AUAF is a beacon of hope for Afghanistan Wednesday, 16 June 2010 04:58

Last Thursday evening, I was graciously welcomed to a benefit dinner honouring former First Lady Mrs Laura W Bush for her support and contribution to the American University of Afghanistan (AUAF), held in Washington, D.C.’s National Museum of Women in the Arts. More specifically, the dinner was a tribute to Mrs Bush’s generous contribution to the university’s new campus in Kabul, the aptly named Laura W Bush Women’s Resource Center, soon to be a keystone for women’s issues, rights, and development in the country. The benefit’s distinguished guests include Said T Jawad, Afghanistan’s Ambassador to the US, Dr Michael Smith, President of AUAF, promising graduates and current students of the university. The dynamic assortment of guests is unified as they are all fellow philanthropists and generous contributors to the university’s development. Ann Curry, NBC news anchor delivered a warm opening speech, paving way for Mrs. Bush, who described her conviction in higher education as a foundation for political, economic, and social stability and equality.

Prior to the dinner, regretfully, my knowledge of AUAF was limited despite that my Alma Mater is another regional AU campus. AUAF is Afghanistan’s first and only private, not-for-profit, co-educational institute of higher learning. The concept of the university was first introduced by Mrs. Bush in 2002, and four years later, the university received its first batch of undergraduate students, and recently graduated 85% of its student body. Currently, the university is educating over 500 students, which it hopes will quadruple over the next five years.

Unlike its regional AU counterparts, AUAF faces significant challenges. Amongst the most obvious are security issues, which are arguably heightened far beyond those of its sister campuses, even in politically volatile regions such as Beirut. Considering that for the past three decades Afghanistan has persistently been in war, it is remarkable that AUAF is successfully running, graduating students, amidst such political turmoil and social strife. What is more, while home to a rich culture and legendary history, decades of war have left Afghanistan with an impoverished nation, barely earning $2 per day according to official 2009 figures. Thanks to AUAF’s generous benefactors, the university is able to provide financial assistance to several diligent students, providing access to the necessary tools for improving their society.

Further, it is fascinating that AUAF is hosting a co-educational institution in a country where just last year, international reports revealed photos of young schoolgirls who were targeted by vicious assailants. Following accounts within the New York Times of posters in mosques warning, “don’t let your daughters go to school”, innocent, young, fresh-faced school girls were attacked by men on motorcycles, who viciously disfigured the girls’ faces with acid contained in squirt guns and jars.

If anything, AUAF’s students heroically personify the resilience of the Afghani people. One may even conclude that the students, with their effervescence, breathe hope, optimism, and life back into their conflict-ridden country. Four of AUAF’s current students and graduates, two men and two women, took to the stage to share their stories. Perhaps most inspiring is Masooma Habibi, a soft-spoken young graduate of Goldman Sach’s 10,000 Women program at AUAF. At the ripe age of 20, Habibi founded an internet entrepreneurship in Kabul, and currently employs 22 Afghans. Habibi’s 22 employees represent the enhanced welfare of 22 different families. Habibi and her classmates’ are testimonies for the remarkable potential unleashed from high-quality education.

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