AUAF students in Qatar celebrated International Women’s Day by hosting a panel discussion with guests from the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. The panel focused on leadership and the essential importance of women’s voices in education and wider society.
News & Blog
News & Blog
AUAF Female Students Celebrate Intl. Women’s Day
March 8, 2023
International Women’s Day 2023
March 8, 2023
International Women’s Day 2023
Today, women and girls in Afghanistan have been removed from public life and can no longer enjoy the freedoms they once did, which all women are entitled to. Despite great risk to the safety of themselves and their families, many women and girls in Afghanistan courageously continue their studies, proving that Education Will Prevail.
In honor of International Women’s Day, we asked AUAF female students to share, in one word, what women’s education means to them. Paired with these powerful words from students are quotes from AUAF & FAUAF female board members.
International Day of Education
January 24, 2023
In Afghanistan today, the Taliban have banned all women and girls from attending secondary school and higher education. Additionally, new reporting shows that 80% of all school-aged Afghan girls are not attending school. As a result, “the country risks a lost generation as educated women are essential for its development; UNESCO. This ban brings new urgency to online education. The American University of Afghanistan (AUAF) is the only option for many young Afghan women and girls to pursue a world-class higher education.
Without access to high-quality education, Afghanistan faces a retrenched and Impoverished future. AUAF continues to adapt to the country’s increasing education restrictions by expanding its online learning capabilities and secondary education offerings. AUAF is rebuilding the pathway from secondary to higher education for young Afghan women through reimagined online pre-university programs like the preparatory Academy and high-school STM boot camps.
Education Will Prevail for a new generation of young Afghans who wrestle with a new set of political and social realities yet remain ambitious and fervent to lead change in their own country and society. As university doors close around the country, a donation to Friends of AUAF ensures the desire for education does not go unmet.
Education is Power for Peace and Security in Afghanistan
October 17, 2022
The Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan last year has produced a desperate humanitarian situation in the country. Nearly half of all households are experiencing acute food insecurity, maternal and infant mortality rates are rising quickly, and 97% of families are at risk of dropping below the poverty line.
Most concerning is the intentional and vicious erasure of women and girls from public life by the Taliban, especially the ban on girls’ access to secondary education and the rapid deterioration of education quality across the country.
Afghanistan under the Taliban is currently the only place in the world where girls’ education is banned. Islamic scholars, activists, and the leadership of other Muslim-majority countries agree that gender-based exclusion in education is not justified.
In the aftermath of the international withdrawal, Afghan women have endured some of the most disturbing consequences of the Taliban’s brutal pursuit for power coupled with indifference from the international community. Far more needs to be done to support Afghan women and children, especially in the education space.
What is happening to the women and girls of Afghanistan creates not simply a moral imperative, but a growing threat to regional and even global peace, prosperity, and security.
Every Afghan, regardless of gender, geography, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, needs to see their fundamental rights respected and protected. For peace and prosperity everywhere – now more than ever – the administration, Congress, international policymakers, the media, and the private and philanthropic sectors each have a role to play.
“Only countries where all people are involved can be successful. When we look around the world and we see countries where half of the population is marginalized or left out, then we usually see countries that are failing.” – Mrs. Laura Bush, Global Women’s Network, 2015
AUAF Students Take Part in Conference Uniting Afghan Students Around the World
September 22, 2022
On August 22 and 23, students from the American University of Afghanistan, American University of Central Asia, American University of Beirut, Al Akhawayn University, Bard College Annandale, Bard College Berlin, and Central European University came together to connect with fellow Afghan students from across the world. The conference, held at the American University of Central Asia, was a time for students to discuss the ongoing challenges and find resources to support their ideas through creative problem-solving and peer support.
About 250+ Afghan students from the mentioned institutions gathered in a hybrid format, and 12 students presented their civic engagement projects that they are implementing to support students on their campuses or across the network, including those who remain in Afghanistan.
The Afghan Students Conference turned into a platform for students to coordinate cross-network activities to promote cooperation and ongoing connections.
Secretary Blinken launches the Alliance for Afghan Women’s Economic Resilience
September 22, 2022
Secretary of State Antony Blinken launched the Alliance for Afghan Women’s Economic Resilience (AWER) on September 20 on the margins of the UN General Assembly. AWER is a new public-private partnership between the Department of State and Boston University that aims to catalyze business, philanthropic, and civil society commitments to advance Afghan women’s entrepreneurship, employment, and educational opportunities in Afghanistan and third countries.
In his remarks, Secretary Blinken highlighted AWER’s first initiative, the Million Women Mentors Initiative for Afghan Women and Girls (MWMA), which aims to accelerate private sector and civil society commitments to mentor one million women and girls over the next five years. He noted Deloitte’s commitment to work with the Alliance’s first member Pod in mentoring 2,000 Afghan women under MWMA as an example of how AWER aims to foster economic opportunity for Afghan women and girls.
This announcement follows $1.5 million in additional Department of State funding for this effort, including funds from the Gender Equity and Equality Action Fund that supports the economic security of women and girls globally, to advance Afghan women’s access to business incubation and partnership with the private sector.
The launch event convened leaders from the private sector, civil society, the U.S. and foreign governments, and Afghan women entrepreneurs and business leaders. It featured a panel discussion on public-private opportunities to advance Afghan women’s economic security. Panelists included: Her Royal Highness Princess Sarah Zeid, Maternal and Child Health Advocate, Fereshteh Forough, CEO, Code to Inspire; Ayesha Hashem, Public Policy Manager, South Asia, Meta; Manizha Wafeq, Co-Founder, Afghanistan Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and Nell Todd, Managing Director, Deloitte Consulting LLP. Other event speakers included Katrina Fotovat, Senior Official in the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues, Rina Amiri, Special Envoy for Afghan Women, Girls, and Human Rights, and Thomas West, Special Representative for Afghanistan.
AWER creates a pathway to generate sustainable, market-driven solutions to Afghan women’s economic security and underscores the United States’ deep commitment to Afghan women and girls.
AUAF Faculty Spotlight | Amina Arif
September 1, 2022
Amina Arif is a part of the STM Division and teaches Biology at the American University of Afghanistan. With a passion for science, Amina specializes in Bioinformatics. Before joining AUAF, Amina worked in several private and international high schools and taught the Cambridge curriculum of Biology and Chemistry. Amina Arif has organized science and IT events at AUAF involving creative projects from Afghan students. Amina applauds the great potential and interest that AUAF students possess. She praises the efforts of AUAF for providing quality education and is pleased to have such an institute in the country that believes and delivers a standard education to the people of Afghanistan. She said “with a pleasant working environment, an excellent working team and a great support from division, I am incredibly optimistic about AUAF’s growth and my own growth here.”
Congressional Reception & Panel
August 5, 2022
On Thursday, July 28th, Representative Lois Frankel (FL-21) and Representative Michael Waltz (FL-06) participated in a Congressional panel to express their continued support for the American University of Afghanistan (AUAF) and update members of Congress on the progress AUAF has made since the U.S. drawdown in August 2021. AUAF President Ian Bickford, FAUAF Founder and Chairman Leslie Schweitzer and three remarkable AUAF alumni joined them in sharing why Afghanistan desperately needs the American University of Afghanistan to continue and grow. The alumni detailed how AUAF has impacted their own journeys and in turn how they now inspire Afghan families, friends, and community members in Afghanistan to pursue an education. The panel and audience explored AUAF’s far-reaching impact and untapped potential.
As we approach the one-year anniversary of the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban, we look to our students and alumni for hope. Our students risk everything for an AUAF education. They know their future and the future of Afghanistan depends on it. AUAF remains a beacon of hope for Afghans, especially women, who are desperate to continue their education at a world-class institution. The renewed urgency for this kind of education is why AUAF no longer requires students to pay tuition fees. Our mission remains strong to meet the growing challenges and needs of Afghanistan. Support for our enduring mission is just as important now, if not more so, than it was a year ago
