Why We Do What We Do

As we launch Spark Insights, we wanted to share our individual thoughts on why we are launching an organisation collectively, and what our hopes and dreams are for this joint venture. 

Ishita Ranjan (She/Her) - Founder

I moved to the UK when I was 4 years old. My parents, like many migrants, moved here with hopes for brighter futures and the sheer determination to make that happen. When we first came to the UK, we moved to Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire - a coastal area in very, very West Wales. My parents, NHS doctors, filled our small hospital complex flat with books, car boot sale finds and photo albums of back home.

Growing up in Pembrokeshire was complicated; while there were parts of my childhood I loved, I was also picked on for being different. As I grew up, I became aware of my parents' experiences of racism; at work, in the supermarket, on the bus, running errands, at parent evenings, on holiday. Eventually when I started seeing it, I realised I’d experienced so much of it too, without knowing what to name it. Racism is a million things - little and passive, bold and loud, ugly and insidious. It affects all of us differently depending on who we are and our personal circumstances.

I do what I do because I know I am not alone in these experiences, because I love my parents and I think they deserve better, because I respect the people I work with and I think they deserve better too. I believe that collective action has the power to change systems and I want to be a part of changing systems; of taking it all apart, starting again, unlearning, re-learning, and re-building a world that works better for us all.

Neelam (She/Her) - Community Research Lead

It's 2022 and we are still having to advocate for equality whether it is around gender based violence or highlighting structural inequality.  This makes me angry, and this is why I do what I do.  

What a way to start a conversation right?

Let me give you some background to my journey into the world of community building and activism. I am a Sikh, which is loosely translated to student, so my journey is forever learning and unlearning harmful narratives. One of the principles of Sikhi I learnt early on is the concept of Sarbhat da bhalla, which means “for the good of everyone.” I try to live my life with this in mind, ensuring my actions are for the good of everyone. This is the foundation for my work in the community. 

We know that we live in an unequal and unjust world, but that doesn't mean we have to accept this and stay silent. We must actively strive to challenge any form of inequality so that people and communities can thrive equitably.  I believe there is space at the table for more voices, to make a positive change. People who hold power and privilege don't often know much about the community, places and spaces in a way that we do, yet make decisions on our behalf. There is a lack of trust from those in power to fund our communities and just let us get on with it. So much more could be achieved if power and resources were shared out fairly.

I wanted to come on this journey with Spark Insights after joining the team on other projects and finding community and belonging within. 

Meeting the team made me realise there are more of us, we have always been here, and will always be here. 

Taimour (he/him) - Project Manager

I’ve always had the privilege and joy of being surrounded by community. Whether it was growing up in Pakistan or navigating being an immigrant child aged 9 in Glasgow. For the most part I’ve always been fortunate enough to be protected and supported by community - even in the harshest of environments. Having been grounded in community for so many years, I’ve always wanted to ensure that I play a supportive role in making sure that I can support folks in my community. Especially those who experience extreme marginalisation. 

My belief has always been that we’re stronger together, especially when a set of people are bound by the same belief, vision and ultimately mission. 

That’s why it’s truly an honour for me to be a part of the team that launches Spark Insights, it is our love letter and vision in ensuring that we are able to match our community-based work with educating and up-skilling institutions, charities and other stakeholders that impact our communities so that they are best informed, educated and guided on making the most just and ethical decisions possible.

It is my vision that through this work we hope to work towards equitable change that champions communities that have been ignored under the guise of being ‘hard to reach’ when in reality they’ve been far too easy to ignore. 

Zoe (They/Them) - Brand and Engagement Lead 

I believe in the philosophy of Rousseau, that people are inherently good and as such it is our collective responsibility to dismantle what seems to be preventing us from doing good. My understanding of anti-racism is that it encompasses all systems of inequality. I recognise that racism harms us all and in order to heal what kills us I must do everything in my power to advocate for a sustainable anti-racist movement. 

I have often struggled with a sense of belonging, having been born in Sweden but of no Swedish ancestry. My early childhood was spent in a village where we were the only Black family there, and as such I became an easy target of racism. Moving to England and starting my career here I experienced racism of a different sort, rather than overt, it was insidious and having experienced this in my career I have come to recognise this as systemic racism. This has inspired me to take action, because I don’t want anyone to feel the way I have felt, as though they don’t belong.

I do what I do because I care, not just for the people in my immediate community but for the person reading this, for the person I have never met and for the people I am about to meet. I care about creating an equitable society in which everyone can thrive, and like Arhundati Roy says “hope is meant to be unreasonable.”I dream of an equitable future, this may seem far-fetched, but not impossible, not unimaginable, because I imagined it, and where there is imagination, there is possibility. 

If you would like to learn more about Spark Insight and stay updated on our latest work, reflections and community-based support you can sign up for our newsletter here.

Love,

Ishita, Zoe, Neelam & Taimour