21 August 2024
We’re delighted that 19 female Afghan medical students barred by the Taliban from university have arrived in Scotland to continue their medical studies.
We began a campaign three years ago to bring the students to study in Scotland, and reached an agreement with Scotland’s medical schools to offer them places. The students were among more than 100 being sponsored by the Foundation to study medicine in Afghanistan.
After women were banned from higher education, not only were the students confined to their home and deprived of the chance of a medical career, many feared their lives were in danger and lived in fear of the Taliban.
Widespread support
Our campaign has involved trying to break through red tape among the added pressure on the government of the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. But we have had tremendous backing from our supporters, including many politicians from all four main political parties, and from the office of the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Scottish Government.
In February we were told by the Scottish Government that student funding regulations could be amended, allowing these Afghan women to be treated as home students, meaning they are eligible for free tuition. This proved to be the turning point.
It was a great effort of cooperation between the UK and Scottish governments.
Clearing hurdles
Since then, we and the students have worked to clear many hurdles for them to travel to Scotland: TB tests, English tests, university interviews via Skype, negotiating the border travel to Pakistan to apply for UK visas, Pakistani visas, biometrics, accommodation, student funding applications, student accommodation applications, bank accounts…the list goes on.
The Linda Norgrove Foundation has paid all the costs of getting the students to the UK and to help establish them, amounting to £60,000 and rising. It has been a significant operation for a small charity with only one employee.
In their own words
Among the students who will be studying in Scotland are Fariba Asifi, Omulbanin Sultani, Arifa Wahdat and Zahra Hussaini.
Omulbanin, 21, who will be going to St Andrews, studied for two years at Kateb University in Kabul before she was banned. She said the past three years had been “the most challenging years for me, my friends and all women in Afghanistan”.
We endured 1,000 days of suffering to reach this point, 1,000 days of being confined to our homes, 1,000 days of having our voices silenced. One thousand days with nothing but tears and sorrow, 1,000 days of our lives wasting away.
When we heard about the visa approval, we were so excited I felt like I was flying. We are going from hell to paradise. – Omulbanin
Fariba was inspired to become a doctor after both her mother and brother became ill and could not be treated in Afghanistan. She was in the final stage of her medical studies in Kabul when the Taliban banned most women’s education.
Having taken part in a women’s demonstration she was being hunted by the Taliban, who visited her home and threatened her so she had to move several times. She was scared and isolated and became depressed.
These days I feel like God has granted me a miracle in life, and I am soaring towards my goals and dreams, smiling and happy every second. – Fariba
Arifa, 25, who hopes to qualify as a gynaecologist, has enrolled at the University of Dundee, where she also hopes to join the volleyball team. It’s her first experience in a new country and she said it’s normal that she feels a little nervous.
But I know that it’s a beautiful country with beautiful people and finally I will feel free there. – Arifa
Zahra 19, will be studying medicine at Glasgow University. She has wanted to become a doctor since she was at school, and had been studying English in preparation for a medical career.
I have been working on my English and thankfully all my hard work has been useful, now I am here.
Many people helped us and we are thankful of them, with our studies we hope we will prove we deserved to be given this amazing opportunity. – Zahra
Heartfelt thanks
John Norgrove said: “We’re all delighted to have finally succeeded after so much frustration. Finally, these 19 incredibly talented young women get their future back with the opportunity of a tremendous education and a career. The alternative for them in Afghanistan wasn’t good.
“Our heartfelt thanks go to all of our supporters, the politicians, civil servants and university staff who have made this possible. It’s been particularly heartening at a time of such division to see the UK and Scottish governments working together to achieve such a positive outcome for these women.”
Determination
Kirsty McNeil, Under Secretary of State for Scotland, said: “It’s fantastic news that this group of women have arrived in Scotland. We wholeheartedly welcome them and wish them every success as they head off to their respective universities to restart their medical studies.
“The determination of the Linda Norgrove Foundation to bring these women to Scotland to complete their degrees has been unwavering. Seeing them finally arrive safely here marks the culmination of months of co-operation between the charity and the Scottish and UK governments. I’m very pleased that, by working together, we have been able to bring them to Scotland.”
Proud history
Scotland’s Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said that gender should not be a barrier to accessing education.
“The changes we made to the legislation will ensure they can access the same benefits as their peers, including free tuition and student support. Scotland has a proud history of welcoming people from across the world who need support.
“I wish each and every one of these inspiring women the warmest of welcomes to Scotland and look forward to the positive contribution they will make to our country.”