee’s souvenirs. These small groups, initially hesitant, have evolved into confident communities of artisans, becoming a beacon of sustainable change.
Innovation: Turning Challenges into Opportunities
Picture a craftsperson in a remote village, creating a souvenir that will delight a tourist hundreds of miles away – this captures PashooPakshee’s essence of resilience and innovation. The organization addresses the challenge of geographic isolation through partnerships with entities like India Post, ensuring that distance never hinders artisan empowerment.
By collaborating with Conservation Wildlands Trust, The Corbett Foundation, and the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, PashooPakshee nurtures an ecosystem that promotes both community development and conservation.
Expanding Horizons
PashooPakshee has expanded its reach beyond wildlife tourism to heritage sites like Khajuraho and Sanchi Stupa, as well as marine destinations like the Andaman Islands. Founder Savini emphasizes that “livelihood opportunities are a means to provide dignity, not charity.” This philosophy drives their mission to craft products that honor tradition, empower artisans, and inspire sustainable futures.
The Takeaway
PashooPakshee exemplifies the potential of social entrepreneurship to create meaningful change. Each product comes with a QR code that connects buyers to the artisans, fostering a bond that goes beyond the purchase.
For travelers seeking authentic mementos from India’s varied destinations, PashooPakshee offers not just souvenirs but stories of empowerment, conservation, and cultural legacy.
A Promising Association: PashooPakshee and NICEorg
PashooPakshee’s collaboration with NICEorg represents a significant milestone in its journey. NICEorg’s support for cultural enterprises aligns with PashooPakshee’s vision of creating meaningful impact. Together, they amplify the reach and visibility of small businesses, ensuring a future filled with opportunities and collaborations that celebrate cultural entrepreneurship.
More about founders:-
Savini Sonavaria
Nikhil Dhanuka