Giving back what’s been given

Anamika Anwesha [MA/19] was born and raised in Mumbai, India where she completed two bachelor’s and one master’s degrees before deciding to attend the University of Manitoba to complete a second master’s degree in Peace and Conflict Studies.

“I applied to eight universities around the world, and I got accepted into all of them. I chose UM because I received entrance scholarships to cover a major part of my tuition fees,” said Anwesha. “One scholarship I received through St. Paul’s College was supported by a Christian congregation of nuns, Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary. The scholarship offered me free accommodation for the first year. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life, and the nun’s unconditional love and motherly support really helped me settle into this new life in Canada.”

During her studies and after her graduation, she worked with different non-profit organizations and several philanthropic and social initiatives in Winnipeg. In her last work assignment, she was working at UM with the International College of Manitoba as a student counselor. Currently, she’s working toward establishing an initiative for women and non-binary folks who are leaving abusive relationships and an organization that supports environmental sustainability. But this is not the only way she wants to make a difference in this world. Anwesha is also creating a planned gift with UM.

“I started my post-death planning journey with my lawyer, but it was clear to me even before that how I want to use the money I leave behind after I die,” she said. “I believe what you give out, it always comes back to you. But at the same time, you also have a responsibility to give back what you’ve received. So, this gift is very much based on that whole karma philosophy, which comes from Hindu religion. Everything is balanced, and if you balance it right, I think that’s the best closure of life. It’s not death, but it’s that legacy that you leave behind. And that is how the cycle of life completes itself.”

Besides receiving 17 scholarships, awards, and bursaries from the school, she received tremendous informal supports – financial and otherwise – from friends, colleagues, and acquaintances over the two years while studying at UM. Anwesha said the university was her first choice when it came to the idea of giving back. She has firsthand experience of the financial struggles international students face. The situation is made even more difficult because many scholarships are still reserved for permanent resident and Canadian citizens. She plans for her scholarship to go to an international student in the Peace and Conflict Studies program.

“I’m reserving this scholarship for women and non-binary students who really want to make a difference in the ways of conflict and peace-building work is happening around the world,” she said. “The scholarship will also be reserved for the students who want to go to other countries, work specifically in the conflict zones, or do out-of-the-box innovative kind of work to bring a meaningful and positive change in this world.”

Anwesha decided a planned gift was the way to go because she says after death, there are no more attachments to the money we owned and because of that she hopes the beneficiary feels no obligation toward the donor but with a hope that the receiver of these planned gifts feel motivated to give back someday too if they’re able to. Her name, Anamika Anwesha, means “a nameless journey”, so it was important to her not to put her name on the scholarship.

“The important thing to me is to give from the heart,” she said. “I think that’s why I’m focusing on Peace and Conflict Studies program because I really see a value in my work. The program has helped me immensely to be in a position to help people, and now I want to give others those same opportunities.”

For those thinking of making a planned gift as well, she also said it’s never too soon to start thinking about how you can maybe make a difference someday, whether you’re alive or if it’s after you pass. One of the biggest surprises of her planned giving journey was how many things she thought about giving to because of all the different ways she’s been impacted in her life – there is no limit to how and what you can give.

“To me, giving back is how life works,” she said. “I was once in a position where I needed support, so now it’s my turn to pay it forward and support others.”

Emily Janssens