Uniting young people around the world
400. Eashan Thakrar
A young Step Up to Serve #IWill ambassador who helps young people all over the world through his ‘Youth Project Foundation’. The Prince of Wales congratulated Eashan Thakrar on his award at an event to mark the second anniversary of #IWill.
Eashan, 17 from Stanmore went to live in a slum in Gujarat for two weeks to learn about how people there cope with day to day life. Upon his return, he was inspired to help people like them over the world. Eashan started the Youth Project Foundation last year and it has grown rapidly, now boasting 1,350 youth members worldwide, 200 of whom are based in the UK.The project aims to help people around the world in their fight to gain equal opportunities and build their way out of poverty.
To celebrate the work of #IWill and what it provides young people up and down the country all of this week’s Points of Light are #IWill ambassadors. Through his foundation, Eashan has helped raise over £20,000 for a children’s’ community centre in Ahmedabad in India, and he spends every summer there working with the children living there, helping them with literacy and also teaching them sports such as football. In the UK, they run a mentoring scheme every Saturday for young people with learning difficulties. The foundation partners 50 mentors with young people to help them with peer to peer and academic support. Eashan has also inspired 50 volunteers to give up a day donating food, water and clothes to homeless people in London and they aim to do the same in June next year in Paris.
When Eashan isn’t getting involved with the voluntary work of the charity, he is spreading the word and encouraging volunteers to join the foundation. He has contributed on the BBC Asian Network and has encouraged hundreds of volunteers through his social media activity. Eashan is also an accomplished fundraiser. His ‘Spirits’ fancy dress night last halloween raised over £2,500 for the foundation and was attended by more than 300 people.
Prime Minister David Cameron said:
“Eashan has created a fantastic movement, harnessing the power of hundreds young people around the world to deliver projects that are changing lives. From a mentoring scheme in his local area to fundraising for a community centre in India, Eashan is constantly looking for new ways to use The Youth Project to make a difference. I am delighted to recognise Eashan’s service by making him the UK’s 400th Point of Light.”
Eashan said:
“It is an honour to receive this award. I am both humbled and surprised as I did not expect to receive anything like this. The concept of awards didn’t cross my mind as my reward for doing what I do is the self-satisfaction gained in knowing that I’m serving others.”