Bursary Application
for
Ashram Courses and Internships

HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS

Yasodhara Ashram Society bursaries are awarded on the basis the following criteria:
  • Financial need (where other funding options are not available);
  • Qualities of sincerity, service and commitment;
  • Involvement in community (new students); and / or
  • Involvement in Swami Radha's work (continuing students).
Bursaries can be of two kinds.
  1. Bursaries for courses of study are applied only while studying at the Ashram. Funds are applied to the tuition and room and board at the time the person enters the course. Cheques are not issued. Bursaries rarely exceed 50% of the cost of a course.
  2. Internship bursaries are awarded only to those who have completed courses at the Ashram or who have otherwise been involved in related work through the ADHP or the FRF. These are modest monthly stipends paid to the intern. Payment is related to taking responsibility for an activity or a function of the Ashram for a specified period of time. The internship is developed with the applicant and formalized in a contract.

Bursaries are intended to allow those with limited financial resources to participate in programs offered by the Society. The bursary program is open to anyone. However, it is oriented primarily to two groupsÑyoung adults (18 to 30) who are students or are early in their working careers, and elders who are on fixed incomes. We also like to support single parents. In developing and running the program, including the processing of applications, we often work with our sister charities, the ADHP (in the United States) and the FRF (in Canada). The first step for any applicant is to clarify why they want to be at the Ashram and how the training relates to their life. The Ashram is a spiritual community based on the teachings of Swami Radha.

Swami Radha encouraged financial and emotional independence. The bursary is meant to provide a temporary bridge in gaining this independence. In granting bursaries, we encourage people to consider the opportunities to give back to their home communities or to the organizations Swami Radha established. Bursaries may be granted with the condition that the individual make a commitment to be at the Ashram for specific period of time, even after any course or training is completed.

As a charity, our ability to provide bursaries is limited. In lieu of a bursary, or as a complement to it, we often work with individuals to establish a monthly payment plan or we encourage the individual to seek student loans or enlist financial support from family or friends. In some cases, it has been important for the individual to find paid work to gather the funds needed before they come to the Ashram. Usually there are many options for people to take financial responsibility for themselves.

APPLICATION FOR AN ASHRAM SOCIETY BURSARY

Instructions:
  • Complete all parts of the application.
  • Email, mail or fax your application at least one month before the beginning of the planned course or internship.
  • Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.
Applicant Information

Last name First name
Year of birth Gender: Male Female
Social Insurance Number

Citizenship: Canadian landed Immigrant Other (specify)
If "Other", will you be in Canada legally for your time at the Ashram? Yes No


Contact Information
Address

City/Town Province:

Postal Code:

Best Contact Phone # E-Mail

Financial Information

Total income for the last calendar year from all sources:

Total expected income this year (all sources including EI, social assistance, etc.):

Total value of your current savings and investments:

Funds you can access from other sources (family, etc.)

Total of all your current loans or debts:

Average cost of your living expenses based on the last several months: $ / month

Pre-Application Living & Working Arrangements

Please choose the option in each part that applies best to you in the last 6 months.

Part I

Single(not a student)
Single parent with dependents
Married
Maried with Dependents
Student
Student with dependents

Part II

Employed Full-Time
Employed Part Time
Unemployed
Unable to work for medical reason
Other (specific)

 

COURSE Bursary Request

This section is to be completed if you are applying for a bursary to take a course at the Ashram.

Intern applicants please go to the next section.
Name of course:
Dates: begins : and ends :
Total cost of the course(s) you are applying for:
Amount you can afford to pay before or during the course:
Amount of the bursary you are applying for:
After you leave, will you be able to reimburse the bursary fund, in full or in part? yes no
If yes, what amount can you afford? / month for months, or $ in lump sum payment(s).
INTERNSHIP Bursary Request

This section is to be completed only if you are applying for an Internship. Course bursary applicants please go to the next section.

Dates of your planned internship: from to
What is the value of the intership that you are expecting? / month
Who has been your contact at the Ashram?
Other Information

Explain in your own words why you need the bursary (attach additional pages if you wish).
Declaration

All financial information on this form remains confidential. It is used only for bursary purposes. I declare the following:

  • That the answers given by me in all parts of this application are complete and true.
  • That to the best of my knowledge I have only applied for the financial assistance that I need.
  • That I understand that the value and availability of bursaries and procedures with regard to the administration of the bursaries may change at the discretion of Yasodhara Ashram Society.
  • That I give permission for my name to be released to any donors who may be financially supporting my bursary or the Ashram Society more generally.
Applicant's Signature Date