Wednesday 14 June from 6.45pm – 10.30pm
Join us at this unique and exclusive event, where you can meet special guests, Dr Shashi Tharoor, eminent author and Indian politician; renowned BBC broadcaster and journalist, Andrea Catherwood; and Maureen Forrest, Founding President of The Hope Foundation (HOPE).
During the evening, Shashi Tharoor will be interviewed by Andrea Catherwood, and there will be an opportunity for guests to engage in the interview and ask questions.
Guests will also hear from Maureen Forrest, HOPE’s Founding President, about the work of HOPE in Kolkata.
The MC for the evening will be Mr Reza Beyad, HOPE Ambassador.
HOPE’s vision is of a world where it should never hurt to be a child and HOPE programmes focus on providing vital access to education, protection, healthcare and life-skills training programmes, to empower and help to holistically develop these vulnerable children, to enable them to break their cycle of poverty and live fulfilling lives.
Proceeds from the evening will benefit street-connected children in Kolkata, and guests will be encouraged to pledge their support; by providing funding, networking and raising awareness about the work of HOPE.
This is an extraordinary opportunity to be a guest at an exclusive, inspirational and captivating event.
Book your tickets here.
Price includes a welcome drink and a 3-course dinner with wine
For any questions about this event, please email juliette@thehopefoundation.org.uk
Meet the Special Guests
Dr Shashi Tharoor, a third-term Member of Parliament for Thiruvananthapuram, is the bestselling author of twenty books, both fiction and non-fiction, besides being a former Under Secretary-General of the United Nations and a former Minister of State for Human Resource Development and for External Affairs in the Government of India. He has won numerous awards, including the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, a Commonwealth Writers’ Prize and the Crossword Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2019, Dr. Tharoor was also awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in the category of ‘English Non-Fiction’ for his book An Era of Darkness. He chairs Parliament’s Standing Committee on Information Technology.
Andrea Catherwood is an award-winning national (UK) TV and radio news broadcaster and journalist. She has visited The Hope Foundation (HOPE) projects in Kolkata on many occasions, and is a HOPE Ambassador, who is steadfast in her belief in the work of HOPE, and her support to the organisation is invaluable.
Maureen Forrest, Cork woman, mother, grandmother, and Founding President of The Hope Foundation (HOPE), has spent her life working to make life better for people across the world and is guided by a vision for ‘a world where it should never hurt to be a child’. HOPE, an Irish charity, was established by Maureen in 1999 to help the street and slum children of Kolkata. Twenty-four years on, under Maureen’s strategic vision and leadership, HOPE has provided shelter, education, healthcare, and drug rehabilitation to in excess of 3 million children and adults across India. Maureen is a true humanitarian, as she has never taken a salary and always dedicated her time to HOPE in a voluntary capacity.
Reza Beyad, was born in Kolkata, and is a multi-lingual entrepreneur and philanthropist who is deeply committed to the voluntary sector. He sits on the Board of several charities, and is a HOPE Ambassador, who is unfailing in his support, dedication and commitment to HOPE.