DT_T-Season1-Episode 12 - Sreejani Malakar - Founder & Director, AYLI Peers Foundation

DT_T-Season1 - Episode 12 Spotlights on Sreejani Malakar (Founder & Director, AYLI Peers Foundation-As You Like It Peers Foundation )In this episode of Do The _ Thing, Sheela sits down with Sreejani, community organizer and founder of AYLI (As You Like It) — a collective focused on mental health, emotional well-being, and community-centered care in India.Sreejani shares her journey growing up in a middle-class family in Siliguri, navigating experiences of bullying, invisibility, and systemic inequities that shaped her early understanding of the world. These lived experiences stayed with her and gradually led her into the social justice space.Through her work in feminist organizing and campaigns like Health Over Stigma, Sreejani began to reimagine leadership — not as authority or charisma, but as the willingness to take responsibility and create space for collective action.In this conversation, she reflects on:• How lived experiences shape the work we choose to pursue• Rethinking leadership as shared responsibility and ownership• The importance of creating community-centered spaces for mental health• The journey of building AYLI — a collective rooted in listening, care, and connection• What it means to move from “helping” to enabling others to claim their own leadershipSreejani’s story is a powerful reminder that meaningful work often begins with what we have lived through — and takes shape when we choose to respond.If you are someone navigating your own path, this conversation offers both reflection and encouragement to take your next step.To learn more about AYLI and their work, you can connect through their social platforms and community initiatives.🤍 AYLI Peers Insta : https://www.instagram.com/asyou_likeitpeers?igsh=MWx5MmZiZ2t2ZWVj&utm_source=qr👋 Join AYLI? - Reach out at +91 8583826356 or [email protected] —Do The _ Thing is a conversation series with nonprofit leaders and purpose-driven individuals exploring how people come to do the work they do and how those journeys might inspire others to take their own next step.Dear Listeners, If something in this conversation resonated, feel free to share your reflections. Warmly, SheelaSometimes the purpose we’re called to do begins long before we know how to name it.