Renia Ganguly, a 17-year-old student from Edgbaston, Birmingham, has been named a recipient of the prestigious Rotary Young Citizen Award 2026. Currently studying at the Henrietta Barnett School in London, Ganguly is being recognised for her exceptional leadership in global financial literacy, civic advocacy, and humanitarian service.
Renia is the founder of ChequeItOut, an innovative, youth-led online financial literacy platform designed to bridge the gap between traditional academic education and real-world money management.
Bridging financial literacy gap
What began as a grassroots idea has quickly evolved under Ganguly’s leadership into an international movement. Powered by an ambassador-led, peer-to-peer approach, ChequeItOut now utilises more than 25 youth ambassadors to deliver workshops, campaigns, and educational resources aimed at equipping the next generation with the confidence to budget, understand credit, and build financial independence.
"While many students leave school with excellent academic knowledge, they often haven't been taught how to manage money," Renia said in an interview with Asian Voice. "Our aim is to make financial education accessible, engaging, and inclusive, so every young person has the confidence and knowledge to make informed decisions."
The platform specifically targets socio-economic inequalities across the UK, India, and South Africa. For British Asian families facing rising living costs and complex financial expectations, Ganguly’s workshops frame money skills as a tool for empowerment—allowing young people to pursue higher education or avoid exploitative debt with dignity rather than anxiety.
To ensure no communities are left behind, Ganguly has also collaborated with the organisation Disability Equals Ability to create accessible educational pathways for young people with disabilities.
Civic advocacy
Beyond her work in financial education, Ganguly has established herself as a prominent youth advocate on both local and national stages. She serves as the Lead of Youth Connect on the Birmingham Youth City Board, where she champions youth representation and policy accountability.
Selected from a highly competitive national pool, Renia also serves as a National Jury Member, helping students across the UK develop critical thinking and evidence-based debate skills.
A vocal advocate for equity, Ganguly has addressed racial equality and unconscious bias as a speaker at the international Generation Next Youth Forum, alongside serving as her school's anti-bullying ambassador.
Project eSparsh
Perhaps the most tangible example of Ganguly’s civic commitment is her current humanitarian initiative, Project eSparsh.
Renia is currently leading an ambitious fundraising campaign to establish a Digital Learning Centre within a leprosy colony in Haridwar, India. The centre is designed to restore dignity and self-reliance to marginalised individuals by providing digital literacy training, financial education, and technology access to unlock freelancing and employment opportunities.
She has personally raised approximately £3,100 toward a year-end goal of £5,000 for SNJ Charitable Trust. Underscoring her commitment to the cause, she donated the entirety of her £250 Rotary Young Citizen cash prize directly to the project.
"I hope young people realise that knowledge is one of the most powerful investments they can make in themselves," Renia stated. "I want people to understand that their background should never define their future. Above all, I hope they leave believing that they have the ability to create opportunities, not just wait for them.”
To contribute to Project eSparsh, please see Renia’s just giving page:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/renia-ganguly-4?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL
