From one tutor to a movement.
The story of how Shining Sparks grew from a single student noticing a gap, into a province-wide effort supporting hundreds of families.
Bilal notices the gap
During the pandemic, Bilal Khan noticed how many students were falling behind without the classroom support they needed, and how stretched teachers were trying to keep up. He set out to bridge that gap himself, tutoring students directly.
2020 – 2021
Haroon joins, tutoring goes online
Haroon Khan joined Bilal to help grow the effort, running tutoring sessions online. Bilal built out a full team of online tutors and a growing network of students who needed support, turning a one-on-one effort into an organized program.
2022
Moving to in-person tutoring
In 2022, the team shifted from online sessions to in-person tutoring, running out of Main East Medical. Meeting students face-to-face made it clear just how much more some families needed beyond academic help.
2023
The first Backpack Fair
While tutoring, the team noticed how many students showed up without basic school supplies. In 2023, Shining Sparks ran its first Backpack Fair right at the clinic before the school year started, giving out 75 school supply kits.
2024
Partnering with Sakeenah Homes
In 2024, the Backpack Fair grew into a partnership with Sakeenah Homes, distributing 150 school supply kits, twice as many as the year before, to students in transitional housing.
2026
A province-wide collaboration with HDSB
By 2026, the Backpack Fair had grown into a full collaboration with the Halton District School Board, providing direct support to 8 schools and delivering 400+ bags of school supplies, our biggest year yet.