Aged 14, Jakhya Rahman-Corey found herself returning to her parents’ home in rural Bangladesh. Excited about going back to her roots, she found herself facing a reality that sparked something within her. She was aware of the opportunities open to her in the UK and understood that all of it came from her parents' sacrifices and hard work.
But there is a difference between knowing and realising. And that realisation came when she saw her parents’ rural upbringing. “There was so much beauty to it, with the people bringing a sense of community.” It was crystal clear in her mind - local people understood and knew their local issues best. The question now was: how could change take place for a better future by working with local people and communities without taking away their agency?
As a teenager, Jakhya went on to explore work to advocate for justice and purpose instilled in her by diving into charity work, such as volunteering at an Oxfam store. Gaining a degree in Economics that added value to her experience, as a young adult, Jakhya found herself looking inwards to see where she could go. “I needed to put context to local voices,” she said. This pursuit of getting to the ‘root’ led her to working in environment projects in Costa Rica, sanitation and building toilets in India and addressing HIV/AIDS service delivery in Cambodia.
This hands-on project work made her realise her own worth as something more than just another corporate cog but rather sharing her experience with an organisation who recognised the need to not just donate but honour the people they were helping by valuing their thoughts as authentic voices on the ground and empowering them.
Joining the Swarovski Foundation, she began to carve a path fuelled by questions of passion, being held accountable and a deep desire to foster sustainable change which led to her appointment as Director at age 30.
“Last year marked the Swarovski Foundation’s tenth anniversary, and it was a moment for deep reflection. We asked ourselves: are we creating sustainable change so that those we empower continue these efforts independently, without relying on us in the long-term” explained Jakhya.
Recognising that inequality persists across generations and countries, the Foundation renewed its focus on promoting sustainable livelihoods through education. “If we are serious about trying to reduce inequality, we must empower individuals - not just provide temporary measures but ensure tools such as education can build long term impact and ensure people feel a true sense of agency.”
Namra Khalid, founder of Karachi Cartography, was recognised for her efforts in finding innovative solutions to the acute impacts of climate change that Pakistan was facing, namely flooding and heatwaves, by repatriating historic maps of Pakistan from Western countries to improve socio-climatic planning
For many, this may not seem like a major shift compared to how charity works, but it actually has a strong element of localisation - fuelling inclusivity - which has traditionally been drowned out in globalised models of economic activity and philanthropy.
The Foundation has three areas of focus - equity, water and creativity. Working to address inequality, Jakhya’s nuanced thought goes beyond clinical definition and breaks down the group of marginalised to identify smaller groups that tend to get overlooked in generalisations such as refugees, women and young adults.
Taking the case of a natural resource such as water, Jakhya explains how difference of thought and perspective emphasises the need for tailor-made solutions. “If we empower individuals to understand the unique significance of water in their lives - whether from Austria or Australia the reality to access water will look different and the connection water has globally means we are all responsible to advance water security.”
And with creativity, it goes beyond making products to generate economic activity. There is a need to honour legacy in art but there is also a need to ensure there’s local materiality as well.
One of the fascinating elements is how Jakhya understands the significance of storytelling that goes beyond the realm of clinical reports. Again this could be traced to her own career trajectory but there is an awareness of ensuring that all change while documented with the usual protocols is needed, there is a need for dialogue surrounding achievements and how to communicate those especially having learned from the pandemic and how life can change overnight.
This is why the Swarovski Foundation’s Creative For Our Future programme focuses on people aged 21-30. Understanding that access to grants and finances is one thing but what about enabling access to a global network?
The Foundation’s connections with young people begins from masterclasses online to advance resources to connecting physically in New York at the United Nations Headquarters. “We gave these young people a platform on the stage at the United Nations which they relished. What I am amazed by is how, despite some initial nerves, once these young people are up there on stage, they speak with such confidence and intelligence. It’s clear they’ve got what it takes.”
And that is how the Swarovski Foundation found Pakistan. The Creatives for Our Future programme seeks to identify and accelerate the next generation of Pakistani and global creative leaders in sustainability. Since inception they have received 1,500 applications across 92 countries.
In 2023, Namra Khalid, founder of Karachi Cartography, was recognised for her efforts in finding innovative solutions to the acute impacts of climate change that Pakistan was facing, namely flooding and heatwaves, by repatriating historic maps of Pakistan from Western countries to improve socio-climatic planning.
“Namra was amazing at bringing the local perspective back into focus. She highlighted the impact of colonialism in Pakistan and how we lack access to the original maps. Sure, we can use Google Maps, but it doesn’t offer the depth of information and data we really need. I liked how she explained her approach, saying ‘Imagine a doctor prescribing treatment without checking the sources or reviewing x-rays.' That’s why maps are crucial - you need to understand the underlying factors before making decisions. She made us realise the importance of this, especially when considering something like building infrastructure in flood-prone areas. Her insights were really interesting, and that’s why we decided to invest in her and her idea.”
M Hassamuddin, the second Pakistani recipient in 2023, was recognised for creating an innovative product, geo-Air Con, that leverages stable temperatures underground to reduce the use of non-renewable energy to combat global warming.
“With Hassam, it was interesting because he explored environmental sustainability by using geo-air conditioning to stabilise temperatures while reducing reliance on fossil fuels to combat global warming. His focus was on refining the product through multiple models and then scaling it for larger impact. We believed in the full potential of this idea.”
As the Foundation opens up applications for the next cohort, Jakhya remains determined to create change with a renewed sense of flexibility. Stressing on the need for dialogue and advocacy in the form of storytelling, her vision is crystal clear - a more fair and equal society by honouring local knowledge for global change.
Given her perspective of recognising that localisation is where the impact comes in, there is almost a wondrous curiosity about the world that still burns in her as it did when she was a teenager. To nurture that flame and set sparks of change globally, is what true leadership looks like.