Pakistan Society: Welfare Officer

First and foremost, Pakistan is a part of my identity, and I want to represent the community which helped raise me. The Pakistan Society is the perfect place to do this, hence I am running for Welfare Officer. 

I understand firsthand how daunting it can be to find your footing in an environment completely new and so creating a welcoming and inclusive environment is so important to me. I personally found the transition to university extremely challenging and I wish to change that for others, contributing to a society where we all feel welcome.

By stepping out of my comfort zone and meeting new people, I developed strong, meaningful connections and that is the very reason as to why I aim to create a space where members are comfortable, valued and welcomed. I want to create an environment where our voices are heard, we are welcome to speak our minds and build meaningful connections that go beyond the surface! 

Through my own volunteering experience as a transition mentor in school, I provided an environment where students felt supported and I actively assisted in creating the foundation of our community for them, prioritising welfare and building a sense of belonging. 

I want to give back to the community that matters deeply to me, I want to make a proactive difference in helping others, so vote for me for real change, vote for me for real action. 

Being an ethnic minority in Pakistan, I have realised the importance of community and simply being human. As a welfare officer, I want to build systems that proactively support emotional and physical well-being. 

As COO of a Pakistani NGO, I led community initiatives providing medical and social aid to over 1,000 individuals, including projects specifically tailored to neurodivergent and marginalised groups. This work required sensitivity and the ability to understand people’s needs in vulnerable situations, which is central to effective welfare work. Being a part of the top 10 debaters in the country and having worked as a debate coach, I have not only been in high-pressure environments but also guided students through such situations. To be in a position to guide, you need the ability to understand diverse perspectives intersectionally, which I believe I have developed over the years, being a debater. 

As Welfare Officer, I would establish inclusive, accessible channels to seek support, like anonymous welfare surveys to understand what the cohort is struggling with, run regular welfare check-ins and low-pressure social events like study socials, free breakfast mornings, and walks, particularly around high-stress periods like exams, create a peer support network, not just a welfare officer to student, but student to student. I am passionate about destigmatising mental health conversations and ensuring that every student, regardless of background, feels seen and supported.