Afghan Scouts Durham

05/26/2026

Student shoutout! Mastura has spent this semester working with , a competitive public health fellowship developing research and advocacy initiatives health equity at .

This means she is working with professionals in her field, learning avenues of research, and advancing her opportunities. These are the roots of a successful education for students like her.

Thank you to the donors that make it possible for these students to use their time on amazing opportunities like this. Curious how you could help? Check out our website https://buff.ly/VHC1Dsk

05/19/2026

Opening doors to our students means giving them opportunities for hard work and creativity. Mahshid has been recognized within her department with the James Ayers Rising Star Award 2026. Congratulations Mahshid!

Supporting students like Mahshid gives us so much to celebrate- these young women and men are eager and determined with the opportunities in front of them.

Support from people like you means we can provide more education, transportation, and ways for these students to work hard and create a stable future for themselves despite the systems against them.

We're so excited Mahshid's vision and talent are being recognized!

05/05/2026

What does daily independence look like? Driving to and from school and work on your own time. Borrowing an old car from his host family means Alex can continue his journey to self sufficiency.

Getting to class shouldn’t be a what a student worries about. The 50 minute round trip doesn’t bother him, but as gas prices rise it is costly just to drive to school. How can we help? We’re funding for gas station gift cards to lighten his load as he focuses on classes.

04/28/2026

Remember our Questbridge Scholars? Last week, Tabby visited Swarthmore College for Admitted Students Day, and it was such a special experience. From exploring campus to meeting future classmates, every moment made the journey ahead feel even more real.

She left feeling inspired, grateful, and so excited for what’s to come. Her future is looking so bright!!!

04/21/2026

How are our students getting engaged? Just ask Mahshid. She holds 5 leadership roles across 4 programs, including work with the Yale school of medicine and her schools Biology lab department.

“These experiences allow me to stay actively engaged in service, education, and community support” she says. This is her building a present so she can form her future.

Afghan Scouts Durham encourages our students to stay engaged because we know this is connections are formed and passions are found. This is what the pathway to self sufficiency looks like.

04/15/2026

After a sleepless night of planning and worry, Emal has registered for all his airline technician classes. In this high-demand field, classes fill up fast. Congratulations to Emal as he builds his future.

03/24/2026

Check this out! Mahshid has joined The CRIW - The Collective for Refugee & Immigrant Women's Wellbeing as a Community CoDesign Facilitator on her journey through school. Congratulations Mahshid!

We’re thrilled to introduce Mahshid, our Dari-speaking Community CoDesign Facilitator. She is deeply committed to supporting Afghan women through culturally grounded, community-based care.
In collaboration with the Yale Program for Recovery and Community Health (PRCH), Mahshid will join other Pashto- and Dari-speaking Community Codesign Facilitators to help co-create spaces that center the well-being, voices, and lived experiences of Afghan women as part of our CoDesign project.

Mahshid was drawn to this work because of her passion for uplifting voices that are often overlooked. As she shares:
“I was drawn to CRIW’s mission of supporting refugee and immigrant women, especially the focus on mental health and community-centered care. As someone passionate about health equity, I value being part of work that amplifies voices that are often overlooked.”

Through this project, Mahshid hopes to foster trust, connection, and meaningful engagement:
“I hope to contribute empathy, strong communication, and a willingness to learn from the community. I also bring experience in outreach and education, and I’m excited to help create spaces where people feel heard and supported.”

Mahshid is currently a Biology (Pre-Med) major at the University of New Haven and plans to graduate in 2029. Outside of her work, she enjoys volunteering, working with students, and exploring creative writing, poetry, and movies—along with spending time in nature and connecting with her community.

03/23/2026

Fatima’s Eagle Scout Ceremony. She is the first Afghan Scout to be awarded the rank of Eagle Scout in world history.

Want to learn more? Read about her service project on our blogs.

03/18/2026

Celebrate this Women's History Month with us! Read up on what our girls have accomplished! Read more: https://wix.to/cDpwdwL

Women’s History Month is about celebrating women's strength, and for the girls of Afghan Scouts Durham, that strength comes from real experiences most people never have to face.When the Taliban took control, many of these girls were forced out of school overnight. They left behind their homes, the...

03/13/2026

FATIMA MAKES HISTORY! She is the first Afghan Scout ever to earn the rank of Eagle Scout in Scouting America.

Despite being a lifelong scout, she started from the bottom rank when she arrived in America and completed her Eagle Scout in less than 2 years.

Curious about her service project? Read here! https://www.afghanscoutsdurham.org/post/afghan-girl-scouts-a-history-in-our-own-words

03/13/2026

“Escaping Afghanistan was not a single moment. It was long, exhausting, and filled with uncertainty. I left behind my family, my whole life.” -Nora

Nora is building a new life and choosing to move forward. Now, she’s studying nursing to find stability again and share it with others.

Nora told us about moving forward in the US, read here:
https://www.afghanscoutsdurham.org/post/nora-s-path-finding-purpose-in-the-u-s