About the Founder
My name is Zara Rawlinson; I am the creator of the Panda Anti-Racism Team (PART). I created PART as I am passionate about creating a world where diversity is accepted, inclusion is celebrated and equality is instinctive.
My passion has arisen from my personal experiences of racism: I have been living in Kent since 2013 after moving from South East London with the hope of giving my children a brighter future. As a black woman with three mixed race children I was anxious prior to moving; I was aware Kent is generally less diverse than London, but I believed times had changed and that racism was a thing of the past. Unfortunately this has not been my experience. Since moving, my children and I have been subjected to various levels of racial abuse, including; racist comments, derogatory racist language and racially instigated bullying.
The level of ignorance and uneducated views that have been expressed led to the creation of PART.
Through PART I am able to educate young people in an inclusive way by discussing their views, promoting diversity and supporting equality. Having open conversations about the effects of racism and what influences it.
I have a background in working with young people to reduce self-harming behaviours and raise resilience and wellbeing. I plan to use my knowledge and experience to make an impact on reducing racism.
As the creator of PART I will continue to enhance my professional development and nurture my relationships with schools, professionals and young people to ensure that I am always working towards PART’s visions and keeping up with any recurring or current affairs.