He is known as the first Hindu to bring the Hindu way of life to the West. His message of tolerance and youth-orientated action is still felt in the UK today.

The project involved professionals providing oral history training and multimedia workshops to the young people of Croydon. Through this training, the youngsters were able to add elements to the exhibition which explored the legacy of Vivekananda and celebrated the ancient Indian civilisation, its impact on Britain and its influence on many discoveries in physics, geometry, astronomy, medicine, yoga, ayurveda, amongst many others.

The exhibition also included an activity trail for children and young people, a lecture series, yoga sessions, and a photo and poster exhibition. Young people produced a DVD which has since been deposited with the Croydon Museum and Heritage Services for future generations to enjoy, and is available for wider audiences on YouTube.

A member of the project team said: “All volunteers found it a very rewarding experience which enhanced their knowledge, confidence, sense of purpose.”