Veruschka Foundation

Veruschka Foundation is a Mumbai-based Section 8 non-profit founded in 2017 in memory of Veruschka Dias, a young woman on the autistic spectrum who had a deep love for food and was adept in the kitchen. The foundation was established by her family after her passing, driven by her older sibling Dr. Tatyana Dias, who holds a postdoctoral in neuroscience from the University of Cambridge. The organisation is registered under 80G and 12AA and operates from Goregaon (West), Mumbai. Veruschka Foundation works to empower individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to lead independent, dignified lives. Using cookery and hospitality as a primary medium, the foundation equips its students with life skills, social skills, and market-ready vocational skills, opening pathways to mainstream employment, entrepreneurship, or greater independence at home. It addresses a significant gap: India has an estimated 31 million individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the vast majority of whom lack access to structured skilling or livelihood opportunities.

Key initiatives include:

Culinaris Institute of Hospitality: A first-of-its-kind hospitality training institute for persons with disabilities, offering structured cookery and kitchen skills training under the S.E.E.D (Skill Enhancement and Economic Development) programme. The institute primarily supports students from families earning under Rs 4 lakh annually.

Serving Change: A kitchen work experience programme that provides Culinaris students with real-world hospitality exposure, bridging the gap between training and employment.

Growing Change: An initiative promoting sustainable farming and eco-friendly practices among individuals with developmental disabilities, building confidence, routine, and horticultural skills.

The Cook for Change Challenge: A flagship cooking competition open to differently-abled students from special schools and vocational centres across the city, providing a platform to showcase their culinary skills publicly.

Know Better Do Better: A bi-annual awareness event where industry specialists are invited to share expertise, build understanding of disability inclusion, and foster collaborations between organisations working in this space.

Stage For Change: A cultural fundraising initiative that brings together performing artists to support the foundation's programmes and raise visibility for disability inclusion.

Veruschka Foundation is a strong fit for professionals who want to work at the intersection of disability inclusion, vocational training, and livelihood, contributing to a team that is building a genuinely inclusive path to dignity and independence for some of India's most overlooked communities.