AKASH - the Barrackpore livewire

His mission is to bring about change for the scores of youths of Barrackpore who spend their time just liming and partying. The serious-minded Akash Ragoonanan, 21, spoke with conviction, saying  that he must make a difference in the lives of the people of the rural villages surrounding the Barrackpore Main Road.

Akash who is a Mechanical Process Technician with Blue Waters Products Limited, has been spending endless hours after work devising ways in which to involve the youths in projects that will bring benefit to the community and its people. He is now the chairman of the group, Barrackpore Youth Action Innovators (BYAI). Through this group he has already accomplished many goals, the first being the establishment of extra classes for secondary school students. “There are a number of students who often come to my house for assistant in their school work. I have found that I could not reach out to the students because of the interference of the family and other distractions. This is why I decided to get a venue and reach out to all the students who need help,” he said. He noted that the classes are free and he encourages the students to save their money to buy what they need to pursue their education. Akash was praised by the president of the Sanatan Dharma Mandalli, Rita Seeratan for reaching out to the youths.

Speaking from his humble home, which he shares with his father Chabeeram Ragoonanan, his mother Radha Ragoonanan, his sister Sasha and brothers Nigel, Ryan, and Rishi, he spoke about yet another exciting project that he is now working on. “We have signed up for the Prime Minister’s Best Village competition and tutors were appointed in drama, music and dance. This is financed by the Ministry of Culture and this is one of the most successful projects thus far. There are many children and young adults who are now coming forward for this project and I am so excited about it,” he related with confidence and joy in his voice. He noted that there are many people who are very talented in the field of music and drama and the Best Village is a perfect forum to mobilise the people. After work Akash spends long hours walking to many  homes, meeting parents and explaining why they should support the BYAI. “I found that the parents are reserved and very skeptical about the Best Village and other projects that I have in mind so I decided to visit all the homes and explain my venture to them in the hope of getting their support and in the turn the support of the children,” he said. Akash is a graduate of the Barrackpore Composite School. He received eight O’ Level CXC subjects including, Maths, English, Physics, Information Technology, Social Studies, English Literature, Bio Chemistry and Agricultural Science.

This ambitious young gentleman is a graduate of UWI School of Continuing Studies where he holds diplomas in welding and fabricating. He later pursued courses in Industrial Mechanical Maintenance and Construction Millwright at the National Energy Skills Centre at Ste Madeline and Point Lisas. Akash explained that while he was a young boy growing up, he could not afford any luxury because his father who worked as a labourer at Caroni 1975 Limited, was the sole breadwinner of the family and could not afford any sort of luxury for his five kids. “I promised myself to get a good job and hep my younger brothers so that they could live comfortably and I did everything in my power to get my certificates. Today I am happy that I have a good paying job and I am looking toward bettering my standard at work in hope of getting a promotion,” he said. He noted that he is also excited about the fact that funds are coming in to launch a ‘BYAI Tassa Group’ which will come on the stream on July 10. Many of the corporate sponsors have been assisting young Akash in his many endeavours. He noted that he would like to marry and settle down but there is a greater call right now. “When I look around and see so many youths going astray, do you think I could just think about myself and ignore the ills of society? No, I am bent on bringing change and I will,” he said. Already Akash is gaining a name for himself in the social circles. He noted that he would like to get into politics and really serve the people of Barrackpore. He noted that the people of Barrackpore are now enjoying the service of a million-dollar community complex as well as a new police station and better roads. “There are many other social problems that are now plaguing society. There is the problem of taxi service, and sporting facility that I want to look into,” he noted.