Announcing the 2025 SHASHI ASSANAND BURSARY Recipients
We are proud to announce the three outstanding recipients of the 2025 Shashi Assanand Bursary, awarded to graduating students who have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to social justice and community advocacy.
Please join us in congratulating:
1. Tiffany Y. – Dr. Charles Best Secondary School, Coquitlam
2. Aysan N. A. – Riverside Secondary School, Port Coquitlam
3. Jasmine R. – St. Thomas More Collegiate, Burnaby
These remarkable young leaders have each shown a deep passion for building more equitable and inclusive communities. Their dedication to uplifting others and driving change embodies the spirit and legacy of Shashi Assanand.
We celebrate their achievements and look forward to seeing the impact they will continue to make.
Dear Sir / Madam
Vancouver & Lower Mainland Multicultural Family Support Services Society (VLMFSS) is a non-profit organization pioneered to provide culturally responsive, trauma-informed, confidential and free services with immigrant/refugee women and children facing the challenges of family violence in more than 20 languages. For the last 30 years, our agency has provided supportive individual and group counselling, referrals, advocacy and assistance to navigate the social and legal systems. VLMFSS was founded in 1991 by a visionary woman of colour, Shashi Assanand who became the first Executive Director of VLMFSS.
Vancouver & LowerMainlandMulticultural Family Support Services Society is proud to establish a $1000 Bursary for a female Grade 12 student to honour our founder Executive Director, Shashi Assanand for her 35 years of self-less service to the settlement and anti-violence sectors in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. Notably, she has been admitted to the Order of BC in 2020 and awarded Honorary doctoral degree in Law by the University of British Columbia. Information about the Bursary and the application form are attached.
The past recipients of the award from 2021 to 2024 are Lara Albahadeli, Ashki Shkur, Dana Te, Kekkeh Trawgaye and Anureet Kaur.
VLMFSS has been instrumental in developing the Violence is Preventable program (VIP) for reaching students in schools. We are grateful for the collaboration of Elementary and Secondary schools in delivering the VIP presentations with students in various grades. As our valued partners, we are requesting your assistance in disseminating the information to the Grade 12 female graduating students at your school. The deadline for applications is May 15thth, 2025.
You are welcome to email lakshmi@vlmfss.ca for further information.
Sincerely,
Dr Harjit Kaur
Executive Director
