September 8, 2023

Sanjoli’s inspiring journey: Empowering communities and advocating for change

UOW student talks about her journey and her passion for social change

University of Wollongong (UOW) student Sanjoli Banerjee is passionate about bringing a positive change to society, and this passion goes back to when she was just 5 years old. Her father took the initiative to start the ‘Save daughters campaign,’ which was to bring to light the female foeticide issue which is still prevailing in many parts of India.

“My parents exposed me to activism at the age of 5, and I joined them in various protests and street plays in India to raise awareness about issues such as climate change, and female foeticide that are affecting the society,” Sanjoli said.

“I visited a refugee school on a Harvard Conference in Kuala Lumpur, studied in the UK on exchange and got introduced to spirituality in the same year, which was a turning point. Since then, I never looked back and gradually took over the leadership of the organisation.”

She currently leads Sarthi, founded by her father, now with over 300 youths from across the country, and leads campaigns on mental health, menstrual hygiene and promoting holistic education across various cities in India.”

Notably, Sanjoli’s visionary approach led to her establishing a free mobile school in rural Haryana, the state where she was born and raised, providing holistic education to children in the village with an aim to plug the gap between children who attend public and private schools. The school mainly provides social awareness to school-going students to make them socially responsible citizens.

She is currently studying a Master of Social Work at UOW which will equip her to take on social work roles in health and community services once she graduates. She has been making remarkable strides in raising awareness about crucial social issues, with a focus on gender equality, mental health, and education. Her dedication and unwavering commitment have garnered widespread recognition, both nationally and internationally.

“While I was doing my undergrad, I realised that raising awareness about the issues affecting society is not just an interest or a hobby, and I want to pursue it full time.

“I wish to dedicate my life to the service of people, one because I feel it is our responsibility, as a member of the society; and two, because of my strong belief in the values of human rights and social justice.”

Her efforts to address the pressing issue of female foeticide reached the highest levels of government in India. Her bold initiative caught the attention of national and international platforms, including UN Women, NDTV, national and regional news channels, as well as esteemed international digital media outlets. Sanjoli’s exceptional work has been recognized through prestigious awards such as The Diana Award, the UNV Award from United Nations Development Programme, and the Young Global Changemakers’ Award, among others.

In addition to her contributions within the non-profit sector, Sanjoli has also actively engaged within the University community, where she serves as a Students Hub Ambassador and a Peer Success Coach.

Furthermore, she plays an instrumental role as a Student Representative on various committees, including UOW’s Faculty International Committee of Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, International Students Programs, Student Mental Health Program, and Learning and Teaching Curriculum Innovation Grants. Her dedication extends beyond her academic pursuits, as she has volunteered with local organizations and has been an active participant in addressing issues faced by international students, regularly collaborating with local media outlets.

Sanjoli’s passion for supporting multicultural communities is evident through her involvement with the Illawarra Multicultural Services in Wollongong, where she completed a student placement and provided invaluable assistance. She was recognized for her exceptional leadership and mentoring abilities; she has been invited as a mentor by Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra to guide and inspire young multicultural girls.

Notably, Sanjoli achieved an extraordinary milestone when she took over the Australian Parliament as an MP for a day. The opportunity was part of the program called ‘Girls Takeover Parliament’ (GTP). Her speech, read out in the Senate by an MP, drew attention to the critical need for addressing climate change. During her visit, she had the privilege of meeting the former Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the current Prime Minister Albanese, presenting them with a charter outlining strategies for enhancing women's participation in political affairs.

“Through the GTP program, I got an insight into the politics and how the Australian parliament works, the behind-the scenes of policy making, and got to live a typical day in the life of an MP, and what the life of a politician looks like in Australia.”

“It was quite interesting as international students do not have a say when these policies are made, but it does have a direct impact on us. So, being a strong believer of youth in action, including politics, it was a privilege and a first step in that direction. I believe, as a change maker, I should be able to view the society from different perspectives and this experience did that for me. Also, Australia, being a multicultural country, really needs more diverse politicians and I represented that as the only Indian in the cohort that year."

Sanjoli’s dedication to social causes, her tireless advocacy, and her ability to inspire change have made a significant impact on communities both locally and globally. Her outstanding achievements continue to inspire individuals from all walks of life to act and contribute to a more inclusive and equitable society.

“Once I graduate, I hope to work with local organisations initially but ultimately, utilise that experience and knowledge to work with the United Nations and create large scale impact. I have learned so much that I would like to put that experience and exposure into practice and will also implement those learnings to my NGO in India.”

Her advice for students wishing to study abroad is “to remain flexible and open to experiences and find the right balance between studies and other opportunities that UOW provides through volunteering, UOWx activities, being part of clubs and councils, engaging with the local community and being part of the experience.”

“We are in a very global and multicultural space, and it is a great opportunity to make connections and learn about other cultures. But most importantly taking care of health and wellbeing is very important since university can get stressful or overwhelming, however, there’s plenty of support available at the University.”