Dear Friends,

I write to you with reflections on a year during which your extraordinary support has given a fresh new beginning to a university mission without parallel. Afghanistan remains the only country in the world where half of the population is expressly banned from education. The American University of Afghanistan remains the only university expressly dedicated to restoring that right while upholding education as foundational to any possible peace, security, and justice. We are grateful to the U.S. Department of State for continuing to support this work. And in a time of profound upheaval, we could not succeed without each of you in our greater community.

More than four years ago, AUAF made the bold decision to continue our mission after the fall of Kabul, and our students made the brave decision to continue their pursuit of education despite extreme uncertainty and risk. Those decisions, along with monumental generosity from so many of you, brought us to where we are today: entering our 20th year with more students enrolled than ever, including more women than ever, and greater confidence than ever in the impact and potential of our educational model.

What gives us confidence? You may reasonably worry that Afghanistan has been largely forgotten in much of the world, as other severe crises have dominated public discourse and international aid. Security in Afghanistan is fragile, diplomacy has made no progress, and life for most Afghans has not improved – in fact, for many it has worsened. Yet as one of my colleagues wrote to me recently,

پشت هر تاریکی، روشنی است

After every darkness, there is a light.

Most languages and cultures share this sentiment – enough that we might call it a universal theme. Our students often refer to their education at AUAF as “the light of hope.” As they recognize, we cannot passively wait in darkness for the dawn. We must do our part to ignite it.

We see it ignited in the many collaborations and partnerships that have coalesced around a shared mission and purpose. We also see it in something new that is happening. Instead of viewing Afghanistan in isolation, our partners today understand the complex intersection of our world’s many crises and the global scale of the challenges humanity faces.

This is why I am especially proud to announce the launch of the Bard Global Degree, bringing together disenfranchised students and faculty from numerous places in conflict and crisis, including Afghanistan, Myanmar, Russia, Ukraine, and South Sudan through a single, shared degree program with Bard College in New York State. AUAF’s first Global Degree cohort represents the vanguard of an entirely new way of imagining education for those to whom it has been denied.

In addition:

AUAF’s new offices at Georgetown University-Qatar now embed our efforts within the most visible and celebrated international studies program in the Middle East.

We have begun a new collaboration with BoodleBox, a collaborative platform designed for higher education and embracing purposeful, faculty-driven uses of AI for the very specific needs of Afghan students.

And our friends at Duolingo, a language learning platform, now enable us to assess more than 20,000 new applications each year.

That last number is no exaggeration and tells us everything about the demand for an AUAF education in Afghanistan. It is why we refuse to settle for the current situation, when we are able to enroll only 200 new students each year, all receiving 100% financial aid. Therefore, we pledge in 2026 to introduce new, affordable, high-tech certificate programs capable of reaching many thousands, building skills for employment, and generating capacity for Afghanistan’s workforce.

These are the opportunities to ignite “the light of hope.” It is true that our graduates face a more confounding employment environment than most in the world. Yet so many are successful after graduation because AUAF develops their ability to handle complexity, communicate effectively, and innovate their own opportunities. In Afghanistan, the quality of education they receive at AUAF is not a luxury. It is more than ever before a necessity.

AUAF’s liberal arts degree programs and high-tech training programs change lives and can change the world our students inhabit. Together, let’s make these programs available to all ambitious, talented, and hopeful young women and men in Afghanistan who see a future AUAF graduate in themselves.

With gratitude,

Ian Bickford

President

The American University of Afghanistan

“AUAF taught me that education survives because people choose to protect it, a truth I learned firsthand in 2016. As a graduate, I remain committed to that shared responsibility to keep education alive.”

Anil Qasemi
Co-chair of AUAF Alumni Consortium

(more…)

With deep sorrow, we share the news of the passing of Razia Jan, an Afghan American activist who championed girls’ right to education. She passed away on July 20 at her home in Los Angeles, according to The New York Times.

After the U.S. military engagement in Afghanistan, Razia returned to her homeland, first bringing supplies to orphanages and hospitals, and soon dedicating her life to ensuring Afghan girls could learn. In 2008, she founded the Zabuli Education Center through the Razia’s Ray of Hope Foundation, which today continues to serve more than 800 girls. She later established the Razia Jan Institute to train young women in midwifery and other vital skills.

Razia’s legacy lives on in the thousands of Afghan girls whose lives she transformed through education.

On August 24, 2016, the American University of Afghanistan suffered a devastating, complex terrorist attack on the second day of school.We honor the memory of those whose lives were lost that day and recognize the lasting impact on every survivor, family member, teacher, student, and friend.

Their courage, dreams, and spirit remain a part of AUAF’s story, and a reminder of why our mission matters.

We remember:
Mohammad Alem
Mohammad Akbar Andarabi
Ahmad Mujtaba Exeer
Einaz Haidery
Jamilla Ismailzada
Fazel Khaliq
Naqeeb Khpalwak
Sayed Rasool
Samiullah Sarwari
Waisodin
Abdul Wakil
Ahmad Jamshid Zafar
Zubair Zakir

On August 15, 2021, the Afghan government collapsed.

It marked the beginning of another chapter of uncertainty, upheaval, and displacement for AUAF. Students, faculty, and staff faced a dangerous reality.

Yet even in the midst of loss and separation, AUAF’s mission did not stop. Two weeks later, the fall semester started on-time due to the innovative online teaching developed during the COVID-19 pandemic and the determination of our students to learn. Hope endured despite the darkness.

These moments could have ended our mission.
Instead, they deepened our resolve.

Time and time again, AUAF comes back stronger, adapting and innovating to ensure our mission continues. Today, we share our updated AUAF Timeline, a living record of our challenges, our milestones, and our continued belief that education can bring our students a brighter, more prosperous future.

In Afghanistan today, women are banned from higher education. Speaking out about your beliefs can be dangerous. For many AUAF students, staying safe means staying anonymous.

But anonymity does not mean silence.

Throughout history, writers have used pseudonyms to speak truth in hostile environments. For our students—who can’t safely use their own names—we’ve chosen one: Roya, which means dream in Dari.

Roya is not one person. Roya is every student who carries their courage in secret.
Each story in this series will be shared under that name.

Roya’s Story #1: A Dream I Never Let Go

I first heard about AUAF when I was a high school student. It became my biggest dream to study there, to walk the campus, to be part of something bigger. At the time, I was admitted to Kabul University, and for many reasons, I couldn’t make the switch. But the dream never left me.

Years later, when the world seemed darker and education for women felt almost impossible, I got the chance. I joined AUAF. And I am still here, studying—despite everything.

The experience has changed my life. It’s not just about learning. It’s about hope, resilience, and proving that we still exist——we who believe in a future worth fighting for.

Even without a physical classroom, even with electricity outages, even when it feels overwhelming to juggle so much from home—I keep going. Because this chance is rare. And I know what it means.

Since 2018 I have collaborated and volunteered with several organizations to promote education and leadership for youth and girls in my community. I founded a non-profit, where we train young women in leadership and peace building. I’ve met people from Italy, Nigeria, and France through our workshops. Some of the girls I’ve trained are now leading efforts in their own communities.

I want the world to know that Afghan women are resilient. We are leaders. We just need a chance to show it.

I don’t want to be limited to one degree or one role. I want to become a software engineer and a journalist. I want to explore the world and bring opportunity back with me. I want to live a life of meaning and help others do the same.

— Roya

Support more voices like Roya’s
Your gift helps AUAF continue to educate courageous students who are changing their communities—and the future of Afghanistan.

A Letter from Leslie M. Schweitzer – Founder & Chair, Friends of AUAF

Dear Friends and Supporters of AUAF,

We are pleased to share encouraging news: thanks to extensive outreach, advocacy, and steadfast support from our broader community—including many dedicated donors such as you— after a brief pause, U.S. Government (USAID) funding has been restored so that AUAF can resume it’s spring semester immediately. This critical development brings students back to class after Nowruz—a meaningful celebration symbolizing renewal and new beginnings. 

Restoration of funding provides crucial short-term relief, but significant work remains to secure AUAF’s long-term sustainability. The University must accelerate efforts to restructure, innovate, and fund programs for high school girls as well as co-ed undergraduate and graduate programs in-country. Your continued generosity remains vital as AUAF builds toward this future.

Currently, we are close to completing a matching challenge—doubling a generous donor’s $250,000 gift to $500,000. Every contribution brings AUAF closer to this goal and strengthens its capacity to navigate the future and continue our vital mission.

Education remains vital to Afghanistan’s future. AUAF graduates are the next generation of leaders who drive prosperity and disrupt cycles of radicalization within their villages, communities, and homes. In many ways, an AUAF education goes beyond its recipient.

Your generosity enables AUAF to continue to provide life-changing world-class education, to innovate programs to reach more students in more ways, and to endure as the only institutional American legacy remaining in Afghanistan.

Sincerely,

___________

In Afghanistan, Nowruz is especially meaningful. The Guli Surkh Festival (Festival of Red Flowers) in Mazar-i-Sharif marks the occasion, as vibrant red tulips bloom across the fields—a symbol of hope and resilience, much like AUAF’s students who continue their education against all odds.

Just as Nowruz ushers in a fresh start, the reopening of AUAF represents a new chapter of opportunity for our students. Their education—temporarily out of reach—is now back in their hands.

Thank you for being part of this moment.

While this funding provides immediate relief, we must continue working toward long-term sustainability for AUAF.