Kushika's Story

From Nairobi to Northampton

Kaushika was born in Nairobi, Kenya, into an Indian Gujarati family. She moved to the UK at the age of 16, first living in Leicester for five years before settling in Northampton after her marriage in 1978. Although she is now retired, she continues to volunteer actively, giving her time to support people and community organisations across Northamptonshire. Much of that work, she explains, has its roots in the Mounts.

A Starting Point at Military Road Centre

One of her strongest memories is of the Military Road Centre, where she began in 1998. At the time, it was a multicultural adult education centre. Kaushika first completed an ESOL course there (English for Speakers of Other Languages) and was later, as she puts it, “lucky enough to get a job” with the organisation. The hours were part time, but she remembers the opportunity as a valuable starting point. The centre offered a wide range of services, including a multicultural library, benefits support, the Council for Ethnic Minority Communities, and Dostiyo, an organisation supporting Asian women and girls.

Dostiyo’s Growing Role

Kaushika later became a care coordinator at Dostiyo, working alongside skilled social and advocacy workers. Over more than 30 years of service, Dostiyo has moved three times: first from Military Road, then to Cloutsham Street, and later to Dunster Street, where it remains today. During that time, the organisation has also grown in purpose and reach. Although it was originally set up to support Asian women and girls, Kaushika explains that it now supports boys and men as well as people from other communities. “It’s open to anybody now,” she says. Dostiyo still provides social and advocacy support, but it has also expanded to include a disabled project worker, the Ageing Well project, a community fridge where people can donate and collectfood, and celebrations for cultural events including Diwali, Christmas and Mother’s Day.

Supporting People Through Covid

She also remembers the isolation many people experienced during Covid, and the work Dostiyo helped to coordinate in response. Kaushika describes how different Indian and South Asian community organisations across Northamptonshire came together, including IHWO, the Indian Hindu Welfare Organisation; NREC, the Northamptonshire Rights and Equality Council; Dostiyo; and local Bangladeshi communities. Their first priority was to deliver food to elderly people who were isolated at home. The meals were prepared at Pravasi Mandal in Wellingborough, an Asian elderly support charity, and then delivered across Northampton, Corby, Kettering, Daventry and Wellingborough. “Just the whole of Northamptonshire,” she says. Through this coalition, the Ageing Well project extended to other organisations. The project had begun at Nazarana in Northampton, which supports Asian and elderly people, but it became clear that people connected with Dostiyo would benefit too. The Ageing Well project at Dostiyo now employs 22 workers and runs services in several locations across Northamptonshire.

Celebrating Culture and Faith

Although Kaushika practises Jainism, she has attended many Hindu events and remembers her community celebrating Navratri in a local solicitor’s office after it had closed for the day. The space was used for traditional dancing, but it was small and the community was large. Even so, she remembers, people found a way to make it work.

Places That Hold Community Memory

Other places hold warm memories for Kaushika too. At Northampton College, in the Lower Mounts, she taughtGujarati, Maths and English, and she laughs that staff still ask her if they need “hair models.” She also volunteered at the Hope Centre, catering for 50 to 60 mainly homeless people every Sunday for several years.She speaks warmly about The Lab and Umbrella Fair, where she felt accepted and welcomed, and about walking through local parks and attending community events. She remembers the balloon festival taking place at both Abington Park and the Racecourse. She also talks fondly of the Chronicle and Echo building, whichhas since been demolished and replaced by an Aldi. She says she “wishes it was still here.” Even so,Kaushika believes the Mounts still has a great deal to offer, and she would encourage anyone to visit.

Hopes for a United Community

Looking ahead, Kaushika hopes to see people act as one united community. She wants more gatherings where people from different backgrounds — including those who have recently migrated and those who have lived in Northampton for many years — can come together, exchange views and learn more about one another. Above all, she hopes the area’s community spirit will be kept alive, and that every street will feel safe and welcoming for everyone, at any time of day.