GRoW App Ambassador Dhanya is Making a Difference

At GRoW, we are fortunate to have incredible App Ambassadors who contribute to our community in meaningful ways. One of them is Dhanya, who joined GRoW in December 2024. Originally from India, Dhanya has been living in the UK for nearly three years and is actively working towards building a new career while supporting others through her role as a GRoW App Ambassador.

Dhanya said “When I first joined GRoW, my main goal was to find a job and meet new people, especially people from different backgrounds and to be one among them to support each other. Before, my social circle was mostly people from India, but now I have had the chance to connect with people from different parts of the world both online and in person. That has been a great experience and also being part of the GRoW community and meeting the team members such as Liz and Laura who are so supportive.

I became a GRoW App Ambassador because I wanted to learn more about all the activities happening at GRoW but also I wanted to know what was happening in my community in Croydon. Before, I only looked for events related to my interests, but now, I explore all opportunities so that I can share them with others. I post in the group to help people find useful opportunities.

Some of the things I have shared include a a pizza-making workshop to explore kids’ culinary skills, an embroidery workshop using repurposed materials, and an opportunity to meet an author, Mr Bhishma Asare, to talk about his new book. I also shared information about a webinar for parents and carers on how to support young kids and an opportunity to volunteer as an NHS care community responder.

I focus mainly on opportunities for women and kids in Croydon. This is my first time doing something like this. I volunteered to be an ambassador, and I enjoy it. It has helped me learn about what is happening in my community, share useful information, and connect with more people.

Before coming to the UK, I worked as a design engineer in India. But now, I want to shift my career path completely. I am interested in working in services, maybe in the NHS or teaching. For my own job search, I have applied for many teaching assistant jobs. However, since I do not have a UK qualification, I need to complete training first. I have registered for a Level 2 Teaching Assistant course, but I need to complete three years of UK residency before I can start. By March, I will be eligible, and I plan to begin the training then.

Being a GRoW App Ambassador is something I can add to my CV. It shows my involvement in the community and my ability to share information. More than that, it has helped me build confidence and gain knowledge about different opportunities around me.

I am very grateful to everyone at GRoW. Liz, Laura, and the whole team have been supportive and friendly. It is a great community to be a part of, and I am excited to continue my journey here.