Afghan Students & Scholars
Since the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban, the Consortium has worked to assist students and scholars by arranging placements at our member institutions and other colleges and universities when needed. We are proud that many of our members are offering full-tuition scholarships and living stipends for undergraduates, graduate students, and scholars. We are also extremely grateful for an unexpected and extremely generous gift we received from friends of the Consortium to support the education of Afghan young women in the US.
On August 9, 2022, the Consortium’s work to assist Afghan students and scholars was highlighted in the article, “She’s at Brown. Her Heart’s Still in Kabul” by Maddy Crowell published in the New York Times Magazine.
Updates and Recent Posts
Scholar articles, Consortium news, and updates regarding our work supporting Afghan students, scholars, and artists.
Resources for Afghan Students, Scholars, and Artists
A nonexhaustive list of various resources, organizations, and funds supporting Afghan students, scholars, and artists affected by the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan.
Afghan Girls Financial Assistance Fund
Afghan Girls Financial Assistance Fund is a charitable organization working to improve and enrich the lives of the Afghan people through education and impact projects.
Afghanistan Human Rights Coordination Mechanism
The mechanism seeks to assess the needs of Afghan human rights defenders and channel support to them, coordinate and share information among those responding to the crisis, and bring together Afghan and international voices to advocate for full respect for the human rights of all in Afghanistan.
Article 26 Backpack
Welcome to the Article 26 Backpack™ — The Universal Human Rights Tool for Academic Mobility
The Article 26 Backpack™ empowers young people to plan and structure their higher education, training and career pathways. With the Backpack, they can tell their stories of achievement, accomplishments, and ambition.
Artistic Freedom Initiative
Led by immigration and human rights attorneys, Artistic Freedom Initiative (AFI) facilitates pro bono immigration representation and resettlement assistance for international artists who are persecuted or censored.
AFI Afghan Artists Protection Project
AFI’s Afghan Artists Protection Project (AAPP) is a holistic resettlement initiative developed in response to the growing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan following the United States’ withdrawal in August 2021. The project aims to safely resettle Afghan artists and their families, who are increasingly threatened under Taliban rule, and allow them to preserve their livelihoods as artists in the United States and Europe.
Artists At-Risk Connection
Artists at Risk Connection (ARC) safeguards the right to artistic freedom of expression and ensures that artists and cultural professionals everywhere can live and work without fear. Our ultimate goal is to address the needs of artists at risk and the organizations that serve them.
Duolingo English Test Access Program
As part of Duolingo’s mission to lower barriers to education, the Duolingo English Test’s Access Program has distributed tens of thousands of test fee waivers to support low-income students.
Eagle Online Academy
Eagle Online Academy’s mission is to offer quality, flexible and online educational programs globally that are valuable both personally and professionally to women’s livelihood and entrepreneurship. Eagle Online Academy is looking to serve women globally, starting in Afghanistan.
Elena’s Light
Working to help build brighter futures for refugee women and children.
Higher Ed Immigration Portal
A new digital platform that integrates data, policies, and resources about DACA and undocumented, other immigrant, international, and refugee students to support immigration reform and federal policymaking, fuel change at the state and campus level, and build a diverse movement of partners and stakeholders advocating for these students.
IIE Emergency Student Fund
IIE’s Emergency Student Fund (ESF) provides grants to international college students in the U.S. when natural disasters, war, or other crises threaten their education.
At this time, the Emergency Student Fund is not accepting new nominations.
IIE PEER
Helping displaced and refugee students build a sustainable future through educational opportunities.
IIE Scholar Rescue Fund
The Institute of International Education’s Scholar Rescue Fund (IIE-SRF) is the only global program that arranges, funds, and supports fellowships for threatened and displaced scholars at partnering higher education institutions worldwide.
Massey College Afghan Women’s Fellowship Program
Started by Massey College at the University of Toronto, the Afghan Women’s Fellowship Program is a special non-resident Junior Fellow program for an elite group of outstanding female Afghan scholars who lost their access to education when the Taliban banned them from their universities. The goal of the program is to help this cohort successfully compete for graduate school admissions and scholarship opportunities at top tier academic institutions around the world.
Office of Refugee Resettlement Wellness Helpline
The Wellness Helpline for Afghans (800-615-6514) offers counseling services to those experiencing sadness, anger, anxiety, fear, depression, difficulty sleeping, or any other distress. This free service is offered in Dari, Pashto, and English.
Scholars at Risk: Resources for At-Risk Afghans
SAR is unable to assist students or others who are not professors, research scholars, or advocates/ leaders at a recognized civil society organization. We hope the external resources listed below may be useful sources of information for students and for those seeking pathways out of Afghanistan.
School of Leadership Afghanistan
The School of Leadership, Afghanistan (SOLA) is an Afghan-led boarding school for Afghan girls. We’re the first and only of our kind operating anywhere in the world.
UNHCR Scholarship Opportunities for Refugees
This platform helps you to find accredited higher education academic or scholarship programmes verified by UNHCR to allow you to pursue advanced study, skills and professional development.
Women for Afghan Women
Working with strategic partners and local stakeholders, Women for Afghan Women (WAW) provides humanitarian aid, logistics support, and protection and support services to vulnerable populations across Afghanistan, with a particular focus on Afghan women, children, and their families, in addition to internally displaced persons and refugee returnees.