Case Study: Anjali Mavi
Anjali is a local connector for Southampton Forward and is a co-founder of Hampshire Indian Community. Anjali has assisted us on many projects, including being nominated as a City Reflections Legend and offering to host a community pop-up party with HIC during the event.
Anjali is a passionate advocate for the Indian community in Southampton, tirelessly organizing events to bring people together and supporting disabled individuals and their families. For over ten years, she has volunteered with Unity 101 Radio and helped with over 100 events across Hampshire. As co-founder of the Hampshire Indian Community, she continues to create inclusive cultural spaces, making her a truly dedicated and valued member of the community.’
She is a Presenter at Unity 101 and is excellent at interviewing people so has assisted us with collecting oral histories during our Pub Cultures Project and helped us to narrow down our search as to which pubs to engage. Anjali recommended The Red Lion pub which featured in the project.
Anjali also applied to be in Home Theatre and opened her home to a local theatremaker who performed her piece based on Diwali. You can watch her piece here:
Anjali is an excellent advocate for her community sharing up-and-coming projects as well as delivering her own in conjunction with HIC including Holi Festival of Colour on 9th March 2024. For more information on HIC and their events follow this link. Hampshire Indian Community (HIC) | Facebook
Anjali said that being able to participate in Home Theatre allowed her to tell her story of her culture, as well as celebrate with her family and friends.’
Anjali has also been involved in pub culture and has undertaken some oral history training, collecting oral histories from the pubs. Anjali said that projects like this has allowed her to understand her local community more and she is helping to encourage community cohesion; ‘being involved in this project has been really eye opening for me, thinking about pubs having a culture. It has made me open my eyes to new communities and I have been telling other people from mu culture about pubs as places of community rather than just drinking.’
Anjali shared that her involvement with Southampton Forward has boosted her confidence. For example English is not her first language, she is eager to participate in our projects to further improve her skills and continue her growth. She also mentioned that the support from Southampton Forward for her events has been “incredible.” This year she and fellow Hampshire Indian Community Members hosted a very successful Holi in the Guildhall Square with 2,800 visitors. You can read about Anjali and her achievements here: Celebrating Southampton’s first-ever Holi festival – Southampton Forward
Thank you, Anjali, for all the support with our programmes.
Hear what Anjali had to say about being a connector:
Would you like to be involved or think you could be a local connector? Email Jasminetaylor@southamptonforward.org.uk