AFF celebrates a major milestone as 30 students from the Qatar Scholarship for Afghans Project (QSAP) — its flagship program — complete their degrees as part of the Class of 2025, this December.
From Bard College to the University of Kentucky, Northeastern University, St. Cloud State University, Clark University and many more institutions, these QSAP scholars are now graduating with the skills and knowledge to contribute to their communities and shape their professional paths around the world.
These graduates represent a wide range of fields, including computer science, engineering, business administration, economics, international studies, journalism, human rights, applied machine intelligence, environmental science and music.
For many of these alumni, the road back to the classroom was long. After losing access to education in 2021, they had to rebuild their lives in new countries, navigate unfamiliar systems and find their footing in entirely new communities.
“Being far from my family has been one of the greatest challenges of my life, and I carry their love and
support with me every day,” said Husna Ahmadi, a recent QSAP graduate.
“Throughout this journey, I have had the privilege of studying at one of the greatest schools in the U.S.,” she continued. “I made the Dean’s List every semester, found job opportunities aligned with my future goals, engaged in volunteer work, conducted research on immigrant experiences, and worked closely with refugee communities. These experiences have profoundly shaped both my personal and professional growth.”
Ahmadi added, “I am deeply grateful to everyone who made this path possible, especially QSAP, AFF, IIE and AUAF for their guidance, mentorship and unwavering support.”
She works at the Lexington Human Rights Commission as a Community Relations Coordinator and also serves as an interpreter for Kentucky Refugee Ministries.
Ahmadi is now applying to top U.S. universities to pursue a JD degree in law, a path that will allow her to advocate more effectively for immigrant and refugee communities and advance her commitment to human rights.
Ahmadi’s reflections mirror the experiences of many QSAP scholars who found resilience amid disruption — a feeling echoed by other members of the cohort. After years of uncertainty, several graduates describe this moment as both emotional and transformative.
“Graduation feels like a sunrise after a long, uncertain night,” said Farahnoush Yousofi, a new graduate from University of Kentucky in Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence, reflecting on the challenges she carried with her as she left home and learned to build a life on her own. “My academic journey was made possible by the generosity of a scholarship and a foundation that believed in my potential long before I believed in it myself.”
Yousofi believes QSAP’s support opened a door that changed the course of her life. “Through obstacles, homesickness, and moments of quiet resilience, I discovered strength I didn’t know I had. This milestone is more than a certificate; it is a reminder of the distance travelled, the dreams that survived, and the future I am now ready to step into with gratitude and hope.”
About QSAP
Launched in 2022, QSAP is a partnership between AFF, Education Above All Foundation (EAA), Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) and Institute of International Education (IIE). It remains the largest initiative of its kind, providing fully funded higher education opportunities to displaced Afghan students whose studies were disrupted. To date, more than 200 QSAP scholars have graduated; each one carrying forward the hopes of their families, their communities and a new generation of Afghan leaders.
QSAP Fall 2025 alumni:
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