Sankalpa is a powerful Sanskrit word meaning intention, affirmation, resolution, determination and willpower. This name guided the journey through pioneering challenges to manifest this dream, and we have worked with hundreds of individuals to integrate intention into their original self-expression since 2010. The results have included empowerment, improved sense of self, awareness, insight, catharsis, connection, transformation and joy!

Creativity is a common and unifying force between all cultures, and the Sankalpa art center found its place in the International Zone of Auroville, within walking distance to nearby villages and central Auroville. Today our art center is actively hosting a variety of individual and group expressive art therapy sessions for all ages and backgrounds, workshops, trainings, collaborations and much more! The space is a geodesic dome, built mainly by volunteers, and funded by a crowd-funding campaign with donations from over 50 individuals in 10 different countries.

KRUPA JHAVERI, PhD, EXAT, TIEAT-C
Founder, Artist, International Trauma-Informed Expressive Art Therapist & Art Director
Born in the US and of Indian ethnic origin, Krupa is a living bridge between cultures through art. As an art therapy gypsy, Krupa travels, presents and teaches regularly throughout Asia, America and Europe. Krupa's TEDx Women talk on “Art as a Mirror” can be viewed online.

After working on more than 100 children's books and trade media as an Art Director in publishing in NYC, Krupa found her passion in service, art and healing. She recently completed her PhD through the European Graduate School in Saas-Fee, Switzerland, documenting her arts-based research on faith and spirituality within Expressive Arts Therapy (Switzerland, 2022). She also has formal graduate Art Therapy training from the School of Visual Arts (NYC, 2008) before integrating therapeutic awareness into traditional expression in the Indian culture.

Krupa is an Ambassador to India for Art Therapy Without Borders, with specialized research on the therapeutic experience of traditional and sacred Indian art forms including kolam, henna, embroidery, and mandalas. She continues to investigate the links between intention (sankalpa), ritual arts and resilience in humankind. She is currently is the Head of the Research & Publication Committee for The Art Therapy Association of India (TATAI), and teaching on the esteemed PG Diploma in Expressive Arts Therapy program at St. Xaviers (Mumbai).

Krupa has experience working with children and women with HIV/AIDS, in child protection, as a certified Trauma-Informed Expressive Arts Therapy consultant, cross-cultural social justice work, mindful and nature-based creativity, and the combined practice of Art & Yoga. In 2009, she traveled through over 80 locations in India and Nepal, independently surveying potential applications of art therapy with a vision to build an art center and share creativity as a healing journey with others.

Krupa enjoys rising with the sun to offer a kolam or traditional ground drawing with rice powder in front of her home in Tamil Nadu, south India.