Our People, Our City
Kura Tāwhiti – Canterbury Community Foundation works to build inclusive, thriving communities across Christchurch, Selwyn, and Waimakariri. We support the wellbeing and resilience of our region by helping ensure those facing the greatest challenges can access the support they need, so no one is left behind.
OPOC Education Fund
The Our People, Our City (OPOC) Education Fund supports education opportunities for eligible whānau directly affected by the March 15 Mosque Attacks.
In the days and weeks after March 15, 2019, thousands across Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world rallied around the Canterbury Muslim community in a powerful demonstration of solidarity and compassion.
During this time, the Foundation helped administer $11.5 million in donated funds to support the immediate recovery of those most acutely affected, including the victims and their families.
Fund Purpose
The OPOC Education Fund was created in consultation with the Canterbury Muslim community to support the tertiary education of young people whose family members were injured or lost their lives in the attacks.
JBWere has managed the OPOC Education Fund since its inception, providing this service free of charge. We are very grateful for this generosity and the opportunity to work with their team to support those impacted by the events on 15 March.
To date, the fund has supported 36 students to pursue their educational dreams across a range of academic fields and vocations.
While the origins of the fund lie in a time of profound trauma and grief, its ongoing impact represents an enduring legacy of the compassion, unity, and support extended to our Muslim whānau by local and global communities in the aftermath of March 15.
Through education, practical support, and the confidence that comes from knowing an entire community stands behind them, the OPOC Education Fund is here to help young people pursue their ambitions and shape their own futures.
Funding Inclusions
Scholarship funds will be applied to tuition fees in the first instance, and we work closely with a variety of tertiary institutions to arrange this. Funds may also be used to support other study-related costs, including:
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Course materials, such as textbooks and stationery
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Technology required for study, including laptops, phones, or tablets
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Software licences relevant to your course
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Equipment and supplies, such as tools, PPE, art materials, or musical instruments
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Travel associated with study requirements, including field trips and placements
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Accommodation costs for students living in halls of residence or flats
We may ask for supporting information or documentation for some expenses.
Eligibility
The OPOC Education Fund has been established with specific eligibility criteria. It is intended to support those whose immediate family members were injured by gunshot or lost their lives in the March 15 attacks.
If you are interested in applying for a scholarship, and think you may be eligible, please complete the confidential form at the bottom of this page.
Alternative Pathways
We understand that many individuals and whānau continue to experience the profound ongoing impacts of these events. If you do not meet the eligibility criteria for this fund, there may be other avenues of support available. We encourage you to explore the following options:
Datacom Foundation – Iqra Salam Te Aroha
Ōtautahi Aroha wa Salam: March 15 Scholarship | University of Canterbury
Further Questions?
If you have any further questions or would like to talk through your circumstances in confidence, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.
Alsalam Alekom – السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته.
He waka eke noa — we are all in this together.
He waka eke noa — We are all in this together.
OPOC Education Funding Eligibility Form
If you think you may be eligible for a scholarship, please submit this confidential form and we'll respond as soon as we can.
In the meantime, we also encourage you to explore the alternative support options outlined above.
