Sanjoli Bannerjee, a 24-year-old student at the University of Wollongong (UoW) in Australia, is deeply committed to advocating for social causes that are close to her heart. Raised in Haryana, she has been actively participating in protests alongside her parents since she was just five years old.
Currently pursuing a Master of Social Work (MSW) at UoW, Sanjoli aspires to take on roles in health and community services both in India and internationally. Her passion for driving social change was ignited during her undergraduate studies, leading her to realize that raising awareness about societal issues is not merely a hobby but a calling she wishes to pursue full-time. “I want to dedicate my life to serving the people and empowering individuals to make a positive impact,” she expresses.
Inspired by her father’s ‘Save Daughters’ campaign against female foeticide, Sanjoli has emerged as an ambassador for social activism. Her journey has taken her to diverse settings, from visiting a refugee school during a Harvard Conference in Kuala Lumpur to exploring spirituality in the UK. Embracing leadership within her organization, she established a free mobile school in rural Haryana, her hometown, demonstrating that geographical boundaries do not hinder like-minded volunteers from joining the cause.
Having studied social work for two years, Sanjoli gained insights into how systemic structures can marginalize individuals. With a vision to collaborate with the United Nations on human security, she envisions leveraging her knowledge of macro and micro-level processes to drive impactful change. Despite facing challenges such as declining a Master’s offer in Public Policy in the Netherlands due to the pandemic, she remains resilient in her pursuit of making a difference on a global scale.
Sanjoli values the student-centric environment at UoW, appreciating the university’s receptiveness to student feedback and the allure of Wollongong’s coastal setting near Sydney. Drawing from her experiences, she emphasizes the importance of flexibility and openness to new experiences for students aspiring to study abroad. By engaging in extracurricular activities, volunteering, and actively participating in university committees, she believes students can enrich their academic journey and contribute meaningfully to their communities.