Inspired by the speakers, and also by the Humans of New York project – a popular digital blog filled with portraits and interviews – Fung decided to create a digital platform called Asians in Britain, to present the different backgrounds, identities and dreams of Asian people in the country.

Launched in March 2018, the project is a work of hope and optimism. It has a website and presence on Facebook, Instagram and SoundCloud, and includes a range of articles, videos and Q&A sessions focused on the lives and aspirations of Asians living in Britain.

Fung and her fellow creators have footed the bill for all operational expenses, including equipment. The point is not to make money, Fung says, though she hopes to one day receive financial help to pay those who have voluntarily contributed to the platform. She is hopeful she will one day forge corporate partnerships to expand the initiative.

Fung believes most people are fascinated by everyday issues in society, and how others deal with difficulties and make progress in their lives.

“It is very inspiring to me to be able to interview so many talented and diligent people who are not only successful in the financial and science sectors, but also in the creative industries,” she says.

London is one of the world’s most ethnically diverse cities, and 18.5 per cent of the population identifies as Asian. In other parts of the country, however, the Asian population can be significantly lower.

This underrepresentation of Asians in Britain is partly a result of the subtle racism that members of the Asian diasporas have to deal with, she says.

Teresa Fan, 24, a British Chinese who joined the Asians in Britain team last year, helps with marketing, communications and photography. She, too, finds the underrepresentation of Asians in British society a problem.

“When you are younger you want to assimilate and not stick out like a sore thumb, but as many people grow older, we realise the value in being different and unique. In the past few years I have noticed a growing trend in Britain where Asian-British platforms are growing and becoming more ‘trendy’ in pop culture, fashion campaigns and even as social influencers,” she says.

“I think that what we are trying to build is not just a phase or trend, but we ultimately want to be here to stay and celebrate our culture and community with as many people as possible.”

British-born Sanil Patel met Fung in May 2019. Impressed by Fung’s dedication and her plans to provide a digital platform for the country’s Asian diaspora, the 25-year-old industrial design graduate joined the platform’s team of five on a part-time basis later that year. He provides design skills and creates video blogs, taking background photos, settings up interviews and posting the finished product.

Patel is positive about the chances for Asians to succeed and find representation for their skills in Britain.

“If you are deep into the working culture, especially in London, the amount of Asians and ethnic minorities taking up skilled positions is rising, which shows the growing ethnic diversity in professional and social settings,” he says.

“Many job descriptions I have come across in the past seem to promote such diversity. An example would be my current job as a user experience designer, where the whole digital team is from all over the world, from different cultural backgrounds and races.”

“Many in the British population view Priti Patel in a bad light, which subsequently leads to subtle discrimination towards Indians, or anyone who is brown-skinned,” he says. “Higher Asian representation across political parties and professional roles can help reduce the number of negative mindsets against Asian populations or minorities as a whole.”

Patel and Fung both believe that a more comprehensive and wider representation of minorities in the government would help the British population embrace and better understand different cultures.

Born and raised in Hong Kong, team member Stephanie Lam, 23, moved to Britain a couple of years ago to further her career. She joined the Asians in Britain team because she liked the idea of sharing a range of stories from the community. She wants to work on a project that showcases diversity and undermines the stereotype that every British Asian looks and acts the same.

“We hope that by sharing stories as British Asians we can remind people of this and create a more welcoming environment in the UK for future generations of British Asians,” she says.

The digital platform is enabling Asians in the country to speak up and talk about their everyday stories, struggles, aspirations and anything else they want to discuss, without being silenced or dismissed, Fung says.

The team has so far interviewed 65 people from different cultural and career backgrounds. Although three stories a week were being posted on the platform at one point, the coronavirus crisis has slowed down output, first to one a week and now one a month.

“Many Asians that we have interviewed can be seen as role models for many young people. For young Asian kids, the more successful Asians they see, the more it will encourage them to pursue their interests. Seeing someone like themselves succeed makes them feel that their dreams are achievable and their struggles are manageable.”

Patel says the team wants to spread the message that all Asians can have a voice in today’s Britain.

“We want people to speak up and communicate,” he says. “Through story and dialogue exchange, Asian communities can have more confidence and motivation. They will be empowered.

“Every Asian can play a part in the development of a more tolerant, multicultural society in Britain,” he adds. “Seeing more people who look like us sharing their stories can give courage to those who feel alone and those who struggle to find a community that they can identify with, and relate to the same issues.”

Since founding Asians in Britain, Fung has been asked how she sees the platform developing in the future.

In the short term, the team wants to provide more video content. In the long term, Fung says she has always wanted to create some kind of mentorship programme where she will be able to use the network she has built to help young Asians develop their careers and pursue their dreams.