About Dr. Elsa Talat Khwaja
Academic & creative writing, painting for important causes & more!
Hi Friends! I am an International Development Policy Consultant, Scholar, Writer, and Artist. I appreciate your support in my independent and creative endeavors, as I continue to promote authenticity in my work.
I like to fundraise for important causes. Your support would help me continue my academic journey and be in a position to extend my ad-hoc creative writing and art projects.
I am currently seeking support for my educational crowdfunding campaign to help sustain this chapter of my academic journey.
You can learn more about that fundraiser HERE.
As Independent scholars, writers, artists, and creators, we find diverse ways to fund our work. Crowdfunding has proven to be a successful method.
I hope people can see the value of empowering a passionate, creative indie scholar fighting to continue her academic journey!
Among my art projects, I have an ongoing "Painting Heals" online fundraising initiative. This will aim to support my educational campaign and continue fundraising for Mental Health, Palestine, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and other humanitarian and social causes.
I raise funds through various fundraisers and gift my donors the paintings. I am currently trying to bring back this initiative, which I first started to help with flood relief efforts in Pakistan.
I had another successful fundraiser supporting the UNRWA DC Gaza 5K on May 31, 2025. Please learn more about that Fundraiser HERE. I was able to make it to my goal of $500.00 this year, and am excited to send my donors the paintings as soon as I am able to get the funding for shipping and processing. I would like to send the paintings for free to all my donors of these fundraisers, so a little support would go a long way!
Supporting my page here directly connects to supporting all my writing and painting efforts, which are deeply interconnected to my academic pursuits.
I also write on Medium: https://medium.com/@elsatalatkhwaja
My Academic Substack Newsletter: https://qualinquisition.substack.com/
My Creative Substack Newsletter: https://sworddispatch.substack.com/
I share much of my writing through blogging on my personal and professional websites, which you may find in the first and second links below!
I want to be in a position to give back. Having been too proud to ask for any kind of help, I do understand we have to put the oxygen mask on ourselves too.
As a writer states, "real artists don't have to starve." I would add, even the PhDs (as my father describes: "Poor Hungry Doctors.") :)
Much gratitude for your support in my unapologetically authentic journey, from my heart.
Thank you so much!
In Solidarity and Peace,
Your sister, Dr. Elsa
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