Nilesh Dosa of Hornchurch receives an MBE from King Charles for his social equality work with icanyoucantoo.
Nilesh was on the 2024 New Year’s Honours list, one of only four people to receive an MBE for services to social equality. He called the ceremony “a magical day.” The King gave Nilesh his medal, and they had a nice conversation.
The King’s Trust helps disadvantaged young people, similar to the work Nilesh does. He loved bringing his family to the event. Nilesh started icanyoucantoo in 2016, after growing up on a Newham council estate.
He studied finance, got a job at a top firm, but still felt like an outsider. About ten years ago, Nilesh created icanyoucantoo after speaking to a young black boy in Newham at his old school during an assembly named ‘If I can do it, you can do it too’. The boy asked for his help, and Nilesh invited him to Canary Wharf.
The boy believed he wasn’t allowed there; he thought only cleaners or security guards were black there. A year later, the boy joined a major firm. Nilesh then knew what he wanted to do for the rest of his life and took a pay cut to work on icanyoucantoo.
The enterprise helps people from poor backgrounds by teaching them skills for aspirational jobs. When Covid hit, they learned about a boy who died from malnutrition. The enterprise then started a hot meals program to support vulnerable people.
The program now aids 450 women and children during school holidays. The hot meals are mainly in Havering, but mentoring happens across east London. Nilesh earned his MBE for icanyoucantoo’s almost ten years of work.
Nilesh said they do “good, beautiful, heartfelt work.” People work together and support the cause. He feels they do such good work.