Hindu Society: Welfare Officer

This role revolves around inclusivity and a deep care for the community, which I believe I have the qualities to continue this in the society. I care about creating a safe and welcoming environment for anyone and everyone; I want to ensure everyone can celebrate but also seek support and build trustworthy relationships as university can be an overwhelming experience for all students.

I am passionate about raising mental health awareness, creating opportunities for signposting and allowing families to discuss about their wellbeing. I hope to implement additional strategies to make the environment more approachable and proactive in seeking support. Our society already fosters a non-judgemental environment and my aim is to expand this culture of openness. Seva is a significant part of Hinduism and it motivates me to give back to the community, which I hope this role can help me grow as a person whilst serving others with utmost sincerity and authenticity.

I believe I am naturally empathetic and I can understand everyone chooses to express themselves differently. Throughout my previous experience, I have learnt to adjust to different situations and personalities to ensure everyone feels heard. My experience in tutoring and volunteering has enhanced my communication skills and ability to support those with diverse needs.

Our society values involve compassion and kindness to others, which I resonate with. I hope to bring a sense of belonging as everyone deserves to feel themselves.

Being part of Hindu Society this year has been one of the highlights of my university experience. From weekly events to Friday Seva sessions, it’s given me a sense of belonging and grounding that I really value, and I’d love the opportunity to give back as Welfare Officer.

I believe I’m well suited to the role because of my previous experience as Welfare and Health & Safety Minister on my school council. That position taught me how to listen carefully, handle concerns with sensitivity, and act as a reliable point of contact for others. I learned how important it is to create spaces where people feel safe, heard and supported. It also required practical responsibility, from assessing risks to ensuring events ran smoothly, which I know will be useful within our society.

Seva is something I truly enjoy. I regularly attend the Friday Seva sessions and have always found them meaningful and unifying. Back home, Ive volunteering at care homes and with children which has helped me with my communication skills across a range of people. If elected, I’d love to expand our charitable reach through collaborations with other societies and by organising more community-focused charity events.

Hindu Society has given me so much this year, I've gained a lot from the community. I would love to contribute to its continued growth and support its members in every way I can!

UCL is a whirlwind. Between library sessions and the commute, it’s easy to lose your sense of self in the noise. I’m standing for Welfare Officer because I know that while HinduSoc is an incredible space for celebrating our identity, it can also be overwhelming. It’s easy to feel invisible in a crowd of hundreds at a flagship event, and I want to ensure every member feels valued as an individual, not just as a face in the crowd.

Last year, I hit a wall. I was balancing a heavy workload with the pressure of high expectations, and I felt like I had to "perform" happiness whenever I was around others. In our community, we often shy away from talking about burnout because we don't want to seem like we aren't coping. I realized then that while our society is amazing at celebrating our culture through big festivals, we sometimes neglect the quiet, personal moments where people are actually struggling behind the scenes.

This gap is where I want to step in. I want to build a tangible support network within HinduSoc that acknowledges the specific pressures we face—from family expectations to the isolation of navigating a massive university. Whether it’s the stress of exam season or the weight of cultural stigma around mental health, nobody should feel like they’re navigating it alone. My focus will be on creating regular ‘Chai & Chat’ sessions—low-pressure, small-group spaces where the only requirement is to show up as you are.

I'm standing for welfare officer because caring and looking out for others has always been important to me, in a similar manner - it's one of the main reasons I chose to study medicine. I've previously helped at my local temple serving prasadam, and during high school I was involved in collecting food donations for those in need. Through these experiences, I've seen how meaningful acts of service can be and how that aligns really closely with the values of hinduism - especially with initiatives like seva.

If elected, I'd like to help support organise seva more consistently and ensure welfare within the society feels approachable and supportive. I'd love to make welfare more proactive than reactive - through check-in's, small de-stress socials (things like painting socials for example) and anonymous feedback. I believe I am someone who feels approachable and supportive and I'd love to create that space within the society. I'd also love to be part of hindu society for the welcoming and friendly energy of the committee and I'd love to contribute to that in the next year.