23/07/2024
Sabiha Khanam is our Volunteering Partnerships Manager. She’s been part of our team for over five years. This South Asian Heritage Month we spoke to her about how her south Asian culture has inspired her to work in volunteering, and how our work environment empowers her to bring her true self to work.
Volunteering at HARCA
“My role is to create community volunteering roles,” Sabiha explains. “Our roles are adaptable, and they reflect what the community needs.”
She works with different teams to understand what the community needs, and then find volunteers who can help.
We offer a range of volunteering opportunities – from supporting community events, to helping in our community gardens. Visit our volunteering page to see the volunteering opportunities we have at the moment.
For Sabiha, it’s all about what people gain from the experience. “We see people with boosted confidence. For some it helps them to improve their English-speaking skills. We’ve seen some people find employment thanks to the experiences they’ve had volunteering with us.”
Sabiha recently saw two volunteers become close friends. “Seeing them natter, it reminded me that we’re helping to build communities here. We’re building connections. If I can facilitate that in my job, then I’m doing a job I love.”
How Sabiha’s south Asian heritage inspired her to work in volunteering
Sabiha’s family originally came to the UK from Sylhet in Bangladesh in 1984. “When they migrated here, they built a community for themselves here from scratch,” she says proudly.
For her, being south Asian is all about community. “Everybody seems to know each other – and I love that. People really look out for each other. When you’re sick, someone checks in on you.”
She also points out that the food is one of the best parts of being from a Bangladeshi family. “Samosas, pakoras. We are known for our good food!”
Being free to be herself
The theme of this year’s South Asian Heritage Month is free to be me. We asked Sabiha how she feels enabled and empowered to be her authentic self at work.
“HARCA brings people together. There is a natural synergy – and people want to come together. People are welcoming to one another. You may sit down next to someone and you may not understand them, but you’re willing to help them. And people really do help each other out.”
Outside of work, Sabiha is a trustee at Volunteer Centre Tower Hamlets. She is also a ride leader at Cycle Sisters, a Muslim-led organisation that encourages women to get into cycling. They organise monthly cycles across Tower Hamlets.
Find out more about volunteeringCelebrating South Asian Heritage Month