Avinash Jasgray: The self-made man 

Avinash Jasgray, also known as Vashil, is the founder of several active NGOs in Mauritius. Following his success locally, he now wants to take Bradford, in the UK, by storm. His charisma and courage allowed him to overcome all obstacles on his path. A self-made young man, Vashil is a role model for all those stemming from lower middle class families.

28-year old Avinash Jasgray (Vashil) is currently doing a Masters degree in Project Planning and Management at University of Bradford as a Chevening Scholar. He started his career at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development in the Eradication of Absolute Poverty programme in 2009 as a social worker. His professional pathway has been very inspiring and encouraging. He did not work only in Mauritius but also worked in Zimbabwe for six months in an NGO called Rural Unity for Development Organisation (RUDO). A proud resident of Plaine Magnien, Vashil founded a youth-led NGO – Plaine Magnien Youngsters Academy (PMYA) – in 2013 with a small group of fellow youngsters. PMYA works for youth development and youth empowerment in the village and organised activities and projects in sports and community development.

Vashil was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He is a self-made man who grew up facing many challenges. He was born in a single-parent lower-middle class family. Despite failing his first attempt at the School Certificate, he did not give up. He mustered the courage to pass with flying colours at his second attempt. His biggest challenge was managing his time between his studies (part-time degree at the University of Mauritius), his work, his NGOs and his bedridden mum. 

“They say when you love doing something, you will find the time to do it.” He is a living example of it, as he managed to balance his professional engagement as a social worker, his studies and find time for his NGOs. “Social work and volunteering was my passion. Along with that, I had to set aside time to care for my mum and it was very tough.”

From Mauritius to Bradford

Even in Bradford, Vashil does not stop volunteering. He is in the steering committee of Choices 4 All (C4A), which is an organisation in the Student Union and is funded by the Lotto Company (UK). “Choices 4 All has upcoming projects with the collaboration of Bradford Bulls Foundation and to fundraise for these projects, C4A and Bradford Bulls Foundation with the collaboration of Bradford Cycle Club had organised a Bike Ride Challenge of 600 miles from Bradford to Roubaix (France). Funds raised will go to the Disability Inclusive Sport's project,” he says.

Vashil was part of the team going for this challenge and they set off on 5th April with a group 19 cyclists. They went through Belgium, Holland and reached Roubaix (France). “It was the most amazing thing I have done in my life. With only two months training, I did this bike challenge. It was tiring and painful but the beautiful sceneries and roads in Belgium, Holland and France were our painkillers. Just the last day the wind was blowing against us at 30 km/h and it was as difficult to cycle from Hull to Bradford as it includes steep hills.”

For Vashil, getting involved in youth activities is rewarding and satisfying. “Voluntary work made me more mature and gave a direction to my life. Rewarding in a sense that it made me discover the world and life. How the world goes and how people live. Volunteering is not only an activity, it’s a learning experience and discovering yourself. It also made me realise that regardless of my current situation, some people don't have a chance to live a life like mine (as a middle class family). Rewarding in a materialistic way is that I have been travelling a lot through conferences and fellowships and getting an international network.”

Awards and Recognition

Through his journey, Vashil has participated in various international programmes and even met president Barack Obama in 2014. In 2012, he attended the first International Youth Peace Festival in Chandigarh, India. It was his first international exposure. He was the conference manager for the International Youth Conference, Mauritius. 

“It was a great success with 100 participants among 70 internationals for a 7-day residential conference. This was time where I discovered my leadership skills and the way of using transformative leadership. When I went for the MUN Morocco, I got to learn how the Security Council works in terms of a crisis.”

In 2014, he was selected to be in the Young African Leadership Initiative Fellowship (now known as the Mandela Washington Fellowship) where he studied Civic Leadership at the University of Delaware with 24 young African leaders. “During this fellowship, we met president Barrack Obama and the first Lady and both of them did a very inspirational speech which inspired me to work more for the community and especially for the African Continent.”

“Through this fellowship, I went to work for RUDO in the rural areas of Masvingo, Zimbabwe. I saw extreme poverty there and working for these people completely changed my perception of poverty and how to deal with it. I was also in the African Youth Conference in Mozambique and MINDS conference on election and youth in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and Johannesburg, South Africa. In these conferences I had the skills to deal with youth policies and also to advocate for youth development. The best International experience I had or am still having is while being here in Bradford. I am volunteering in so many projects and I am expanding my networks with the NGOs in and out of Bradford.”