From Local Engagement to Global Advocacy: How Healthwatch Tower Hamlets Prepared Parismita for the United Nations
Read on to learn more about her experience!
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” – ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching. For me , that step was taken through doors of Healthwatch Tower Hamlets (TH) as an enthusiastic international student from India adjusting to a new community while also wanting to make a difference. It was little known to me that the skills and self-assurance I would gain at Healthwatch TH would serve as the foundation for my work with the United Nations on a global scale and my role as an ambassador for the Voice for Right Association. This is the tale of how an insatiable curiosity in one's local neighbourhood can feed an international desire.
It was a well-considered initial step. Being a foreign student with experience in the medical field, I had a strong desire to understand the UK health system from the ground up, going beyond scholarly theory. Nevertheless, navigating a foreign nation also required exercising caution when deciding where and how to become engaged. I wanted a platform that was safe, kind, and actually had an impact. I found Healthwatch TH, a reputable, independent advocate for health and social care, at my professor's recommendation. A disciplined setting where I could safely transform my enthusiasm into worthwhile action for my new community in Tower Hamlets seemed like the ideal match.
The task I was assigned
My responsibilities offered a real-time, practical knowledge and experience in UK health policy. I moved from textbooks to the front lines, engaging directly with the community. My key tasks included:
Gathering Public Feedback:
• Community Engagement Volunteer – Supported outreach at community events, GP practices, and hospitals, gathering public feedback on health and social care services.
• Patient Experience Volunteer – Worked with the patient experience team to collect, analyse, and report on service users’ experiences.
• Enter & View Volunteer – Took part in visits to care and health settings, observing services, interviewing residents, patients and staff, and contributing to recommendations for service improvement.
Data Analysis and Reporting: I helped collate diverse public opinions into clear, evidence-based reports for service providers, turning personal stories into powerful arguments for change.
My Experience at Healthwatch
Coming from a clinical background as a dentist, my view of healthcare was initially focused on treating the patient in front of me. Healthwatch TH fundamentally shifted that perspective. It taught me that to truly understand health, you must listen to the person beyond their diagnosis and understand the complex system that surrounds them.
This hands-on experience was transformative, equipping me with a practical skillset I use every day.
• The Art of Active Listening: Speaking with residents from all walks of life taught me to hear not just words, but the emotions and concerns behind them. This skill is the absolute cornerstone of my work in conflict resolution at the UN, where building peace requires empathy and neutrality above all else.
• Translating Experience into Evidence: Healthwatch TH taught me how to turn anecdotal feedback into structured, compelling evidence. This is directly applicable to drafting reports for UN committees, where I must ensure the voices of the marginalised are heard by those in power.
• Cultural Competency in Action: Working within Tower Hamlets' diverse community was a daily masterclass in cross-cultural communication. It prepared me perfectly for the multicultural environment of the United Nations, where sensitivity and understanding are paramount.
This on-the-ground learning revealed a fundamental truth: the NHS is a vast iceberg. What the public sees is just the tip. Beneath the surface, a complex network of organisations—from local councils and clinical commissioning groups to charities and advocacy bodies like Healthwatch—must constantly work in concert to keep the system afloat. I learned that effective healthcare isn’t delivered by a single entity, but is the product of fragile, intricate collaboration. My contributions were formally recognised by Healthwatch TH, where I received a certificate and gift card award (2024), which made the experience even more meaningful and reinforced the value of listening and advocating for the community.
The Journey Thereafter: Carrying the Torch Forward
Observing the good impact of our local reports gave me a great deal of confidence. It demonstrated the effectiveness of lobbying and the power of a committed voice to change systems. I needed that belief as motivation to aspire for the world stage.
Essentially, my purpose at Healthwatch TH is expanded upon in my job as a Peace Ambassador. Even if the stakes are larger and the scope is global, the fundamental idea is still to listen, comprehend, advocate, and amplify. I am still that same person who believes in the power of a community's voice—my community just now spans the globe.
The expertise and confidence gained at Healthwatch TH became my launchpad. It was the direct reason I secured a role as a Research Assistant at the National Institute of African Studies and earned a place at the International Diplomat Conference in Bangkok 2025. Today, I am honoured to serve as an Ambassador for the Voice for Right Association (2025-2026).
A Final Word of Thanks
Healthwatch TH did more than polish my CV; I will always be profoundly grateful for my time at Healthwatch TH. It was more than a volunteer role; it was a welcoming community, a practical training ground, and the secure foundation I needed to grow. It grounded my ambition in reality, taught me the power of listening, and showed me the profound strength of a community’s voice. It set me on a path from a cautious student to a confident advocate, ready to contribute to global public health. For that foundational chapter, I am forever grateful. To any current or future volunteers reading this: embrace every conversation. You are not just contributing to your community; you are building the skills for a journey you haven't even dreamed of yet.
