Labourer's son selected for 2023 Hansen Leadership Program in California

• 16 May 2023

Why in News?

According to information received from the media on 15 May 2023, Gautam Kumar, the 20-year-old son of a daily wage labourer from Masodhi (Bihar), has been selected among 20 youths of the world for the 2023 Hansen Leadership Program in California, USA.

Key Points:

• It is known that the 20-year-old Gautam Kumar is associated with Dexterity Global, an organization of world-renowned social entrepreneur Sharad Vivek Sagar, who has been in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list.
• Gautam's family belongs to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category and he is the only Indian to be selected for this globally prestigious & month-long leadership programme.
• Gautam's father Sanjay Manjhi works as a daily wage labourer and tola sevak in Masaurhi, Bihar. His mother Lagani Devi is a homemaker. Gautam is the first member of his family to complete high school and go to college.
• Gautam was recognized by the National Organization Dexterity Global and has since been continuously trained by Dexterity. Gautam received rigorous training at Dexterity Global's leadership development program DexSchool and career development program Dexterity to College.
• Dexterity Global is a national organization working to create the next generation of leaders for India and the world through educational opportunities and training.
• Two years back Gautam was in the national news when he got selected as a Dexterity to College Fellow on full scholarship to Ashoka University. He is currently a second-year student of Computer Science.
• Based at the University of California, San Diego, the Hansen Leadership Program selects and trains inspirational young people from around the world to promote world peace and international cooperation.
• Under this program, Gautam has received a full scholarship with Hansen bearing the entire cost including his to and fro airfare, boarding and lodging, local transportation, health insurance, visa fee, etc.