EAA with Support from the State of Qatar and Global Partners: Advancing Afghan Education at the AWER Summit
Education Above All Foundation (EAA), the State of Qatar, the U.S. State Department, and other partners yesterday highlighted their continued vision for impactful partnerships to support Afghan women, girls and students.
Qatar’s Minister of State for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Her Excellency, Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater emphasised the importance of empowering displaced persons in conflict zones, stating: "The State of Qatar is committed to promoting prosperity for the Afghan people and championing equal opportunities for both women and men. Despite the numerous challenges in Afghanistan, including the economic obstacles, Qatar is dedicated to overcoming barriers through collaborative partnerships. For instance, Qatar continues to work closely with international bodies and relevant stakeholders to ensure the protection and continuous support for displaced persons. These collaborative efforts focus on humanitarian relief, improving living standards, and providing educational opportunities in conflict zones."
Delivering a special address at the Alliance for Afghan Women’s Economic Resilience Summit in Washington D.C, Antony J. Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State, U.S. Department of State, expressed his support for continued partnership, stating:
“The United States is proud to be part of these and a number of other efforts. Over the last two years, we have grown the Alliance for Afghanistan Women’s Economic Resilience, recruiting more partners, developing additional programs. First, the alliance will provide virtual training and skills-building courses for Afghan women around the world so that they can get jobs and earn an income.
Mr. Fahad Al-Sulaiti, the CEO of the Education Above All Foundation, highlighted the vital role of education in empowering Afghan boys and girls, stating: "Education Above All Foundation is proud to support Afghan girls and boys through its Qatar Afghan Scholarship Project (QASP), successfully enrolling 250 Afghan refugee students, with an equal representation of girls and boys, in over 40 prestigious American colleges and universities including Rutgers University, Bard College, and the University of Texas at Austin for their higher education. We are enthusiastic about continuing our collaboration with partners to expand educational opportunities for students, focusing on empowering the most marginalized to achieve their full potential."
QASP is a partnership between EAA Foundation and The Afghan Future Fund (AFF), Schmidt Futures, the Yalda Hakim Foundation, the Qatar Fund For Development (QFFD), Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, and the Institute of International Education (IIE).
Two students in the programme, Yosuf Ayni and Shafiqa Mogul, said: “We view education as a significant tool for empowerment and progress. We’re grateful to our own host universities, Rutgers University New Brunswick and Indiana University Bloomington, and the other 38 institutions that have opened their doors to QSAP students. Now we want to see this opportunity extended to all students who cannot continue their education in their homeland. Not just for their benefit, but for everyone’s.”
For more information, please contact:
Mohamed Al-Amri
Senior Media Relations Specialist
Education Above All
Email: msalih@eaa.org.qa
Mobile: +974 5000 9960
Patience Rusare
Senior Media Specialist
Education Above All Foundation
Email: parusare@eaa.org.qa
Mobile: +974 5993 1560
