 Newsletter #7 - August 2021 Dear SAARI Collective, Thanks so much for your support of the SAARI Collective and welcome to our newsletter! We're living through challenging times, and it's been suggested that community is an important element in our wellbeing right now. Community is a way to stay connected, a way to express and process our collective feelings and a place that can support us. This means having a community is essential for our health. But sometimes our experience of community is not what we wished it was. So at SAARI, we believe community is something that reflects your values, can inspire you and helps you look to the future by transforming the present. That's why there are so many people joining the SAARI Collective community - we all share the idea of using our creative talents to support each other and build a new version of community for South Asians in Australia. Read on to see what’s happening in the SAARI Collective community, including our upcoming events, our latest stories and briefs and some great ideas and opportunities!  NewsSAARI hits 60 stories! The SAARI community has published over 60 pieces by emerging South Asian writers and creators! We’re especially proud of the journey taken by our new writers - with many starting by saying “I’m not really a writer” and finishing with a high-quality published piece. Congratulations to SAARI Editor Chenturan Aran for winning a spot in the prestigious Besen Writing Group for emerging playwrights. We’re so proud of our brown Shakespeare! We’re RECRUITING! SAARI is on the hunt for an Editorial Team Leader (part-time, paid) who’s a creative genius at news, networking, storytelling, team leadership and supporting South Asian Australian creators. Read the position description above or just click here to apply. And we’re starting the SAARI Podcast! Want to help South Asian Australian stories get heard and have awesome fun? We need a Podcast Producer! If you have podcasting experience, or are committed to learning, send an email to Sandeep@saaricollective.com.au with your info, background and skills and some links to samples of your work! New SAARI Collective membersAnti-racism expert Sangeetha Thanapal joins us as a regular feature columnist, based in Melbourne. Law-grad and communications wiz Divya Saxena joins us as a social media project strategist based in Sydney. Psychologist Anushka Phal joins us as a regular mental health columnist. Uncommon Collective Founder Elijah D’Souza joins SAARI as our new South Asian Australian start-up founder columnist. Internationally travelled journalist, yoga instructor, philosophy-lover and photographer Stuthi Raghavan joins us as a photo essayist and new Brisbane writer. Science and culture writer Sadaf Zafir joins in Melbourne, starting with her profiles of powerhouse South Asian women in STEM. Experienced writer and practicing surgeon Krati Garg joins us to explore her experiences from parenting, health, South Asia and Australia Mental health advocate and aspiring social worker Manmeet Upppal joins us in Naarm. Emotional coach, and NLP practitioner Kiran Ali joins us to help us understand our emotions. Poet and prose writer Asha Rajan joins us from Western Australia Art therapist, parent and well-being coach Rupa Parthasarathy, from MindKshetra, joins us in Western Sydney. Documentary film-maker, radio host and political commentator Taufeeq Sheikh joins us from Sydney to write a series profiling South Asians who’ve come from small villages to Australian big cities. We now have writers from across Australia - Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, Sydney and regional New South Wales, Melbourne and Canberra. We aim to be a fully national community with lots of local chapters - so if you know any writers, especially in Tasmania or Northern Territory - please let us know! Click here to join the SAARI Collective.
LATEST PIECES South Asian Australia Women in STEM Science Week SeriesOur amazing team - Editor Pranjali Sehgal, new writer Sadaf Zafir and regular science writer Tanaya Joshi start this fantastic profile series on the smartest women in science in Australia.  Indian Film Fest hitsGet the breakdown of the top 6 films from the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, and how to watch them for free - Thanks to SAARI Editor Pranjali Sehgal.  International Scotty’s SamosaHow does Scott Morrison’s ‘Samosaplomacy’ impact the relationship between India and Australia, and what about the sleeping panda? Afeeya Akhand breaks down the complexities of international relations in her latest piece.  R&B with VinnyWho’s the hottest South Asian Australian R&B artist you haven’t heard about? Get introduced to Vinny Lunar and listen to his interview with SAARI writer Sheetal Singh, as Vinny drops his latest track ‘Prema’ - a reconnection to his South Asian roots.  Startup Women pay a gender taxWho earns 2x better returns for their startups? Women-led startups. But who gets 3% of invested capital? Women-led startups. Read Canberra-based lawyer and new SAARI writer Dharshi Harindra’s insightful analysis on women-led startups in Australia.  Meditate out of stressWe’re in the midst of some of the most stressful times imaginable. Can meditation help reduce stress? Read Saadia Ahmed’s piece featuring Dr Manjula O’Connor to learn more about it. SAARI EVENTSAs lockdowns continue across Australia, SAARI is hosting a great series of online events. Join our community and bring a friend!  Online Book Launch with Prof Supriya SinghSunday 29 August 6:00-7:00 pm. Join us to celebrate the launch of Professor Supriya Singh’s important book Domestic Economic Abuse: the Violence of Money, where she tells the stories of 12 Anglo-Celtic and Indian women in Australia who survived economic abuse. We'll be talking about book publishing, and economic empowerment. Jhumpa Lahiri online watch partyMonday 6 Sep 8:00-9:00 pm. Pay what you feel and watch Jhumpa Lahiri talk about her new novel Whereabouts at the Melbourne Writers Festival online from 7-8 pm, or earlier at your convenience. Then join the SAARI community at 8:00 pm via Zoom for a celebratory debrief on all things South Asian literature. Rumaan Alam online watch partyWednesday 8 Sept 8:00-9:00 pm. Pay what you feel to watch Rumaan Alam's talk at the Melbourne Writers Festival online from 7-8 pm, or earlier, and then join us via Zoom for a celebratory debrief on race, privilege, catastrophic times and Rumaan's new book Leave the World Behind. SAARI Brisbane in-person meetupSaturday 2 October 6:00-8:00 pm Are you in Brisbane and want to meet up in person with your SAARI community? SAARI events focus on building real connections, with fun and serious ideas in equal measure. Register for free for the SAARI Brisbane meetup (tickets limited), and get some free nibbles at a great South Asian restaurant. COMMUNITY INITIATIVES PollSAARI is trialing a few new platforms for community members. We’re looking for your feedback on the platform you’d like to use. Complete the poll and go into the draw to win a free book by any South Asian writer you choose! Afghanistan SupportThe situation in Afghanistan is terrible, especially for women. Here is a petition you can sign and three organisations SAARI recommends you support: Women for Afghan Women, Care and Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. Bindi Bosses Hoodies for Artists Need a good hoodie that supports South Asian artists trying to survive financially in lockdown? Hook yourself up with the newest hoodies from Bindi Bosses, the amazing Sydney-based dance company. If you reply back to this email with a bulk order, we’ll even send you a discount code! A Healing SpaceSheetal Deo, Founder and Principal Solicitor at Shakti Legal Solutions and LGBTIQ advocate has started The Diversity Collective - a social enterprise focused on safe spaces for learning, growing and healing in Brisbane and online. Climate Change Legal Defence Fund Chip in to support the legal defence of the historic decision in Sharma v The Minister - where the court found there’s a duty owed to young people because of climate change. Don’t let the Minister overturn this world-first precedent. Diverse founders fireside chatThe UnCommon Collective, founded by SAARI writer Elijah D’Souza, is hosting a fireside chat for diverse startup founders or anyone interested in starting their own journey into entrepreneurship. Join the event on 26 August from 7:00-9:00 pm. LATEST WRITING BRIEFS Want to write but not sure what to write about? Check out the latest paid SAARI briefs. The list includes:
⭐️Check out the full list of paid SAARI writing briefs and put your name down for one. OPPORTUNITIES & IDEAS Ideas: The Wholesome Doctor Preeya Alexander, a source of incredible health advice, interviewed Dr Nigel Crawford about vaccines and many other things on her Instagram channel. It’s important health info, so check it out here. Good News Story: 12-year old Janaki Easwar was the youngest performer ever to appear on The Voice Australia earlier this month, and she blew everyone away. Check out her captivating performance here. Opportunities (VIC): Ambulance Victoria are looking for members of diverse communities to join their Community Advisory Committee on a paid basis. Fill out the expression of interest here. Ideas: Melissa Monteiro, author of Girl from Mumbai, appeared on the Business in Colour podcast hosted by Div Pillay and Sadhana Smiles. Check it out here. Thanks for being a supporter of SAARI. It means a lot to have you with us in our first year, and we’re really grateful. If you know any friends who would like this newsletter, please forward it on, or let them know it’s free and fun to join the SAARI Collective at our website. Kind regards, Sandeep, Founder, SAARI Collective   |
