Growing up in a small town in Malaysia, for Thanaselan Rajendran studying abroad was out of the question. It was not even dreamt of.
He didn’t grow up with privilege or powerful networks. He lived with his Malaysian Indian family who worked on a plantation estate, where he experienced first-hand the deep structural inequalities in his country.
Thanaselan’s Mum sadly died and he was increasingly unhappy at home. Little did he know that his life would take an unexpected path, and his ambition to change the lives of those left behind would become a reality.
Law at UWE Bristol
After two years of studying law in Malaysia, Thanaselan dared to dream about his future.
“My thinking was simple: you either step forward despite uncertainty, or you stay where you are.”
With the support of a friend, Thanaselan applied to study Law at UWE Bristol, and he arrived in Carrol Court on Frenchay Campus in September 2007.
He settled into his studies and enjoyed Bristol life, but by the end of his degree he knew that carrying on in law was not for him. What his time at UWE Bristol had given him though, was an idea of his potential.
From Malaysia to Sheffield and back
Thanaselan returned to Malaysia and worked for the Prime Minister’s office, where he learned to craft and implement socio-economic policies.
“I witnessed how inclusive policies could transform lives, but how bureaucracy often limited their reach.”
A decade later he found himself at another crossroads, and he chose to return to the UK to study International Public and Political Communication at Sheffield University. He carried new conviction back to Malaysia, but the pandemic struck.
A social entrepreneur is born
Rather than wait for an opportunity, Thanaselan created one. He joined the founding team of social enterprise Pepper Labs. It began as a food business, providing a living for marginalised youth on the edge of Malaysian society.
Today Pepper Labs has grown into a nationally recognised organisation that drives economic empowerment. Their programmes use entrepreneurship, employability and digital literacy to make lasting change to the lives of marginalised people.
Pepper Labs’ latest programming is driving democratisation of AI – delivering locally relevant, multi-lingual education about AI to Malaysian communities. They start by understanding the needs of the community and then works to provide the means for empowerment. It’s about making systems works better for people, which is what it’s always been about for Thanaselan.
Thanaselan returns to Frenchay Campus
We recently found out that Thanaselan was a finalist for ‘Social Action’ in this year’s British Council’s Study UK Alumni Awards, so we got in touch to congratulate him. Last month Thanaselan returned to Frenchay Campus. He met with the School of Computing and Creative Technologies leadership team to talk about ways UWE Bristol might build networks and collaborations with Pepper Labs.
He also delivered a fantastic talk for students on ‘Building inclusive AI’ and found time to visit his old lecture theatre and reminisce about his time in Bristol. We showed him the expanded campus including the new Bristol Business and Law School and Purdown View accommodation where his old Carroll Court flat had stood!
We talked about his career, and I asked what drives him.
“As a child I saw how uneven opportunity can be. The idea of widening opportunity has driven me throughout my career. The next challenge is building impact that endures.”
And so, the determination that drove Thanaselan as a boy is still powering him today.
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