Swapna Mazumdar

Evening Telegraph's Woman of the Year - 2007

Swapna came to UK in 1979, from India. She was a shy, timid, immigrant house wife. She has lived in Peterborough for more than twenty years. From an immigrant housewife to a woman in the community, Swapna has made a difference for the better, to the lives of many people. She aims to promote inclusion, cohesion and integration within various sections of community especially amongst women and their families with whom she has worked intensively. Swapna says that she believes in the following quote from Helen Keller:
I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble. 

Swapna is a voluntary member of many organisations and co-founder of four:

Bengali Cultural Association, Peterborough is an organisation for Bengali speaking people in the community providing relevant information and activities and a bridge between the first and subsequent generations of Bengalis and other minority communities. It was established in 1988.

Sangam (The Meeting Point) An Indian Women’s organization , was set up in 1997, to empower women and give them confidence via cultural get togethers where the women could perform a folk dance or do a cookery demo or do a Rangoli ( floor decoration)pattern.. Before Sangam , the women had no support to promote their skills .Although Sangam started with Indian Women in mind its membership is open to all women of Peterborough. 

In the past,through the inspiration of Swapna, Sangam women have won national accolade for their Rangoli/Alpona designs at the Big Draw campaign where the women worked with the Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery. Through their work with Sangam, many women have moved on to find paid work with NHS, PCC, and other statutory and voluntary organizations.

EeNAM (East England Anand Mela) an annual event of Cultural Extravaganza from the Indian Subcontinent was the brainchild of two women, Swapna being one of them. Mela has been run in Peterborough since 2002. It runs in partnership with different community organisations as well as the PCC and the voluntary sector. Every year, Mela attracts nearly ten thousand visitors from diverse communities.

In 2003, WRAP (Women’ Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Peterborough) was set up. This was formed to support the empowerment of refugee and newly arrived women.” We organize training courses, take the women to trips, conferences and seminars, help them with employment, education, careers housing and health issues and help them integrate “says Swapna.

Members of WRAP represent 32 nationalities (From Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Congo …. to Zambia) and speak 40 languages between them!
One member of the group has commented, “WRAP gives us the encouragement and inspiration to be active, optimistic, confident and more assertive. Learning has meant that we have become independent and made important choices about education and work. Thanks to WRAP we can play an important role in society.”

As a chair of WRAP, I would like to share the success stories and ambitions of WRAP women: Some women from WRAP have now progressed to become community interpreters, childcare workers, midday supervisor etc (in schools.) WRAP is committed to improving the economic lives of Peterborough women and their families I believe that, Swapna has been instrumental in moving WRAP women to achieve their potential.

Swapna is married and has three children. In addition to her voluntary work she still cares for her family, and works as an ESOL ( English for Speakers of Other Languages) tutor at the Peterborough College of Adult Education.
Swapna has achieved immense success in both her working life and through the activities she is involved with in her spare time. She has been an adviser to the BBC’s Asian Network Advisory Council and also has been on the Board of BBC East. Swapna is a volunteer with Bengali Cultural Association, WRAP and Mela. Also, at present she is an Executive member of the Peterborough Racial Equality Council, and PEN (Peterborough ESOL Network). Swapna has always tried to promote understanding and harmony by giving talks about Indian Culture at primary and secondary schools, WIs and Seroptomists meetings.

Through her work with WRAP, Swapna has recently released a book named ‘Moving Memories from Peterborough’ which tells the stories of people of Peterborough, many of whom are refugees .It was released by the Chief Exec of PCC ,Gillian Beasley in Sept 2006. This project was funded by the Family learning department at Peterborough College of Adult Education, The New Link Refugee Centre and Peterborough Racial Equality Council.

Swapna is one determined woman/ lifelong learner. This has been a difficult year for Swapna due to her ill health. However, Swapna has still persevered and completed a Level three course despite her poor health. Her Course Tutor remarked that “I have been moved by the exceptionally high level of commitment demonstrated by Swapna and have rarely seen such determination to succeed .Due to her commitment and hard work ,Swapna’s portfolio is one of the best submitted this year”.

“I feel Swapna combines so many admirable qualities – determination, enthusiasm, modesty, toughness – and is an inspiring role model for all women, particularly BME women and second-language speakers,”

Many women have lauded the spirit of initiative, confidence and determination of this Indian woman who has helped in benefiting women from diverse backgrounds from the programmes aimed at empowering them through education, employment and training. 

“You have taken WRAP to newer heights. The networking among you will further enhance your capabilities, expand your horizons as you share in the development of the WRAP,” was commented by Suchitra Rampal, the Centre Manager for New Link. 
Even after her recent operation Swapna is determined to continue helping the women in the community .Although she is recuperating , Swapna still gets called on her mobile and is willing to help desperate women seeking support for e.g. facing domestic violence, or may be looking for a citizenship course or just want reassurance and want to talk to her. 

”Sharing the success stories and ambitions of the women, we’ve noted the qualitative leap in terms of participants as well as the opportunities such programmes have been providing. “says Swapna.

To sum up, I have to say: "Swapna is living proof that the strength which is so often buried inside women can be brought out and blossom in spite of internal external barriers". She is a role model for many women especially for BME women who can take inspiration from her in Swapna’s compassionate courage and tireless dedication to her community work.

Compiled by Ms Elizabeth Ann White, Chairperson WRAP