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King's Changemakers: Anuj

Anuj Rasarathnam

1st Year European Politics student, Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy

25 July 2023

Meet Anuj, a first-year European Politics student and one of seven King's students participating in Changemakers (now Gamechangers), an internship with a difference, where students are paid to find, develop and launch an idea into the world.

About me

Hi, my name is Anuj and I’m a first-year student studying European Politics at King's. One aspect that truly drives me is my fundamental belief that everyone deserves equal treatment and respect, irrespective of their background or societal labels. I’m driven by the ideals of a meritocratic society; where individuals are valued for their talents and merits, rather than their privileges. This vision inspires me to work towards creating a fairer and more inclusive environment where equal opportunities are accessible to all.

Idea and Inspiration

I’m interested in the provision of free mental health check-ups for every individual in the UK. We already have systems in place for regular dental and optical health check-ups, but why can’t we have these in place for our mental health too? Through Changemakers I aim to recognise the significance of mental well-being by advocating for accessible mental health check-ups or streamlined pathways for individuals seeking assistance. By extending support to mental health, we can foster a society that values holistic wellbeing.

Changemakers

I stumbled upon the Changemakers opportunity whilst exploring various options on the King’s website. Unlike conventional internships, where one typically works for someone else, Changemakers presented a remarkable platform that allowed me to contribute to a cause that I’m genuinely passionate about. It was this uniqueness that enticed me to apply.

So far, my experience on the programme has been nothing short of amazing! It has provided me with unique opportunities that I wouldn’t typically have access to, for example engaging in games testing for the BBC. It has been fast paced, which has kept me engaged and challenged, and has offered me valuable experiences which are pushing me to grow.

Entrepreneurial lessons

My advice for other students with potential ideas is to research, seek guidance, start small, collaborate, embrace failure and take action. Explore your idea, connect with mentors and test it gradually. Collaborating with like-minded individuals will help you take steps towards your vision. Trust your ability, be open to learn and have confidence in your idea’s impact. Ideas can create change through action and perseverance.

King’s Changemakers (now Gamechangers) is an internship with a difference. Instead of working for someone else, students are paid to find, develop and launch an idea into the world. The solution might be an idea for a new business, a non-for-profit or a community project. The nine-week initiative, run by the Entrepreneurship Institute (EI), gives King’s students from a widening participation background the chance to work on a problem they’re passionate about solving. This is part of the EI’s commitment to breaking down the barriers to entrepreneurship.

If you would like to find out about future opportunities like Gamechangers, sign-up to receive the EI newsletter.