Education Above All (EAA) Foundation and Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) celebrated the graduation of 25 Afghan refugee students from Bard College, New York, supported by a Qatari grant. It marks the first group of 250 recipients of the Qatar Scholarship for Afghans Project (QASP).

Project Overview

Launched in 2022, QASP is a partnership between Qatari entities, the U.S.-based Institute of International Education (IIE), Afghan Future Fund, Schmidt Futures, Yalda Hakim Foundation, and Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisers Fund. The program supports Afghan students who fled to countries like Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, and Albania.

Program Impact

Talal Al Hothal, the Al Fakhoora Program director at EAA, highlighted the strategic international partnerships that empower students. Jonah Kokodyniak, IIE’s Executive Vice President, praised the graduates for overcoming adversity and contributing to their university communities. The scholarship covers over 40 colleges across 17 states, enabling students to enroll in arts, business, sciences, humanities, and social sciences.

Qatar’s Commitment to Education

Qatar also welcomed the ‘Afghan Dreamers,’ an all-girls robotics team, as part of its broader educational support efforts. The country played a significant role in evacuating at least 80,000 Afghans and foreigners during the Taliban’s takeover in 2021.

Taliban Restrictions on Women

Since the Taliban’s return to power, they have imposed restrictive policies on women’s education and employment. Despite initial promises of moderation, the Taliban banned girls from attending school in March 2022. Qatar expressed disappointment and has engaged with the Taliban and other Muslim nations to address these policies. Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, vowed to support Afghan women and challenge these restrictive measures.

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