Young talents from across Britain convened at the British Parliament in London for the landmark Annual Inspire Awards celebration. These awards seek to honour exceptional youngsters who demonstrate excellence in their chosen pursuits. A total of 27 awards were announced from among the thousands of nominations received.
The youngsters from London who won were:
– Deivan Dhyan Rathod Virdee & Rylan Anand Rathod Virdee, aged 11 have jointly won the Versatile Designer award.
– Aanya Tadikamalla, aged 13, has won the Instrument Maestro award.
– Rayyan Ariff, aged 13, has won the Singing Sensation award.
– Lauryn Rose Teixeira, aged 11, has won the Emerging Writer award.
– Valentin Tahov, aged 16, has won the Sports Superstar award.
– Yashwardhan Shankar, aged 11, has won the Chess Maestro award..
– Karolin Tahova, aged 12, has won the Gymnastics Genius award.
– Lakshita Singhadia, aged 14, has won the Sports Icon award.
– Ilhora-Lee Louison, aged 10. Has won the Budding Business Tycoon award.
– Ayush Mukherjee, aged 18, has won the Supernova award.
– Thembalenkosi Cox, aged 7, has won the Shakuntala Mantri Exceptional Award.
The Inspire Awards 2024 is an initiative of British Youth International College (BYITC) which is in its second year now, was founded in 2015 by a Glasgow-based academic and educator Dr Rashmi Mantri to help young people learn and improve their abilities in maths.
A total of 27 awards were presented at the event, followed by grand celebrations attended by the winners, their families, judges, supporters, and other guests. The BBC Presenter Zara Janjua hosted the lively festivities. Winners received trophies and certificates, along with food vouchers from German Doner Kebab, one of the event sponsors.
Deivan Dhyan Rathod Virdee & Rylan Anand Rathod Virdee, who attend Seven Kings High School, are the creative force behind the coolest t-shirts in town! From quirky graphics to bold statements, every design is a burst of creativity that reflects their unique style. These 11 year olds have been featured on BBC Radio London, BBC Asian Network Sonya and many more.
Aanya Tadikamalla, attends Watford Grammar School for Girls. is a 13-year-old young talent, trained in Harmonium, Piano, violin, viola, and Indian classical Music. She is a student of Watford Grammar for Girls, London. She has performed at prestigious venues like the Nehru Centre, Harrow Arts Centre, The Bhavan, Mastercard Annual cultural event @London and many more. Her passion for playing the instruments evokes a sense of creativity in her.
Rayyan Ariff, who attends Beal High School, is a promising young singer hailing from London, is currently a student in grade 10 at Beal High School. His musical journey began at the tender age of 8 under the tutelage of a renowned musician, Rayyan is currently honing his skills in both Carnatic and Hindustani vocal lessons. Furthermore, he is diligently pursuing grades in Western keyboard at the Trinity School of Music.
Lauryn Rose Teixeira, who attends Holy Family Catholic Primary School, is an 11-year-old kidpreneur and author of the book Lauryn That’s me: the Journey of a Powerful African Girl, one of many books she has authored. A social activist and public speaker, she supports many community causes as well.
Valentin Tahov, who attends Oasis Academy Silvertown, is a 16-year-old who has been training karate since he was 7. He is currently part of the England National Karate Team and his club is Team Essex Uechi Ryu. He is a National Champion for 2 years in a row in his category in 2022 and 2023.
Yashwardhan Shankar, who attends Bickley Park School, is a young chess enthusiast. He quickly embraced chess and developed a deep passion for it. He is making waves as a formidable player, securing victories in championships and proudly representing Scotland in prestigious tournaments like the Glorney, 4NCL, Liverpool Quadrangle, and the recent World Cadets.
Karolin Tahova, who attends Oasis Academy Silvertown, is a passionate gymnast with six years of dedication under her belt. Her talent shone brightly in numerous competitions, including the London Championships, Devotion Cup, and Winter Stars.
Lakshita Singhadia attends Nower Hill High School Since the tender age of 6, Lakshita has been steadfast in her pursuit of martial arts excellence. In an illustrious karate career spanning over 11 years, she has garnered a remarkable collection of accolades, boasting 32 medals, 6 trophies, and an impressive tally of 10 gold medals.
Ilhora-Lee Louison has made a significant impact as a youth ambassador and international speaker on children’s mental health across the UK and globally. Fluent in both English and French, she advocates for journaling and cultivating a positive mindset in children.
Ayush Mukherjee, who attends Townley Grammar School, Ayush is an inspiring all-rounder and role model as a neurodiverse ambassador championing diversity and inclusion, mental health awareness and UN Sustainable Development Goals. He is an author, an ardent orator, has an exemplary academic record, is Deputy Head Boy and is passionate about social causes.
Thembalenkosi Cox who attends Trinity Church of England Primary School is the youngest in UK to have completed all 11 levels in the abacus mental maths at just 7 years, which is an unbelievable feat to achieve. Completing all Abacus levels demands considerable dedication, and it is akin to a miniature PhD. Starting at just 4 years old he has shown an exceptional aptitude towards learning and grasping the concepts.
The awards were overseen by a high-profile judging panel including entrepreneur Dr Poonam Gupta OBE, Chief Executive of PG Paper, an international paper company based in Inverclyde, Scotland, Rohini Sharma Joshi OBE, and others.
