Day 36
Sikh Sanjog
Sinita Potiwal, Social Enterprise & Media Manager of Sikh Sanjog & Punjabi Junction, tells Leith For Ever about the journey of the organisation, and describes how they've adapted during the pandemic.
‘Sanjog’ means ‘linking’ in Punjabi and is an apt description for the way we work with our beneficiaries.
Sikh Sanjog was set up in 1989, under the name ‘Leith Sikh Community Group.’ Its aim was to provide support for women in the Sikh community who had been settling in Edinburgh since the 1950’s.
Unlike the Sikh communities in many parts of Britain, the Sikh population in Edinburgh originates mainly from the Bhatra community whose origins in the sub-continent were rural. Traditionally having a nomadic lifestyle, earning their livelihood by trading and telling fortunes, formal education has not been a high priority. Through the strict continuation of the Sikh Batra culture, social values and family hierarchical ways of life, as they had been in India before migration to the UK, Sikh women settling in Edinburgh were finding themselves isolated and lonely, and unable to take advantage of opportunities, social inclusion and welfare support open to others in their new country.
In 2019 Sikh Sanjog celebrated its 30th anniversary, offering services in Edinburgh, for marginalised, vulnerable, disadvantaged minority ethnic women. Sikh Sanjog has established its place as a creative, inventive, resourceful and relevant force for the years ahead, not only supporting vulnerable individuals but also starting to play a significant role in influencing policy makers, towards addressing inequalities long term.
When the Coronavirus hit the UK this year, we had to close our office doors and become digital as soon as possible. The pandemic has truly highlighted why a service like ours is required, we have supported over 100 women and their families throughout these difficult times with food parcels, mental health, digital needs, youth groups, wellbeing groups, befriending, the list is amazing.
Our Social Enterprise Punjabi Junction has had a year like no other in all its 10 years of existence but it too was able to get involved and produce over a 1000 hot meals which were distributed around Edinburgh.
A huge thanks to Sinita for taking the time to write the above for Leith For Ever. You can hear more from Sinita on Living Leith Podast.
Also learn more about Sikh Sanjog in this beautiful piece filmed in 2017 by students who came over from Chapman University Orange County California. They contacted Sikh Sanjog and made the film as part of their degree course which was funded by SikhLens.
