WordCamp Kolhapur 2026 has launched the Zeel Thakkar Community Scholarship, providing 20 free tickets to girls and women who may face financial barriers to attending the event. The scholarship honors Zeel Thakkar, a beloved WordPress contributor and organizer who passed away on November 16, 2025, while attending WordCamp Surat, leaving a lasting impact on the WordPress community.
Zeel Thakkar’s Work and Community Involvement
Zeel Thakkar, from Ahmedabad, played a key role in the WordPress ecosystem. She co-organized WordCamp Ahmedabad in 2023 and 2025, do_action Ahmedabad 2024, and contributed to WordPress versions 6.7 “Rollins” and 6.8 “Cecil.” She was active in the WordPress Training Team as a Guide Program Mentor and also organized WP Nari Ahmedabad this year, an event empowering women in technology, and WP Accessibility Day 2025 too.
She was recognized as an all-star mentee in the 2024 WordPress Contributor Mentorship Program.
In 2024, Zeel received the Kim Parsell Memorial Scholarship and attended WordCamp Asia 2025 in Manila, Philippines, where she volunteered and had recently joined the Operations Team for WordCamp Asia 2026.
The Zeel Thakkar Community Scholarship
The scholarship by WC Kolhapur reflects Zeel’s commitment to creating opportunities for women to learn, contribute, and engage in the WordPress community, “ Zeel deeply believed in creating access and opportunities, especially for women who wanted to learn, contribute, and grow within the WordPress ecosystem. This scholarship reflects that spirit by opening doors for more voices to be present, learn, and connect with the community.”
The application is open to women and girls interested in WordPress who face financial constraints, with preference for those attending a WordCamp for the first time.
Applications opened on December 31, 2025, and will close on January 15, 2026. Interested applicants must complete a brief form sharing basic details, their interest in WordPress, and their financial need. The WordCamp Kolhapur 2026 team will review applications confidentially. The selected applicants will be notified by email on January 22 and will receive complimentary tickets.