On 11 April, I was invited to the remarkable ASHA Centre in the Forest of Dean to meet a group of young people taking a leadership course. It was my pleasure to share this occasion with the Shadow Leader of the House of Lords Baroness Royall of Blaisdon and head of English Heritage, Baroness Andrews of Southover. We were all impressed and inspired as we chatted to this bold, inspiring and energetic group and listened to their life experiences and attitudes to today’s social challenges. An extra reward came for me when I discovered that one of participants was a recent graduate of English Literature at the University of Reading.
Keshav Bhat is now the founder of the social enterprise, Revolution Hive, that provides education & coaching to prepare young people for real life. After graduating from Reading, he had volunteered in Botswana with Skillshare International for 3 months on a government funded programme. While there, he was selected to work with HIV/AIDS organisations and a women’s rights organisation, where he delivered motivational talks to 2000 children every week and also volunteered at a shelter for young girls.
It was such a happy coincidence to meet Keshav and to witness the changes that our students will bring to the world.
Alison Donnell
Professor of World Literatures in English
http://www.ashacentre.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=778:a-royall-visit&Itemid=23
For more information on Revolution Hive visit http://www.revolutionhive.com
For more information on the Asha Centre visit http://www.ashacentre.org
