SUPPORT. SOLIDARITY. SISTERHOOD
Who am I? Why I created Sahara Sisters Collective?
Hi, I’m Huda. I’m a multi-disciplinary researcher, educator and writer with a PhD.
I know what it’s like to be isolated, excluded in spaces or to be used as a token for diversity. Navigating research and academia as an “international” can be tricky; especially when relying on limited income. I was sick of being exploited by the system and getting scraps. I was fed up of navigating the system as an international or a ‘Global South’ student. I was tired of not being able to talk about the struggles of life, studies and cultural pressures while building a career as a South Asian woman. This motivated me to create, Sahara Sisters Collective for South Asian women to stand strong, collaborate with each other and learn.
Sahara Sisters Collective is registered under my name ABN: 66 397 716 251
[If you’re looking for consultancy, research and facilitator services, then please head to my professional website. This space is reserved for free growth, learning and support.]
What is Sahara Sisters Collective?
Sahara (سہارا) means support or a form of reliance. Together we are stronger, divided we are vulnerable to the system. This platform is supposed to help us stick together. I created Sahara Sisters Collective as a space for support, mentoring, learning and collaborative change. It’s a platform that specifically caters to South Asian voices, visibilities and needs. The word “sister” is not to exclude but to create a sense of togetherness.
Marginalised individuals or those who identify with a sense of sisterhood, please connect and join 🙂 While the space largely focuses on South Asian sisterhood, we still welcome any gender and identity background who can benefit or grow from this space.
Are you someone:
- Living in South Asia
- From a South Asian background
- An international or immigrant
- Studying South Asia
- Or someone who wants to share, learn and grow?
Reach out and connect! This is a space for support, mentoring, learning and collaborative change.
Our vision: By strengthening our connections, we collectively grow in a world that is tough to keep up with. This growth can be communal, academic, professional, social, familial and even personal. By standing together and supporting each other’s contributions and voices in a system that is tiring, we grow stronger. By opening the door for even one person, we make it possible to disrupt this extractive system in small ways. Let’s bring our thoughts, minds, research, social commitments and supportive spirits together.
We have wonderful sisters and humans from South Asia, Australia, Europe and the US joining us. Our collective is currently comprised of researchers, medical practitioners, educators, social change makers and creatives.
What can Sahara Sisters Collective do for you?
- Mentoring support (let’s talk about writing proposals, navigating visa stress and reaching out to researchers)
- Talks, lectures, research initiatives and chit-chats (academic and life stories)
- A platform to share and amplify your work with no sneaky hidden costs (because the job market and economy are a living hell as it is!)
- Online monthly writing and study sessions in silence (if there’s an unwritten essay, publication or unfinished idea that you haven’t been able to work on; bring it to the session and let’s write in silence)
- Is there any other way that this platform can help you, your community or institutions? Reach out and let me know.
COMING SOON: We’re currently preparing to officially launch during the third week of August. In the meantime, you can follow us on LinkedIn for updates https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14768015/
We will be announcing and commencing our activities:
- Writing and study sessions
- Mentoring sessions
- A chance to speak and share more about your work, academic pursuits, personal narratives, story telling or social contributions (lectures, chit chats, workshops, story telling sessions)
- A chance to share and amplify your work on our website and blogs launching in mid-September
- Research Network, Mentor Sister Profiles
- Blog contributions
[This is optional ->] For those interested in having their short bios featured on our website, please email your bio (100 words or less) and picture [if you prefer a bio with no picture, that’s okay too]. We want this to bring more visibility, presence and voice to you and your contributions in the world.
Want to Get Involved?
Sahara Sisters Collective is always looking for collaborators, researchers, storytellers, and supporters.
Want to be a part of Sahara Sisters Collective? Please fill out the EOI form here: https://forms.gle/ASVeZh2SaRMim4aq5
Sahara Sisters Collective will launch mid-August, join us and be a part of this!
📬 Email: saharasisterscollective@gmail.com
📰 Subscribe to Updates: Our newsletter is coming soon! Please bear with me for a bit.
Interested in supporting this work or becoming a partner?
Email at saharasisterscollective@gmail.com
Sahara Sisters Collective is registered under my name ABN: 66 397 716 251