Teenager honoured for hygiene kit for the homeless
A teenager who turned the family living room into a makeshift centre to process hygiene kits for the homeless has been recognised for his efforts.
Rohan Mehta, from Kensington in west London, founded his In The Bag project two years ago.
So far, the 17-year-old has donated 130 bags containing toiletries, toothbrushes and other items to homeless Londoners.
Rohan, who is studying for his A-level exams at Latymer Upper School, was given the Young Achiever award by Kensington and Chelsea Council and recognised with a civic honour by Hammersmith and Fulham Council.
The philanthropic teen said homelessness had always been an issue that really affected him.
Rohan said when he was small and would spot someone on the street, he would ask his parents if they could provide that person with money or food.
"I always knew I wanted to do something to be part of the solution so when I got a little bit older, I thought, what tangible stuff could I do?
"I wanted to create something practical that could really help people, not just raise awareness, but give them something that could make them feel a little bit better, give them back some of their dignity. That's why I wanted to start In The Bag."
Rohan was only 15 when he began developing the idea.
His family's living room quickly filled with shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, toothbrushes and toothpaste.
He said: "I wanted to focus on something with daily hygiene. When you're homeless, you don't have access to a lot of these things and when you're able to stay in a shelter overnight, for example, if you're able to clean yourself up properly, it makes you feel a lot better.
"When I started studying economics, I started getting this idea of a job-seeking element to this and the whole cycle of poverty and I realised how incredibly difficult it was to break that.
"You really cannot have a job interview if you do not look presentable and clean... so I wanted to do my part in sort of breaking that barrier because it's really, really difficult."
His efforts have been recognised by two London councils.
In March, he was handed the Young Achiever's Award by the mayor of Kensington and Chelsea. In April, he was given a civic honour by Hammersmith and Fulham Council for his contributions to building a stronger, safer, kinder borough.
Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk
Councils fear bankruptcy amid homelessness crisis
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