A true embodiment of determination and perseverance

— The flame of knowledge continues to burn

By Gul Naaz

(Special Correspondent)

A large number of Afghan students residing in Pakistan are striving for higher education, including courageous young women like Nadia. Born in Peshawar, 24-year-old Nadia is a medical student and a true embodiment of resilience and determination. Her dream is to become a doctor and dedicate her life to serving humanity. For the past two years, she has been a hopeful applicant for the DAFI scholarship, and although she has not been selected, her determination has never faltered and she continues her education.

Driven by a thirst for knowledge, Nadia is writing her own extraordinary story. Confronting a hell of challenges head-on, she works tirelessly to quench her academic thirst. She puts her personal needs aside and finances her education by sewing clothes and borrowing from relatives or neighbors. Her courage is truly admirable. Nadia often walks to her university due to lack of money for transportation.

Her father, Sher Alam, suffers from heart disease but still drives a rickshaw to support the family.

“Since childhood, I’ve dreamed of becoming a doctor who can serve as a lasting example for others. When I learned about the DAFI scholarship, I was overjoyed. I submitted my application for it, but sadly, I wasn’t selected,” she said.

“I had pinned all my hopes on the DAFI scholarship, but fate had other plans. Still, I resolved that whether or not I receive the scholarship, I will become a doctor through my own dedication and hard work.”

She knew that her parents couldn’t afford the cost of her education, but giving up was never an option for her. She explained that financial struggles often push her into deep despair and tempt her to quit, but she never lets go of hope.

“After passing my 10th-grade exams, I realized my parents couldn’t afford further education, but my passion for learning wouldn’t let me rest. I kept trying and, finally, after losing several years, I secured admission into a medical program at a reputable institution.”

“I know my father can’t bear my education expenses. That’s why I appeal for the continuation of programs like the DAFI scholarship — so that girls who suffer from poverty but are passionate about education can fulfill their dreams.”

Life of hundreds of Afghan students illuminated through DAFI Scholarship

The DAFI Scholarship Program, funded by the German government and run in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Inspire Pakistan, has been offering financial assistance to Afghan students for higher education since 2008. It has illuminated the lives of hundreds of Afghan students with the light of knowledge. However, according to scholarship applicants and UNHCR sources, the program has been suspended in Pakistan for the past two years due to unstable conditions — although there is hope for its revival in the near future.

Mohammad Rauf, 28, from Hangu district, is another determined and hardworking Afghan youth who kept his focus on education and a brighter future despite extremely difficult circumstances — and eventually achieved success. He is the first person in his village to attend university.

In 1979, due to worsening security conditions in Afghanistan, his family migrated from Khost province to Pakistan and settled in Hangu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He received his early education in the village school. In 2015, he enrolled in the BS Computer Science program at Bacha Khan University in Charsadda. After several unsuccessful attempts, he was finally selected for the DAFI scholarship in his fifth semester.

According to Rauf, once he received the scholarship, he focused entirely on his studies and completed his degree in 2019. In 2020, DAFI–Inspire Pakistan announced a six-month digital marketing internship for Afghan students, and he was selected for it. “The DAFI scholarship gave me the opportunity to focus on my education wholeheartedly. I was able to complete my studies because of it. Now, I want to serve my people in practical life and use my skills for the betterment of my country’s future,” he said.