Connecting Communities Across Continents – A Spotlight Special with Snehalaya
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In this special episode of Spotlight on Soar Sound, John Coster and Rob Watson are joined by two remarkable guests—Guresh and Anil from Snehalaya, a grassroots social development organisation based in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India. Fresh off the plane and visiting Leicester for a major international gathering of Marathi-speaking communities, they sit down to share their story and reflect on the deep links between community, diaspora, and social change.
Snehalaya, founded in 1989, has grown from humble beginnings into a multifaceted organisation supporting women, children, and marginalised groups through education, healthcare, anti-trafficking efforts, and youth empowerment. But what’s striking in this conversation isn’t just the scale of Snehalaya’s work—it’s the ethos behind it. Guresh and Anil speak with warmth and conviction about the importance of building trust, creating a platform for others to step forward, and offering not just services, but inspiration.
As part of a diaspora event uniting Marathi speakers across Europe, they emphasise that this isn’t just a reunion—it’s a space for collective visioning. Entrepreneurs, artists, activists, and educators are coming together not only to celebrate cultural heritage but to imagine a better future for Maharashtra, India, and the world.
Rob and John reflect on the parallels between this approach and the values of community media here in the UK. In particular, they discuss the powerful work of Radio Nagar 90.4 FM, Snehalaya’s community radio station, which offers a space for civic education, cultural storytelling, and social harmony. At a time when commercial and state-run media often struggle to serve marginalised voices, this is a model worth paying attention to.
The conversation touches on themes that resonate far beyond India: the need to support young people with purpose and integrity; the potential of community-led media to knit fragmented societies back together; and the importance of working with communities, not just for them. Whether it’s rescuing vulnerable people from exploitation, helping survivors rebuild their lives, or mentoring new changemakers, Snehalaya’s work reminds us that social transformation is built one relationship at a time.
As Snehalaya celebrates its 40th anniversary in the coming years, this episode is a timely opportunity to recognise and learn from a powerful example of sustainable, community-driven development. It’s also an invitation—to connect, to collaborate, and to imagine what becomes possible when we act with care and commitment, wherever we are in the world.
Listen to the full conversation on Spotlight on Soar Sound and find out more about Snehalaya’s work, values, and the global network of changemakers they’re helping to inspire.
