Archna Yadav is an aspiring community development practitioner whose commitment to community empowerment can be seen in everything she does: the decisions she has made in her own academic and professional journey, her ideas on social change, and even in her style of leadership.
With her passion for supporting young people, migrant and refugee communities, and women affected by domestic violence, Archna has been a perfect fit for our Social Change Leadership program, which sees participants designing and delivering projects with and for these three communities. Archna has been bringing her thoughtful and strategic approach to social impact to our work through her involvement in our Fifth Element, Domestic Violence and Organisational Development teams. You can find out more about the incredible work she is doing with the other Changemakers by following us on Facebook or Instagram (@changemakerscollective).
Find out a little bit more about Archna in this quick Q&A below (conducted by fellow Social Change Leadership participant, Mohamed Ahmed).
Describe yourself in 5 words.
Trustworthy, team player, caring, optimistic and opinionated.
What made you decide to study Community Development?
I enjoyed legal studies and went to law school for six months but realised it wasn’t for me. Community Development seemed like a course that aligned more with my interests. It is a career path that creates opportunities to interact with a broad range of people, communities and sectors.
What is the social issue you are the most passionate about? If you could do anything to solve this social ill, what would it be?
The social issue I’m the most passionate about is domestic violence. Supporting affected women and children is really important to me. I think education (for men, women and children, alike) plays a big role in improving outcomes for women affected by domestic violence.
What career path do you see yourself taking after graduation?
I don’t have a concrete idea yet but I know that I want to work with young people around the issues of education or mental health.
What did you want to be when you grew up (as a kid)?
My dream job would change on a daily basis as a kid but the most memorable ambitions were to be a doctor or actress.
What does justice mean to you?
Justice means that people who have been wronged are provided with a chance to get closure and move forward.
What is your leadership style?
I have a participatory style of leadership. It is important to me that all members of my team feel like they have a voice and have a role to play in achieving our shared goals.
What is your biggest strength?
I believe my optimism is my biggest strength, because it allows me to keep moving forward even amidst setbacks.
What is your biggest weakness?
Getting too emotionally attached to the people I want to help and worrying too much about letting other people down.
What does social change mean to you?
Social change, to me, means engaging with communities and understanding their needs and values. Social change requires that communities have a voice and a role in creating that change