For the past several years, the South Asian Family Association (SAFA) has been proud to award $500 scholarship funds to South Asian students in the areas of academic excellence and exemplary community involvement.

These awards are presented at the non-profit’s flagship community event, Sawan Mela, which will be held July 12, 2008 at the Vancouver Art Gallery.

In 2004, the inaugural year of the Tej Kaur Scholarship Foundation, the trust granted one entrance award to a South Asian woman beginning post-secondary studies at the University of B.C. as part of the SAFA Scholarship program.

The entrance award sought to recognize young South Asian woman of exemplary leadership and service at school and/or in her community.

The SAFA-UBC Scholarship program is an investment in the development of exceptional South Asian women who will be “leaders of tomorrow” and will benefit the Indo-Canadian community as well as Canada.

SAFA president Suki Grewal announced recently that the SAFA’s scholarships are open to young South Asian men and women who will join any accredited post-secondary institution in B.C. 

“This scholarship is now an investment into our youth who will be the future entrepreneurs and successes of the South Asian community in the years to come,” says Grewal. To apply for an award under the Academic Excellence category, two academic references and an official school transcript are required. 

To be nominated for the SAFA Award for Community Involvement, applicants must supply a listing of all of the community activities and associations in which they took a leadership role in the last three years.  For both awards, a 500-750 word essay is also required to detail the accomplishment of the nominees in education and community services.   

Selection of the winners will be based on a demonstrated capacity for leadership and service or academic achievement. Through their essay, the applicant must convey a true commitment to balance their South Asian identity with their Canadian one. Only one scholarship in each area will be awarded.  

“SAFA encourages students to apply for these scholarships as we are proud to recognize our youth and reward them for their hard work at school or dedication to their community,” Grewal said.  

The application form and program guidelines are available at: www.safa.ca.  The deadline for submission is on May 15.  Any inquiries regarding these scholarships can be sent to info@safa.ca.