Ranjitha Naik (pictured above), a resident who made the move from India to Belfast in January 2023, has quickly become an integral member of the community. As an active participant in the Belfast Asian Women’s Academy, she holds the key role of a Project Administrator.

Recently accomplishing her first full marathon, Ranjitha showcased her commitment to representing BAWA in the PACE Project, a community initiative organised by Alternatives South Belfast. This project aims to foster unity and cooperation amongst residents through the platform of sports.

Since January 2024, Ranjitha has embarked on a new chapter in her running journey under the mentorship of Brian Armstrong, the esteemed coordinator of the PACE Project. She is a devoted mother to her two young children, Aarvi aged 3 and Vihaan aged 5, relocated from India to Belfast along with her family when her husband secured a job opportunity in the city.

Equipped with a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from India, Ranjitha faced obstacles in entering the workforce due to the lack of recognition of her qualifications and her limited local work history. To address this challenge, she engaged in short courses and dedicated her efforts towards gaining valuable experience by volunteering as a Project Administrator with BAWA.

Ranjitha expressed her gratitude to BAWA for sparking her interest in running and acknowledged the unwavering support she received from Brian Armstrong, the coordinator of the PACE Project. She also thanked her husband for his support and encouragement.

Ana Chandran, the Director of Projects at BAWA, conveyed the organization’s immense pride in Ranjithals accomplishments.

She highlighted Ranjithals inspirational journey and noted that her groundbreaking achievement has already motivated many within the community. By becoming the Asian women’s beacon in completing a full marathon, Ana believes Ranjitha has paved the way for more aspiring athletes to follow in her footsteps.