At Teakisi, we believe in fostering safe, inclusive spaces where all community members can thrive. Safeguarding isn’t just about protecting individuals from harm; it’s about ensuring equitable access to resources, opportunities, and decision-making platforms. However, a pervasive barrier often undermines these efforts: the gatekeeper mentality.
Gatekeeping manifests in various ways, from controlling access to resources to determining who is “worthy” of representation. For already marginalised groups – such as migrant workers, refugees, people seeking asylum, and individuals from minoritised communities – this behaviour can mean exclusion from essential services and opportunities, further entrenching systemic inequalities.
Migrant workers, refugees, people seeking asylum and others from marginalised backgrounds face significant challenges, including discrimination, lack of diversity, and inadequate cultural awareness in services meant to support them. These barriers exacerbate their struggles in accessing housing, healthcare, education, employment, and legal services. At its heart, safeguarding requires dismantling these barriers to create environments where everyone feels safe, valued, and empowered. But the gatekeeper mentality poses a unique challenge by limiting collective action. When individuals or organisations restrict information, resources, or opportunities, they weaken the community’s collective strength and hinder efforts to create equitable systems.
We’ve been listening to community members share their experiences of being excluded or exploited by gatekeeping practices. These stories highlight how critical it is to safeguard vulnerable groups by amplifying their voices, ensuring inclusive access to resources, and addressing systemic inequalities. Addressing gatekeeping requires a collective effort as sometimes those we put our trust in are the very ones with the gatekeeping mentality. When that is the case, what can you do? Teakisi is committed to challenging this harmful mentality through workshops, storytelling, and advocacy. But safeguarding is a shared responsibility, and we must all work together to dismantle barriers that perpetuate exclusion. Whether you’re an individual or part of an organisation, you have a role in creating systems that prioritise inclusion and equity.
Our grassroots approach allows us to connect directly with community members, understanding their unique needs and empowering them to lead change. So if you or someone you know is being affected by gatekeeping practices, we urge you to speak up. Report incidents of abuse or exploitation to us and together, we can challenge the gatekeeper mentality. By working collectively, we can ensure that everyone has access to the opportunities and support they need to thrive.
Contact us today to report concerns or to get involved in our mission. We are reachable at info@teakisi.com or by phone 03301335027.