With Nurturing, Welcoming, and Experimental as the guiding vision of WordCamp Asia since its inception in 2023, we are thrilled to announce the recipients of this year’s scholarships. These programs are a testament to our commitment to fostering inclusivity, innovation, and community growth.
The scholarships aim to provide opportunities for those who are passionate about contributing to the WordPress ecosystem but may face financial or logistical challenges in attending. We are honored to welcome this year’s scholarship recipients to WordCamp Asia 2025!
Kim Parsell Scholarship Recipients
Zeel Thakkar
Zeel Thakkar (@zeelthakkar), lives in Ahmedabad, India. Currently, Zeel is working as a freelance WordPress Developer at Jpadweb. Her journey in the WordPress ecosystem began with an internship that sparked her passion for development. Through practical experience and hands-on learning, Zeel turned her enthusiasm into a successful career, further enhanced by her active involvement in both global and local WordPress communities.
As a prominent member of the WordPress Ahmedabad community, Zeel has significantly contributed to its growth and vibrancy. Her role as an organiser has been transformative, enabling her to lead key events such as WordCamp Ahmedabad 2023 and Do_Action 2024. These experiences enabled her to build connections, promote knowledge exchange, and inspire collaboration through regular meetups. A notable aspect of her contributions has been her commitment to inclusivity, inspiring and supporting women in tech and empowering female contributors to excel within the WordPress community.
Zeel has significantly contributed to the development of WordPress 6.7 as a member of the Testing Team, where she ensures the platform’s stability and reliability. She is also actively involved with the Training Team, developing educational resources that empower and educate WordPress users. Looking ahead, Zeel is proud to serve as the organiser for WordCamp Ahmedabad 5.0 in 2025. Her dedication to continuous learning and networking, particularly through meetups and WordCamps, has been instrumental in her professional growth.
Pooja Derashri
Pooja Derashri (@webtechpooja) hails from Ajmer, India. She started using WordPress in 2013.
Pooja and her husband Anand co-founded WPVibes, a WordPress plugin development agency. Her initial involvement was as a developer. Currently, she is transitioning towards SEO and Content Marketing.
Pooja started her WordPress contribution journey in 2017. Her initial contributions were in WPTV and Polyglots. Since 2021, Pooja has been part of the Global Translation Editor team for Hindi.
In 2019, she explored contribution opportunities in the WordPress Training Team. Since then, she has been a regular contributor to the Training team and enjoys the responsibility of Co-Team Rep. The team manages LearnWP, lesson plans, workshops, courses and Social learning space (SLS) to support people who are training others to use WordPress.
*Pooja was a recipient of Kim Parsell Scholarship back in WCUS 2022, but unfortunately could not make it to the event. We have chosen this opportunity to grant the scholarship to attend WordCamp Asia 2025.
Diversity Scholarship Recipients
Makarand G. Mane
Makarand G. Mane (@mkrndmane) has been a passionate WordPress enthusiast since 2011. Starting as a freelance developer, he now leads WPGenius Solutions LLP, a trusted brand in WordPress services.
As a General Translation Editor for Marathi, Speaker at various WordCamps, and the organizer of the Kolhapur WordPress Meetup, Makarand actively contributes to the community. He also conducts programming workshops and enjoys traveling, exploring cultures, and nurturing his spiritual side – qualities that have shaped his leadership as the lead organizer of WordCamp Kolhapur.
Makarand’s efforts have inspired and strengthened local WordPress communities, making Kolhapur a hub for WordPress enthusiasts. His vision for WordCamp Kolhapur is to foster connections, share knowledge, and highlight the region’s vibrant culture.
Beyond WordPress, he is dedicated to empowering the next generation of developers and believes in creating opportunities through education and mentorship.
Astha Jain
Astha (@beingastha) is an advocate, researcher, and a vibrant member of the WordPress community. She began her WordPress journey in 2014 as a blogger and has since grown into a passionate contributor, blending her legal knowledge with her interest in technology.
Her connection with the WordPress community blossomed when she first organized WordCamp Bhopal 2023. Since then, there’s no looking back. She spoke at WordCamp Mumbai 2023, organised do_action Bhopal 2024 & is an active member of the WP Bhopal meetup chapter. For Astha, being part of the WordPress community feels like a love-at-first-sight story. She also contributes actively to the Translation and Photos team(s).
Astha cherishes the community’s warmth, inclusivity, and collaborative spirit. Through her work, she strives to bridge the gap between law and technology, driven by the spirit to give back and make a difference.
*Astha was a recipient of DiversityScholarship back in WCAsia2024, but unfortunately could not make it to the event. We have chosen this opportunity to grant the scholarship to attend WordCamp Asia 2025.
As we move forward
As we continue to build on the goals set at the start of this incredible journey, these scholarships are a key part of our effort to nurture talent, welcome diverse perspectives, and experiment with new ways to strengthen our community.
We are delighted to continue this tradition and help amplify the voices of those shaping the future of WordPress.
To all the recipients: congratulations! We can’t wait to see you in Manila and to hear your stories, ideas, and contributions to WordCamp Asia 2025.
