Hi, my name is Mujtaba Tareen, a Communication and Design junior at Habib University, Karachi, Pakistan.

I’ve been selected for the Summer Session 2026 at University of California, Berkeley from a pool of 300+ applicants through a competitive selection process. The program is fully self-funded, with total academic and living costs of USD 11,866, excluding personal expenses.

I’ve always been deeply invested in arts, self-expression, and storytelling. I acted in my first short film at the age of 10, performed in my first devised theatre production last year, and have continued building my practice as a design student, filmmaker, and performer. Attending Berkeley’s summer session will allow me to formally train in acting, while also taking film and design courses that complement my major.

In Pakistan, arts and humanities often receive far less support compared to science and technical fields, despite being essential to culture, empathy, and social change. My long-term goal is to return and work within Pakistan’s creative industry, contributing meaningfully to film, theatre, and design. This summer program is a small but critical step in that journey.

Your support will enable me to study abroad and strengthen my creative practice back home.

Total Estimated Cost (without Personal expenses): $11,866

Personal Expenses; Approximately $3500

Total funds to be raised; $15,500

For donors in Pakistan who prefer to contribute via a local bank account, please reach out to me.

Thank you for taking the time to read and for supporting this journey, it truly means a lot.