Today we’d like to introduce you to Samrity Dhawan & Anjeli Agarwal.
Hi Samrity Dhawan &, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Samrity Dhawan | Lotus Volunteer · ~8–9 years with SAIVA
My name is Samrity, and I have been a volunteer with SAIVA — the South Asians’ International Volunteer Association — for about eight or nine years now. Honestly, I feel so blessed to be part of this family. It’s not just about the tasks we do; it’s the inner happiness that comes from contributing to the community. My time with our seniors always brings so much joy. Seeing a smile on their face is the best feeling, and their blessings are what keep me going. Watching the intergenerational connections unfold between people of all ages in this organization has been one of the most beautiful parts of this experience.
Anjeli Agrawal | Platinum Volunteer · ~4 years with SAIVA
My name is Anjeli, and I have been with SAIVA for about four years. From the very beginning, there was so much love and joy involved. The people here genuinely want to be with other like-minded people, and being among them opened up my social world in ways I never expected — my circle blossomed tenfold. Everyone welcomed me with open arms, and that was so gratifying. Volunteering at events like Diwali Mela and Baba Kitchen for Food for Thought, alongside intergenerational age groups, has been deeply meaningful. It continues to be a beautiful journey and a true blessing.
Between us, we came to SAIVA the same way many meaningful things begin: we noticed a gap. Austin’s South Asian elder community was growing, but the culturally connected support, programming, and sense of belonging they deserved simply wasn’t there. We couldn’t look away from that so we stepped in.
What started as showing up to help has grown into something far bigger than either of us imagined. SAIVA has built programs that nourish body, mind, and spirit; from intergenerational gardens and wellness classes to technology support, cultural celebrations, and mental health advocacy. We’ve watched volunteers of all ages find their purpose here, and we’ve seen seniors who once felt invisible become the heart of a thriving community.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Volunteering with SAIVA has been deeply rewarding, but it has come with real challenges and being honest about them feels important, because they reflect the barriers our seniors and a non-profit face every day.
Language Barriers
Many of our seniors have limited fluency in English and sometimes in Hindi as well. Communicating programs, instructions, and event details across language gaps has been a genuine learning curve that requires patience, creativity, and the help of multilingual community members.
Cultural Sensitivity
Navigating cultural differences from religious customs and food traditions to community expectations requires constant care and humility. Every interaction is an opportunity to listen and learn.
Technology Frustrations
Seniors often experience profound frustration with technology. Logging into platforms, joining virtual events, or navigating a website can become such a barrier that they simply give up and miss out entirely. Bridging that digital divide is ongoing work.
Transportation & Independence
This is perhaps the challenge closest to our hearts. Many seniors live with their adult children and depend on them entirely for transportation. When those children are managing demanding work schedules, getting their aging parents to a daytime SAIVA event can feel impossible. The loss of independence our seniors experience is real and painful and it directly contributes to isolation.
Any big plans?
Samrity
We want to grow the SAIVA family by welcoming more seniors and young volunteers alike. Bridging the generational gap is at the heart of everything we do creating more opportunities to serve, uplift, and simply be with one another. Our mission is as simple as it is profound: to keep spreading inner happiness, one smile at a time.
Anjeli
I would love to see SAIVA empower our homebound and non-driving seniors in a more intentional way. One idea I’m passionate about is organizing younger, multigenerational peer support groups who can carpool and reach out to bring seniors to our events. That kind of connection a young person driving across town to pick up an elder — does so much more than solve a logistics problem. It promotes emotional and mental wellness, combats isolation, and builds the very intergenerational relationships that make SAIVA what it is.
To learn more or get involved, visit www.SAIVA.org. All activities are open to everyone and bridging cross cultural friendships along with cross generational relationships is extremely important to us.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.saiva.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saivaorg
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SAIVA0
