Swopnil Shrestha

Class of 2021
International Studies
SEWA-AIFW

For my Chuck Green Fellowship, I partnered with SEWA-AIFW, a community based non-profit organization for South Asians in Minnesota. SEWA is the only organization in Minnesota that works directly with South Asians, a community of over 100,000. Their emphasis is on total family wellness; therefore, they take on a holistic approach to the services they provide to the community. Their areas of focus currently are: domestic violence awareness and prevention, access to healthcare resources, and culturally-specific senior care services.

My main project this summer was to develop a youth empowerment program for the South Asian community. Growing up  in Minnesota, I often struggled to find myself represented or receive support in the ways I needed as a South Asian. I wanted to create a program where South Asian youth could explore their identities, understand the role of culture in shaping their experiences, and have access to resources and support to guide and uplift their interests. I organized a committee of four other South Asian students to collaborate on creating this platform. Throughout my 10 weeks, I held weekly meetings with the committee where we outlined logistics, developed our brand, and created future goals. While I knew I would not be able to launch and complete this project, my main focus was to build a community with the students I worked with and be intentional about the program we wished to create. The students I worked with were passionate and inspiring and I feel lucky to have established such a bond with them. We constructed a platform that not only spoke to the needs of the community but also a space for us to express ourselves.

I also worked on other projects during my time at SEWA. I created a resource booklet for crime victims that come into our center. The booklet consists of general information such as shelters, food shelves, clothing resources, legal services, and others. However, I also included culturally specific resources as well such as religious centers, South Asian community organizations in Minnesota, and consulates and embassies. I also developed multiple presentations about SEWA and our services for my team to present at large conferences.

I learned a lot in my ten weeks. I can definitely say that where I thought I would be when I first applied to the Chuck Green Fellowship differs greatly from where I am now. This opportunity gave me the chance to better understand my capabilities, the kind of work I wish to do, and what intentional community engagement looks like. I feel very thankful to have an experience where I could focus on my own self-growth and understanding while also pursuing my passion.