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In memory of Linda Norgrove

Sponsoring medical students

Help change a young woman’s life by sponsoring her through medical school

There is a shortage of women doctors in Afghanistan but a large number of girls who want to study medicine. We have expanded our programme of scholarships for medical students and have so far funded tuition fees for more than 30 students – but we want to support many more.

If you would like to sponsor a woman through medical school, please get in touch. Tuition fees are around £1,200 a year for a 5 year course and every penny goes to the student.

By sponsoring a medical student, you will make a lasting difference to an individual woman’s life and to the future of Afghanistan.

Below are some of the current medical students and their stories.

Bahania’s story

Bahina’s father was a doctor, but during the civil war he was brutally killed while she was still a young child. Since then her family has
been supported by her uncle with 14 people getting by on £150 a month.

She attended one of the top high schools in rural Badakhshan province and has been an outstanding student, regularly coming top of her year. In her final year she obtained 100% in all 16 examinations and how she didn’t win a government scholarship is a mystery. Thanks to your donations she now has guaranteed LNF support until she completes her studies.

Tabasum’s story

Tabasum comes from a rural area of remote Takhar province in the north of Afghanistan. Her father supports a household of 14 on an income of £138 a month. He moved his family to the provincial capital so that the children could attend better schools.

Tabasum was the top student of her year and hoped to gain a government scholarship to study medicine by means of the national
competitive ‘Kankoor’ examination. The six hour exam was outside in  temperatures of more than 38 degrees and she developed a splitting headache. Her mark was good but not good enough for medicine.

She wasn’t prepared to compromise and study another subject, so started sewing bags and teaching neighbours’ children in a vain attempt to save enough to attend a private university. Now she says: “Your scholarship to me will help me to achieve my goals and dreams. Undebatable, you will have made great contribution in my future success, and I am sure I will make you proud.”

Tahira’s story

Tahira was studying medicine in provincial capital Mazar e Sharif in the north when her father, the breadwinner for a family of 12, became seriously ill.

As Tahira said in her application, “I want to be a doctor and help others because I know how hard it is to have someone you love become sick, see them dying but not have the money for treatment.”

Before the scholarship award Tahira’s father was in hospital in Kabul and there was no prospect of her completing her studies without a food provider for the family. Her father is so pleased.