Xiaohongshu
This year has been a challenge for everyone with all events going online putting our in-person events, initiatives & projects all to a halt.
Still, the predicament allowed us to be creative and think outside the box which has resulted in a lot of good things happening and us taking the society to the next level.
Firstly, we started Bangla Language Lessons - a sought after activity. I sought out a Bangla Language Teacher to a committee position to facilitate the lessons happening with online taster sessions engaging more than ten members and also bringing in revenue into the society.
We also been fortunate enough to collaborate with so many societies this year, with Indian, Pakistan and Sri Lankan Society, and maintain our “Desi” Bond with Games Night which had over 100 participants across our 4 societies. As well as collaborations with London Bangladesh Societies and Bangladeshi Societies outside of London.
The society has been exceptionally active to being philanthropic and fundraising this year with BLM Movement, Yemen Crisis which raised £640, then a project to fund the Medina Square Complex in Bangladesh which raised £2340, Maternal Health Camps in Bangladesh & Medtech Facility in India for £135 and finally Water Wells in Bangladesh & Pakistan which raised over £17,000! We also launched our networking & mentoring initiative, Connect UCL setting up a Mentor & Mentee Network as well as blueprint for events & outreach to schools next year.
There have been hurdles this year - mainly not knowing the committee well. Thankfully we were able to meet up when restrictions opened up last August, and just meeting helped create a bond. I also had other unexpected hurdles - the passing of my uncle due to Covid in term 2 caused me distress and sadness, which rapidly fell into depression and the inability to work. I felt overwhelmed and couldn't even turn to my committee, friends or family about it. But thankfully, I called the Samaritans which slowed everything down for me and helped me go through it and lifted a big weight off our shoulders and helped me get back slowly by slowly to be stronger than ever and finish the society on a high note!
Written by Syed Haque, MPharm School of Pharmacy