Raju Kendre: Only Indian to Win British Council’s Global Alumni Award 2025 for Social Action

New Delhi- The British Council has announced the finalists of the Global Study UK Alumni Awards 2025, which celebrate the outstanding achievements of international UK alumni who are creating positive change in their communities and inspiring future generations. Now in its 11th year, the Alumni Awards received more than 1,300 applications from alumni across 100 countries, representing over 130 UK universities. National-level ceremonies took place in 23 countries, including France, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Turkey, and the USA.

Among the global winners is Raju Kendre, founder and CEO of Eklavya India Foundation and alumnus of the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. He has been awarded in the Social Action category, making him the only Indian recipient of the Global Alumni Awards 2025. The public award ceremony will be held in May 2026, in the presence of senior British Council officials. In March 2025, he also received the National Level Alumni Award at the British Council ceremony in Delhi.

Transforming education for marginalized communities

Drawing from his lived experience as a member of a nomadic tribal community, Raju has dedicated his career to expanding educational access for first-generation learners from rural and tribal regions of India. Since founding Eklavya India Foundation in 2017, he has:

● Impacted over 500,000 students through awareness and mentoring programs.

● Supported more than 2,000 students in securing admission to 100+ prestigious national and global universities.

● Facilitated over USD 7 million in scholarships for underprivileged students.

● Built a growing community of 600 alumni, who are now inspiring and supporting learners in their own regions.

Through Eklavya’s flagship Global Scholars Programme, more than 150 students have secured admissions at globally renowned universities, while over 60 students have received fully funded scholarships, including Chevening, Commonwealth, Erasmus+, and admissions at institutions such as Harvard University, University of Oxford, LSE, and Columbia University.

Raju’s long-term vision is to establish an interdisciplinary university in central India, dedicated to fostering leadership, equity, and opportunity for marginalized communities.

Sharing his thoughts on this recognition, Raju said:

“The year 2021-22 was a milestone for me. Studying at SOAS, University of London, and receiving the Chevening Scholarship significantly contributed to both my personal journey and the work of our Eklavya India Foundation. There is still much to be done to democratize higher education and create leadership opportunities for marginalized communities. Our mission is to ensure that students from underprivileged backgrounds not only access higher education but also emerge as policymakers and decision-makers. This recognition will inspire us to work even harder in this direction. I dedicate this award to all first-generation learners from marginalized communities.”