Social Work Spotlight - International Episode 8: Harleen (India)

Episode Date: December 5, 2025

In this episode I speak with Harleen, a social worker from India, awarded the Master’s of Social Work university Gold Medal, with more than five years of experience in the community development sector. Harleen is passionate about societal change. Links to resources mentioned in this week’s episode:UNICEF article on India’s support for newborn and child health - https://www.unicef.org/india/what-we-do/newborn-and-child-healthHarleen’s LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/harleen-kaur-92b714154/This episode's transcript can be viewed here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10-iQGVFGQ0AIPuPiqYmwWUoZ6P895ki1Pq1lb_o1g2w/edit?usp=sharingThanks to Kevin Macleod of incompetech.com for our theme music.

Before beginning, I wish to acknowledge the traditional owners of the countries of guests featured in this podcast and acknowledge their continuing connection to land, waters and community. I pay my respects to the First Nations people, the cultures and the elders, past, present and emerging. Hi and welcome to Social Work Spotlight where I showcase different areas of the profession each episode, with a 12-month focus on social work. around the world as of August 2025. I'm your host, Jasmine Lupus, and today's guest is Harleen, a social worker from India, awarded the Masters of Social Work University Gold Medal with more than five years of experience in the community development sector. Harleen is passionate about societal change. Hi, Harleen. Thank you so much for joining me today on the podcast. I'm looking forward to

with you about your social work experience in India. Yeah, hi, Yasmin. I am very grateful to be part of this conversation with you as well. Having a lot of experience people like you, having more than 20 years of experience, it's being a honour for me itself that you have been invited me for the conversation. Thank you. Well, it's my pleasure as well. I'd love to know Firstly, when you got started with social work, what brought you to the profession? Yeah, as a profession I adopted after my graduation, means B-Com. So I have done master's in social work. And for that degree, I've been awarded as a gold medal, means as a topper of university,

around 687 colleges. Wow, that's a huge achievement. Yeah, thank you so much. and being a part of that social work community, it's my privilege that I have to do something for the betterment of the society. But you studied something before coming to social work, yeah? You studied commerce, I think.

Yeah, be calm. Yeah, so where's the translation there because they're two very different streams of training? Yeah, definitely. Social work, I'm very passionate about the things from the birth itself, means when I was young, it's my motive to help others. I cannot see anyone who we need and I cannot help to them. And as a profession, I got an opportunity to explore more about it.

So that's why I have chosen a social work type of subject. Yes. And do you use the commerce now? Is there sort of an aspect of that that you've been able to bring to social work? Yeah, mainly it's commerce. must deal with accounting. So mainly funds to be settled. But in non-profit, there are different type of accounts. And have you worked mostly in non-profit as a social worker? Has that been helpful for you? As a social work, yes. I have been working for more than five years. And after five

years, I got an opportunity to work for UNICE. But for my personal reason, I have to resign. But I'm very grateful that for the opportunity provided to me as well. And did you have, I imagine, as you were going through the university degree, you had an opportunity to do some internships and placements. What were they? What did you do? Yeah, I have done internship in the same organization, means in NGO. Injo works for the education of the underprivileged children. means that much education or shelter have provided to the children so that they can be admitted to the school as well. The basic necessities have been provided. They have a shelter home in nearby places. So we got more than 100 children over there. Wow, that's a lot. And when you finished

your placement, did you want to keep doing that sort of work or did you want to do something different? No, I'll be happy that I'm in the social work profession. So currently, I'm on a career break for around three years. But during the time, I've been creating an awareness to LinkedIn. I think LinkedIn is the best platform to create awareness. And that's why I'm here to converse it with you. And I got an opportunity to create more and more awareness. And what sort of things are you hoping to promote through that?

what are the sort of problem areas that you're identifying? Basically, I create awareness on a topic like we have been facing the issues of a dog, stray dogs here. So the problems I've been facing like sometimes people are oversensitive. It means what you're trying to say, people do not understand and they understand with your own perspective. means one post I have shared that people are more concerned and having a massive gathering for the stray dogs right but no one aware about the other animal as well so sometimes people got over sensitive that how can you judge between dog or other animal because people are more more of a dog lover so sometimes people take personally So you have to maintain a balance or taking a gap that people, sentiment do not hurt,

as well as you can create the awareness as well. Yeah. And have you found LinkedIn is a good platform to create that awareness? Yeah, yeah. People are more educated and they try to understand your viewpoint as well. So for me, LinkedIn is the best to create awareness. So I guess working from that position, you're trying to target people who are already have a platform or already have the education and the resources and networks to be able

to then spread the word to the people that they talk with or that they support. So you're reaching more people with less effort. Yeah, yeah. When I started writing the content, I have been only 200 or 300 connections in my profile. And currently I've been reaching to 5,000 in coming days or within two or three days. So I can see a growth that people support you and as well as respect the viewpoint as well.

Yeah. Basically the thing is you have to take the portion of the society which you can share your viewpoint. You cannot share your viewpoint to the illiterate people because they cannot listen or you have to

share your viewpoint according to them understanding. Because when you say a subject, maybe he or she understand B. So you have to convey that what you are seeing is A or B. Sometimes you have to mix both of them. And do you get any feedback from these people that you're reaching out to your networks of what they can then implement on the ground? Because someone then has to speak with people who are not on LinkedIn

and are in the community and perhaps having these. thoughts that are unhelpful. So how do you know that that message is having an impact? Yeah, definitely I got some of the messages in subsequent days that these topics have been impacted to us and we want to work on this. Definitely the main motive of my awareness creating, I think you can find that when I was writing from 200 to 300 to 300 years. and now I'm getting 5,000 people. That means people are connecting to me. And I'm creating the awareness and I'm reaching that community.

All the 5,000 is less. But at the same time, it is increasing. It does not stop or reduced. I think it's significant. That's a lot of people that you have the opportunity to reach, which is great. I'm also interested in. the work that you were doing with UNICEF, do you feel comfortable speaking about the work that you were doing there? Yeah, I got an opportunity as a fundraiser and it is not a easy job. Nothing is easy

to be. You have to work on it. But unfortunately, I got work for the UNICEF. Yeah, and what were you doing within UNICEF? What program was it? It was for the premature babies as we are losing is a very large numbers. Within a second we are losing a baby. So the main motive was to create a fund so that the lives can be saved. And was that just in India or is it worldwide that UNICEF we're focusing on? I have a knowledge of India itself because the funding of UNICEF, I think, have been stopped. So after COVID, I don't have much knowledge. But But they are creating our funds for it. Because something like that has such a systemic influence.

So premature babies are in that situation because of a number of factors, right? So you've got prenatal health, you've got all sorts of parental education, awareness, that sort of thing. Then you've got the other side of things where one of my good friends was born, I think she was born at six months very, very early. and she's completely fine now, no health problems ongoing. So I think it also depends on what opportunities you have once you are born in terms of health resources and the amount of support that can be provided to that tiny baby if they can survive. Yeah, definitely.

Funds are more important and opportunities as well. Because if one can born in middle class or good reputation, family so one can afford it but at the same time people like in poor families they cannot afford so one has to raise the fund and a UNICEF has created SNCUs in India a natal care unit yeah there's one quite close the hospital that's close to me I know that they have one they've been looking after women and babies for many years so it depends also how long your health system has been working on the issue as well as to how experienced the nurses and the doctors are to be able to support that tiny human and the family and everyone around

them. Yeah, UNICEF work with the best doctors, so provide best facilities. So at the same time, people can get best treatment for their babies. Yeah, which, you know, every life is precious. So I think it's so important the work that you were doing. Yeah. Do you know, Just in terms of India and social work, is the field developing? Is there more support for social workers? How are you finding it in terms of the profession? Yeah, I think by the time, social work is growing. People are more and more aware about it and people are now enrolling to the subject.

Earlier, it was not. It is growing when people see the growth as well as their career opportunity as well, because more and more organizations are helping or growing, people are growing with it. So they can see the professionals who are growing and yeah, it can be a best opportunity. And what's the benefit of doing? I'm just casting my mind back to I spoke with a social worker in Nepal and she was saying everyone in Nepal is a social worker. It kind of comes back to your philosophy of.

to be a person is to be a helper, and that's just something that comes naturally. I'm wondering whether there's a, I guess, an acknowledgement of the benefit of doing the social work degree. Do you think perhaps it's recognized in the way that it should be in terms of the work that you put in to get your degree? Yeah, degree, by getting a degree, one can be recognized as a professional social work. but you are recognized by your work, not by your degree. Degree is a thing that you've got an opportunity and you got awarded.

But one can be recognized by their work, what work has been done by you. Means, for example, in my case, I've been awarded master degree. Okay? So I've been awarded gold medal as well. It's up to me that for the three years, I have been on a career. a break means I've not been working so it's me that people do not recognize you within three years who are you so I have started writing or creating an awareness it's a part of my work as well and as well as people recognize you by your work if people are connecting with me through my

work not me what work I'm doing what things I have been creating if I have been posting certain things so people connect with me through that idea not me so one is recognized by their work and one has to take a stand for their work itself yeah yeah so I guess what you're saying is the degree is a platform from which you have the recognition and the skills I guess the theory to be able to do the work but it's what you actually do with the degree that counts and that's what people see yeah definitely yeah and what are you hoping to do apart from raising awareness and reaching out to people on LinkedIn if there was a kind of social work that you would like to do what do you think it would be what are you passionate about

mostly basically according to my motive is that I'm very passionate to bring change so change cannot be possible if I say that I want this it cannot be possible change comes slowly slowly people understand your viewpoint and try to use us in their daily life and what is means motive you are carrying means first people and try to understand you means they take time it is not you can say at a point of time it takes gradually slowly slowly and the things will change definitely. And the things which are not useful for one, I think it is not helpful for anyone. We have to eradicate it. And apart from the awareness that you're raising with the stray animals, are there other issues that you're noticing in your community or your network that

you'd like to see change around? Yeah, I've been noticing the things. So from different type of topics, I create awareness. One can be regarding the education for a girl child. If we say that the girl child is not getting the education. And at the same times, if a number of girls have been getting the education and they're not getting the jobs as well. So what is the gap between the education and the jobs? So there are two different type of topics. Which is huge when you're working within a patriarchal traditional society where the priority is for men and boys to get their education and to be breadwinners and to be head of the family, it must be really hard to break down some of those stereotypes. Yeah, definitely. We are dealing with the patriarchal society.

Yes, definitely. By the time, things have been changed. Earlier, the girls were not allowed to go for education, safety measures are more. You have to, means, keep the parda system right? And by the time, many things have been changed and people are no more educated. People understand the viewpoint as well. So things have been changed and by the time itself, time heals everything. And hopefully there are services out there maybe NGOs that are supporting young girls to be able to get an education or to be able to travel to school safely, you know, access to those sorts of supports is probably a big barrier. Yeah, many young girls currently are not getting education, but according to their ways as things, but things have been improved by the government itself

providing the free education so that they can get education and school and some girls or children go for the work and they also provide the midday mail to initiate more about the education. Yeah, things have been changed. That's good because it's hard to do this work if you're not seeing any improvements. It's very hard if there's no change. Yeah, it's going to be very difficult if things will not improve.

But gradually, I think things are being improving. What's another problem you're seeing in your community? Because I'm just thinking there are probably quite a few things that highlight the difference between India and Australia in the sense that, you know, Australia we're fortunate to have health care as sort of everyone has access to it. Everyone has access to education. So the issues that I think, so many issues,

are universal and so yes girls and women education is going to be an issue to an extent across the world doesn't matter where you are but I think the issues are really interesting to highlight between countries and yeah if you have any examples it would make it easy to understand the differences yeah yeah second most important issues we are facing for the social work job because people after studying the social work, they are not getting the job. Yesterday I have also got an opportunity. That's exciting. Yeah.

Is that something you wanted to talk about here or is it too early? Yeah, yeah. I have got an opportunity to work for a good, deputed NGO. And the work involves 80% of the administration and 20% of the fundraising. but okay so something you're very comfortable with yeah definitely but the thing is that i do have a daughter and i do have a take care of her so she's my priority so and definitely i'm taking that type of opportunity that too i'm comfortable for it course so that husband should not be in difficulty so does that mean you might need to work part-time or just see

how things go to begin with. So that's why I've adopted the concept of content creation. Yeah, in future, if more good opportunity I'll get, I'll definitely take it out. And in accordance with my routine as well. How do you think you'll manage all of that with looking after your daughter? How do you manage your time? Yeah, we can say a proverb that girl is making multitasking. Yeah, which is mum. That's what mum's do.

Yeah, definitely, definitely. We have an opportunity or quality, you can say, that for the multitasking. Mm-hmm. Okay. So when do you think you'll start the new role? As soon as I got a good opportunity, that fixed according to my routine as well, I'll definitely start. That's exciting. Yeah. And what do you think is the thing that you love most about social, work? What is it that keeps you passionate about doing this work? Yeah, for me, it's working on a grassroot, connecting with the people. In connecting with the ideas and beliefs of the people, you can connect and understand what people are dealing with, their viewpoint,

and it adds up to your knowledge. Yeah. Are you still in touch with any of the students that you went to university with, any of your classmates? Yeah. And is that something that you can harness in terms of additional support when you're working? In my profession, my friends do not involve means they are living in a different city. Do you talk much about what you do in social work, given that you went through about the same time? Yeah, they know what I'm doing and I also know that what they are doing and definitely they have been proud of me that what work have been done by you. That's good.

So it sounds as though you do have some support. You can fall back on. You've got networks online. You've got networks on the ground. You've got good people around you. Yeah, very supporting people. And I think that makes all the difference. Yeah.

You can change the mindset with the help of supporting people. Sometimes people do not get your book going to as well. Do you have any resources? Like sometimes people want to talk about books that they're reading or shows that they're watching or anything that might be slightly social work related. Is there anything that you watch or read or listen to that you think other people would like to hear about? Yeah, I do connected with the social work professional on a LinkedIn. So I listen to them. definitely some two-faces and unisive people around.

So I listen to them and try to gain some knowledge and what is the things around, what I have to understand it. And through that LinkedIn, is that something that did they post much that is sort of resonating with you? Or how do you engage with what they're putting out there as well? What I share on LinkedIn is not my person. I write only general topics, which are people dealing with. So one cannot share their personal stories at LinkedIn.

LinkedIn is not a personal platform. So one has to take care that what he or she should write on a general basis. And is there something that your professors or your LinkedIn people are writing about that is particularly important to you, anything that stood out? because you're putting content out there and you're trying to communicate and engage with people. But I'm wondering if there's something else that other people are putting out there in the Indian context that maybe helps you think about things a different way. Is there anything, anyone in particular or any specific forum that you've found helpful to conceive of ideas?

Yeah, definitely, definitely. I do watch the videos and really. the stories of my related content. So for me that I've been perceived an idea that this is a concept. So I try to find out the videos or the concept of what people are writing or sharing. I think what I can share does not deceive the idea of other. My viewpoint should be observed. Not people say that what she are writing is not understandable or sometimes.

it cannot be defamed the other. So one has to take care of all the things because people are very oversensitive. Yeah. I think it is a great forum and I definitely don't use it in a way that promotes a lot of engagement. I think that's something I can get better at.

But I see a lot of people that I follow that I'm linked with that are always putting out videos or little flyers, brochures, little information captions that I think are really good and they stand out as opposed to this person has a job here or that person is getting a promotion. You know, I think it's about the quality of what people are putting out,

not just how much they're putting out. So, yeah, I think we can take a few ideas from some of these people who are really good at it. It's up to you how to use it or misuse it. One thing can be used or misused. So it's up to you. I've been using LinkedIn for creating a content or creating an awareness. It's up to me. It is not a personal platform.

Yeah, that's so good. And I look forward to following what you put on your platform because it's going to be relevant. It's going to be current. And hopefully you'll be able to spread the word of what you're doing more and be able to create change and awareness over time. that's the goal and whatever employment you have in future, I think will further inform the content that you put out as well. Yeah, I try to write something which one can relate to it on a daily basis or in their lives so that other people can relate to it.

Yeah, that this is my content. Yeah, and that's the best place to start with because sometimes people put things out that are too academic or they're pitched at a level where, only maybe a handful of people can understand it and that's great then reach out to those people individually you don't need to put things out on a big forum that only a handful of people can understand so the more relatable you can make it the better yeah definitely and uh having in connections also i've been starting for the Punjab floods so we have started a fundraising campaign as well. Okay. Yeah. So I have got many supporting hands. I'm very grateful for it. Yeah. No, and that's something

real that people can see on the ground. That is because of the people who supported me and see my growth or see my cause that I've been raising for a good cause. Okay. So you're building trust and people feel as though they can depend on you because you've got a good reputation. across the area. Yeah, in word we can say reliability. Yes, yes. Reliability, integrity, absolutely. Yeah, yeah.

This is because of my content, not because of my work, we can say. Yeah, that makes sense. Oh, Harleen, is there anything else about social work or about your experience before we finish up that you wanted to say or something you wish I'd asked that we haven't had a chance to talk about? Yeah, social work is a good profession and I'm really enjoying it. And I connect with the people and really a good profession and one has to enroll for it. It means we can say in Punjabi, pun tefalia means we get opportunity to help others.

At the same times, we also get an opportunity to connect with the people and also one can get paid. So it's a very good opportunity for me, and I'm very grateful for it. Yeah. Well, thank you so much for sharing all of that, and I'm very grateful that I can learn a little bit more about the Indian context of social work through you and keep in touch on LinkedIn, hopefully, to see what sort of things you're working on in the future and what causes you're raising awareness for. Because even though it's in Indian context, I think so many things are translatable across

countries and across cultures so we can all help inform each other. Yeah, definitely, definitely. I'm very positive to it. Thank you again for your time. I really appreciate you meeting with me. Yeah, definitely. Same year and I'm very grateful that you have invited me for the podcast and this is my first podcast ever. So I'm very grateful to you and I'm also at the same time overwind. I hope this is the first of many. Hopefully this is a launch pad for you to get more information out there. Yeah, definitely, definitely. Good luck. I know we will all. Thanks for joining me this week. If you'd like to continue this discussion or ask anything of either myself or Harleen, please visit my anchor page at anchor.fm.

slash social work Spotlight. You can find me on Facebook, Instagram and Blue Sky, or you can email SW Spotlight Podcast at gmail.com. I'd love to hear from you. Next episode's guest is Dickens. Originally from Hong Kong, having worked in social work and counseling in Hong Kong, Singapore, Melbourne and Thailand. Dickens currently serves as an international school counselor in Phuket, Thailand, and is also a certified clinical anxiety treatment professional. I release a new episode every two weeks. Please subscribe to my podcast so you'll notified when this next episode is available. See you then.