Announcing the Akar Sayari Scholarship
March 14, 2025
Akar-Sayari—a name blending Indonesian and Swahili words for Root and Planet(s)—is a scholarship created for Indigenous, Black, and racialized immigrant women and gender-expansive individuals (ages 20-29) actively involved in climate, ocean, and environmental sectors.
This scholarship is dedicated to supporting young advocates, creatives, mobilizers, and more, with a focus on environmental justice work. Akar-Sayari reflects abundance, expansiveness, and the boundless nature of creativity—rooted in collaboration, imagination, and an unwavering commitment to liberation.
Through this scholarship, recipients will receive funding to cover 90% of the cost to attend Writing Through: A Creative Workshop Series for Transformational Collective Healing—a five-part series designed to empower participants through creative writing, reflection, and community-building.
Facilitated by Akar founder Inda Intiar, and Aneri Garg, Writing Through centres the voices of racialized people, fostering a space where audacious storytelling and collaborative creativity thrive. Participants will reflect on both personal and collective experiences of harm and healing, exploring how these shape our world and our role in transforming it, with the goal of embracing the expansive possibilities of world-building. No prior writing experience is necessary, and there is no pressure to produce content. The power is in the process ✨
What’s On Offer: 9 scholarships that cover 90% of the cost to attend Writing Through. This percentage is based off a ticket price of $270 CAD; therefore selected applicants will be expected to contribute $33 (which includes taxes and processing fees) towards their ticket. Selected applicants will be informed on April 7th, and will receive a discount code to apply during ticket purchase.
What We’re Asking: An open heart, open mind, and a commitment to attend all five sessions live. (With the understanding that life happens should you need to miss a session).
Who Should Apply: Black, Indigenous and racialized immigrant women and gender-expansive individuals (non-binary, trans, gender fluid etc.) aged 20-29 globally, working in climate, ocean, or environmental sectors. Please note: Sessions will take place live online, without a recording, at 11:30pm UTC. (4:30pm PDT and 8:30pm ADT).
This scholarship is generously gifted by Njoki Mbũrũ, a friend and supporter of Writing Through.
How to Apply: Please complete this questionnaire by April 3rd, 2025. Applications will be evaluated based on application criteria, demonstrated involvement in environmental systems transformation work, financial needs and how the bursary would help you deepen or start exploring creative writing as revolutionary work. Applications will be reviewed by facilitators Aneri Garg and Inda Intiar and successful applicants will be informed via email on April 7th, 2025.
We encourage applicants who do not receive the bursary to still reach out to us should there be a significant financial barrier to your participation.
