Afghan Future Fund

06/15/2026

When Sharifullah Abed arrived in Maine, he felt lonely, homesick, and far from the community he had always known.
Less than two years later, he received the University of Maine's Student Leadership Award for helping other students find the same sense of belonging he once struggled to find himself. 🏆
🔗 Read his story: https://afghanfuturefund.org/article/qsap-scholar-sharifullah-abed-earns-leadership-award-at-the-university-of-maine/
Education Above All Foundation Institute of International Education (IIE)

When Abed arrived at the University of Maine (UMaine) from Nangarhar, Afghanistan, he found himself far from the close-knit communities he had known growing up. In Afghanistan, family, friends and neighbors were deeply connected. In Maine, it took him a while to see a familiar face or meet another A...

06/02/2026

🎓 Zahra Farahmand, a QSAP scholar, graduated this spring from the University of Maine with a degree in Ecology and Environmental Science.
“I have grown both personally and academically. The challenges of adjusting to a new life and finding my community made me more resilient, while internships and lab work gave me valuable hands-on experience. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to graduate from a university in the United States and am grateful to everyone who made it possible.”
“My dream is to see women in Afghanistan have the same opportunities as men.”

05/27/2026

"The only country where girls' education is banned, beyond sixth grade.
But yet, here I am. An Afghan girl, a mechanical engineer and a proud Sacramento State graduate."
"To me, this is proof that talent is everywhere, potential is everywhere, dreams are everywhere, but what is not equal is opportunity."

05/26/2026

🎓 WE’RE GRADUATING! 🎉
From Afghanistan to campuses across the U.S., 39 QSAP students graduated this spring with their bachelor’s and master’s degrees!
So proud of this journey and everyone who helped make it possible. Institute of International Education (IIE) Education Above All Foundation

05/20/2026

🎓 3 days to graduation!
Read from Reza Afzali, QSAP scholar, graduating in Economics from Bard College:
“I am incredibly grateful and proud to have had the opportunity to see the world differently through the lens of spending my four years of college at Bard. This journey has been incredible in many ways, helping me understand who I am and what I love to do. It opened my eyes to see the world critically, to learn from every failure and setback, to face challenges with confidence, and to pursue what I really want in my life. Along the way, it taught me to reflect on my life and the lives of others back home, identifying differences while keeping the values my parents taught me growing up."

05/14/2026

Somaya Faruqi, former captain of the Team, is graduating as a QSAP scholar from California State University, Sacramento, with the highest honors.
She was named the Outstanding Student of Engineering, received the Dean’s Award, and the university’s highest recognition — the President’s Award.
Somaya carries the hopes of many Afghan girls who are still fighting for their right to learn.
🔗 Read more about her: https://afghanfuturefund.org/article/former-captain-of-afghan-girls-robotics-team-graduates-as-qsap-scholar-with-top-honors/
Institute of International Education (IIE) Education Above All Foundation

Somaya Faruqi’s journey began in Herat, Afghanistan, where she developed an early interest in engineering by working alongside her father in his old mechanical shop in the neighborhood. Surrounded by tools and machines, she was introduced to the basics of building and problem-solving at a young ag...

05/12/2026

Caps on, degrees in hand 🎓 Big moment for QSAP this spring!
39 Afghan students are graduating from 15 universities across the United States — bringing nearly 90% of the first cohort to completion.
Around 250 QSAP students have graduated so far, and most are already building their careers.
Thanks to our partners for making this possible! Institute of International Education (IIE) Education Above All Foundation
🔗 Meet the graduates

Afghan Future Fund (AFF) marks a major milestone as this spring’s graduates bring nearly 90% of the first cohort of Qatar Scholarship for Afghans Project (QSAP) students to completion.

05/06/2026

From a classroom in Kabul to managing multimillion-dollar budgets at a U.S. university!
In our latest QSAP Alumni Story Series, Abed Ebady looks back on where he started and how he found his way into the work he does today.
🔗 Full story: https://afghanfuturefund.org/article/qsap-alumni-story-series-from-kabul-classroom-to-managing-multimillion-dollar-budgets-at-a-u-s-university/

Abed Ebady still remembers studying in Kabul, Afghanistan, as if it were yesterday, trying to understand how systems work and how they fail. Today, he works inside one, helping manage multimillion-dollar budgets at the College of Humanities & Social Science (CHSS) of George Mason University. That sh...

05/04/2026

Rukhsar, an Afghan girl, dreamed about studying at Oxford in 8th grade, and now she is graduating from Columbia with a second master's degree. 🎓
We’re proud to see a alumna reaching this milestone, while continuing to speak up for Afghan girls who are still denied the same chance.