EAA, partners host Afghan refugees event at the UN

The Education Above All (EAA) Foundation, Institute of International Education (IIE), and the Afghan Future Fund (AFF) hosted a special event during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to highlight recent efforts made to provide higher education opportunities for Afghan refugees and discuss how to address future challenges.The event on September 24 had welcome remarks by IIE executive vice-president Jonah Kokodyniak, followed by keynote speeches from representatives of Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the US Department of State, and other organisations, a statement said Monday.HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh al-Khulaifi, HE the Minister of State for International Co-operation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lolwah bint Rashid AlKhater, the US Under Secretary for Political Affairs John Bass, and Tom Malinowski, former US Congressman from New Jersey, attended the event, emphasising the importance of access to education for Afghan refugee youth.The event included stakeholders and beneficiaries of the Qatar Scholarship for Afghan Project (QSAP), showcasing partnerships between Qatar and the US public and private sectors aimed at ensuring marginalised Afghan women, girls, and young men can thrive through education."Qatar is unwavering in its commitment to ensuring that every young Afghan, especially women and girls, has access to the transformative power of education,” HE AlKhater said in her opening remarks."Education is a universal right, and Qatar, through our partnership with the US and other international stakeholders, will continue to be steadfast in its efforts to empower Afghan youth, safeguard their educational opportunities, and invest in their potential,” she stated.In his keynote address, Under-Secretary Bass emphasised the US State Department’s support for the QSAP."We are eager to continue this critical partnership – working together to ensure that Afghan women and girls have opportunities not only to learn – but to determine their own futures,” he said.The event featured a panel exploring the impact of programmes that provide scholarships and related assistance to Afghan students, such as the QSAP.Panellists included EAA chief executive Fahad al-Sulaiti, IIE chief executive Dr Allan Goodman, AFF board chairman Vance Serchuk, Rina Amiri (the US Special Envoy for Afghan Women, Girls, and Human Rights), Jonathan Becker (executive vice-president, vice-president for academic affairs and director at the Centre for Civic Engagement, and professor of Political Studies at Bard College), Shahzad Ahmad (associate vice-president of St Cloud State University’s Centre for International Studies), and AFF board member Arezo Kohistany.Building on the EAA’s global efforts, Talal al-Hothal, director of the EAA Foundation’s Al Fakhoora programme, said: "Through Al Fakhoora programme, the EAA has provided more than 10,800 scholarships for marginalised youth across 10 countries. We are proud to include the QSAP in our efforts.”"There could not be a more urgent need for us to address than the right to education for Afghan women and refugees,” said the IIE’s Kokodyniak. "Hosting this event during the UNGA underscores the importance of international co-operation in providing educational opportunities that will allow Afghan students to rebuild their futures, and foster social, economic, and cultural development.”"As a result of the QSAP, hundreds of future leaders are gaining opportunities to earn degrees at many of America’s leading universities,” he said.In a concerted effort to make quality education a reality for Afghans in the US and across the globe, a coalition of foundations and universities have come together to create transformative education opportunities for Afghan students.Organisations including the EAA, AFF, IIE, MoFA Qatar, Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), Schmidt Futures, and the Yalda Hakim Foundation have provided scholarships, mentorship programmes, and academic support to ensure that Afghan students can pursue their educational dreams, despite any challenges.The partnership provides ample opportunities for Afghan women and men to continue their education in top-tier universities."The eyes of the world are no longer on Afghanistan, but the cause of Afghan education is more important than ever,” said the AFF’s Serchuk. "Together with our partners, the AFF is proud to make possible the next wave of 200 scholarships for deserving, at-risk Afghans – enabling these young people to pursue their dreams and unlock their potential at leading US universities.”The event concluded with a reaffirmation of the strong commitment by all participating organisations to continue expanding access to education for displaced Afghan youth through the QSAP.More than 80 attendees also had the opportunity to hear inspiring stories of resilience and success from Afghan students who have benefited from these initiatives.