✍🏾Laura Ndanuko
In October, Radiant and Brighter celebrated 12 years of empowering migrant communities in Scotland, bringing together supporters, partners, and community members to honour the organisation’s journey and accomplishments.
Founded by Micheal and Pheona Matovu, Radiant and Brighter has become a beacon of support for migrant and refugee communities, fostering opportunities in education, employment, and social inclusion.
The anniversary celebration was filled with stories of resilience, growth, and friendship. Held in a hall with a panoramic view of the Motherwell area in Glasgow, the venue was beautifully decorated with vases of flowers, fresh fruit baskets, and vibrant orange programs and notebooks on each table, all in Radiant and Brighter’s signature colours. Music played in the background as guests arrived, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Strategic Director Pheona Matovu opened the event, warmly welcoming everyone and smoothly guiding them into the day’s program. She began with a powerful question that set a reflective tone for the day: “Where do you come from?” Addressing the audience, she explained, “That language can be traumatizing for some of us who have been led to prove our identity over and over.” Her words resonated deeply, sparking emotions that ebbed and flowed throughout the day.
The event officially began with Pheona introducing two women whose lives have been transformed through Radiant and Brighter programs. They shared their personal journeys of overcoming obstacles, building confidence, and seizing new opportunities. Their testimonies highlighted the transformative power of support and the doors Radiant and Brighter has helped open for many migrant families.
Migrants’ Success Stories and the Ongoing Impact of Radiant and Brighter
Consolata Tasinda, the founder of Afro-Bite on Demand, shared her journey. She studied Accounting and later realised that the career did not fit in with her longer-term goals and being a mother. Consolata felt more empowered after participating in the business course offered by Radiant and Brighter.
She intended to gain more insight to support her mother, who was already in business, but she also found insight and inspiration for her journey. Being a mother has not stopped Consolata from chasing her dreams. She attended the courses with her child, and Radiant and Brighter provided her with a safe and supportive space. On the day, she had her second baby, who was only a few months old, in the room, and this goes to show how much she values the journey and would not miss the opportunity to celebrate the anniversary.
The second speaker was Rhemy Merencilla (Reem), a community ambassador, who shared her successful personal development journey through Radiant and Brighter. When she came to Scotland, she was qualified in Psychology but could not fit into the job market due to systematic constraints.
Passionate about entrepreneurship, Reem has pursued other opportunities to study and has recently been awarded a Master of Science MSc in Entrepreneurship Innovation and Technology at the University of Strathclyde. Reem chooses to be optimistic despite her everyday experiences, especially the migration system. She encouraged other migrants in her position, “Turn the negative into positive; why not do something while you are waiting?”
Reem explained that Radiant and Brighter has not only helped her regain a sense of purpose and personal growth but has also created a sense of being valued. “They are actively working to reshape public perceptions of migrant and refugee communities…”
Pheona then led a panel of migrant women, partners who have since become friends. Together, they shared their experiences of navigating challenges and finding empowerment in Scotland while shaping and reshaping narratives—a testament to Radiant and Brighter’s commitment to fostering community and solidarity. The presence of partners such as the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) and ENABLE Scotland, which has played a crucial role in the organisation’s journey, underscored the collaborative spirit of the celebration.
The other speakers on the day were Theresa Shearer, CEO of ENABLE; Tyna Matembe, Founder of Moneymatix; Dr Karla Perez, Lecturer at Glasgow Caledonian University; Shan Saba, Director at Brightwork Staffline and Founder of Scotland Against Modern Slavery; Satwat Rehman, CEO of One Parent Families Scotland, Anna Fowlie, CEO of SCVO and Douglas Morrison, Deputy CEO of BE-ST.
They all represented a wide range of experiences, including migrants, children of migrants and allies from diverse racial and cultural backgrounds. Together, they explored and shared themes of meaningful representation, mentorship and the importance of building reputation and recognition in the charity sector.
Topics like confronting racism, acknowledging privilege and the burden of representation resonated across backgrounds. Speakers emphasised that while diversifying the workplace is essential, it alone does not address underlying biases. They highlighted the need to learn from failure, speak uncomfortable truths, and share power. There was a clear calling for meaningful change where all perspectives are valued, and allies recognise that they do not hold the only view.
The day concluded with an open interview session, during which attendees reflected on the Radiant and Brighter journey, shared personal experiences, and celebrated the organisation’s achievements. This heartfelt gathering reminded attendees of the power of shared stories and collective resilience.
While the anniversary celebration marked Radiant and Brighter’s journey, it also resonated with the broader theme of Black History Month, particularly this year’s theme of “Reclaiming Narratives.” Though the event was not explicitly tied to Black History Month, the celebration naturally aligned with its spirit by highlighting the voices and stories of Black and migrant communities in Scotland.
In her closing remarks, Pheona connected these two significant occasions with a powerful statement: “We will break the law when we know that we will bring freedom to others and ourselves,” a nod to the courageous legacy of Rosa Parks. This message echoed the determination that Radiant and Brighter embodies—challenging barriers and uplifting marginalised voices to create a more inclusive society.
Radiant and Brighter’s Winning Approach
Radiant and Brighter’s success is rooted in a unique business model that combines direct support for migrant and BME communities with strategic partnerships. Through collaborations with organisations like Taylor Wimpey, Marks & Spencer, and Centrestage, they deliver tailored programs in confidence-building, employability, and education. Support from initiatives such as the Scottish Government Social Innovation Partnership and partnership with The Hunter Foundation has amplified the organisation’s ability to drive social change through inclusive and innovative practices.
As migrant entrepreneurs, Micheal and Pheona faced challenges such as a lack of trust and systematic barriers. “We faced a lot of prejudice and racialisation, which hindered our opportunities for funding and partnerships, and subsequently, our growth slowed down. We discovered that we were vetted more than other organisations that were not black-led before we could get any funding or partnerships agreed upon. Yet when we got the funding, we had to prove ourselves over and over, explaining everything several times for us to be ‘understood’,” they explained.
“Our work includes delivering employment and business start-up support for minoritised communities, and it became clear in the first three years that regardless of what support we gave people, they would either end up underemployed or pushed out of the system because of racism.”
To overcome these barriers, delivering quality jobs to build and protect their reputation has been a critical concern in their work. They have also developed antiracism training and programs to create awareness of systems that can attract, retain, and sustain diversity within organisations. This often helps to educate employers and organisations to understand and address racialisation within systems, processes and company cultures.
Radiant and Brighter’s model fosters a network where community leaders, partners, and volunteers work together to provide the support and resources migrant communities need to thrive. This structure has allowed them to become a significant force in bridging gaps and building opportunities for underrepresented groups in Scotland.
When speaking to Consolata, she said that she felt motivated and supported while attending the business classes. When she started her business, Micheal and Pheona were there to help her with information and encourage her to keep going even when it got tough.
She said, “Radiant and Brighter are paving the way! They are using their experience to make sure others do not go through the challenges they went through, and they are working so hard to change the system, remove the barriers that have been there for years and prevent many migrants from progressing or achieving their goal.”
This Black History Month, Consolata and her two colleagues will be working to share the achievements of migrants with a group of young people she supports at Stronger Together Enterprise. This project provides drama and music classes for children and young people from BAME backgrounds. “One of the things I am doing this month is to encourage them to see that there are people who made a difference in the past, and they, too, can make a difference,” she explained.
As Radiant and Brighter celebrates 12 years, the organisation remains committed to its mission of empowerment and inclusion. Micheal and Pheona Matovu’s journey is an inspiring example of how personal experiences can fuel positive change, breaking down barriers and creating spaces for marginalised voices.
BAME-led social enterprises like Radiant and Brighter are catalysts for change, creating pathways to opportunity and driving meaningful social impact within our communities. According to Michael and Pheona, social enterprises bring two very important aspects together – social good and enterprise to sustain the work.
“Historically, charities were the answer to solving societal issues, which businesses weren’t doing; however, when you face difficulties with funders trusting you, raising income and proving yourself becomes not only the main focus but also unsustainable because it wears you down and makes it difficult to continue the work. Many black-led charities have had to close because of this.
They either got funding, which wore them down, or funding was pulled, and they couldn’t continue. As a social enterprise, we have developed a business model, selling our programs to the private, public and third sector, and this has helped us sustain the work of Radiant and Brighter, especially during times when we couldn’t get enough funding for our projects,” they explained.
“We always make sure people hear stories about black people’s contribution through partnering with black people and inviting them to share their work and experiences in a way that recognises their contributions to our society
While the anniversary was a celebration of Radiant and Brighter’s legacy, it also serves as a call to action—encouraging communities to reclaim their narratives and the work of creating spaces where everyone’s story is valued. In the words of Pheona and Micheal, “We always make sure people hear stories about black people’s contribution through partnering with black people and inviting them to share their work and experiences in a way that recognises their contributions to our society.
For example, we always incorporate food delivered by black people at our events, always ensuring that their services are valuably paid for. Through black people sharing their own experiences, we ensure that their stories, as told by them, are at the centre of our work. We believe this increases education and changes people’s perceptions of migrants and black people.”
Radiant and Brighter is a movement dedicated to bringing freedom to others and ourselves, one story, one voice, and one community at a time.
Learn more about Radiant and Brighter: https://radiantandbrighter.com/
