Pooja Shahani Memorial Scholarship Fund
Empowering Minorities through the Arts
About the Fund
Born and raised in Hong Kong, and a minority there herself, Pooja understood the unique challenges faced by marginalised communities. She believed in the transformative power of continuous growth and self-improvement and found in arts therapy a unique medium to effect this transformation.
Pooja was a beneficiary of numerous scholarships throughout her academic journey. These opportunities not only furthered her education but imbued in her a profound sense of gratitude and a drive to pay it forward. Inspired by her life and values, The Pooja Shahani Memorial Scholarship Fund aims to uplift minorities of various forms by providing them the opportunity to train as arts therapists.
Our Partner
In homage to Pooja's journey, we have partnered with SMART (Studio for Movement Arts & Therapies Trust), the very organisation where Pooja honed her skills as an arts therapist, to bring this vision to fruition.
This Scholarship Fund specifically aims to provide financial support to aspiring expressive arts practitioners from various minority backgrounds who are eager to get trained at SMART (but may not have the financial means) and to subsequently utilise their skills in service of their respective communities.
Our Goal
Via this Scholarship Fund, we seek to support eligible individuals across a range of minorities (LGBTQIA+, caste, religion) who are keen to become trained as expressive arts therapy practitioners but do not have the means to do so.
Ideally, these individuals are passionate about using the arts as a means to foster personal growth and are devoted to upholding Pooja's vision of diversity, inclusion, and community enrichment. Through this endeavour, we hope to facilitate a ripple effect of change and empowerment that emanates from each scholarship recipient and extends into the communities they serve.
Starting August 9, 2023 (Pooja's birthday!), we intend to raise up to USD 10000 for the 2023-24 edition of this Fund. Our first commitments of USD 3000 are currently already in place.
How to Contribute
First, please read these FAQs that cover important points around candidate selection, fund deployment, fund administration and other operational details.
Please note that any and all contributions are welcome -- there is no minimum.
Indian Nationals: Donations can be transferred directly via bank / UPI transfer.
STUDIO FOR MOVEMENT ARTS AND THERAPIES
KOTAK MAHINDRA BANK CURRENT A/C NO 1245233666
IFSC CODE KKBK0000422
UPI ID: anita23jacob@okhdfcbank
Important: Please Whatsapp a screenshot of your transaction to +91-9500027466.
Non-Indians: Donations can be made via PayPal through this payment link.
We are dedicated to ensuring transparency and maintaining a strong connection with our donors. To facilitate this, we request all donors to fill out a brief form with their contact details.
This step allows us to keep you informed about how your generous contributions are being utilised to uphold Pooja's legacy and to foster diversity and inclusion within the arts therapy community.