Support for Afghanistan’s Scholars & Students
In August 2021, SAR Europe coordinated an urgent appeal to European governments and EU institutions to take immediate action to secure the lives and careers of Afghanistan’s scholars, students, and civil society actors.
Fellowship Opportunities:
Global Campus for Human Rights scholarship programme for Afghan students and scholars at risk: https://gchumanrights.org/research/projects/afghan-scholarship-programme.html
Swedish support programme for researchers from Afghanistan: https://www.gu.se/en/news/researchers-from-afghanistan-receive-academic-sanctuaries-in-sweden
University of Essex, University of Sanctuary Scholarship for Afghan Refugees: The University of Sanctuary Scholarship is available to new undergraduate or postgraduate taught students taking up a place to study in 2021-22 or 2022-23, who are refugees from Afghanistan and have been granted UK Asylum status or Discretionary/Limited Leave to Remain as a result of an asylum application, and those with Humanitarian Protection, as result of an asylum application or through a dependents claim. https://www.essex.ac.uk/scholarships/university-of-sanctuary-scholarship-for-afghan-refugees
Texas International Education Consortium (TIEC), Professional Fellowship for Afghan Evacuees: This fellowship will support high-risk evacuees resettled or seeking resettlement in the United States. The TIEC Fellowship provides a strong start for professionals whose experiences in Afghanistan create the potential for high risk. Depending on the need, TIEC will contribute up to $25,000 per one-year fellowship as either a professional-in-resident or for study at one of the TIEC’s 35 Texas member universities. Deadline: Rolling
https://www.tiec.org/news/tiec-fellowshipforafghanevacuees
The São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP): This Call for Proposals is intended to assist research institutions in the state of São Paulo to receive researchers from countries involved in the conflict in war-affected countries. The grant should allow research institution to host researchers interested in conducting research in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The purpose of this Call is to promote collaboration between researchers for the development of research projects which are either already in progress or about to be started at the Host Institution. Deadline: August 30th, 2022
https://fapesp.br/15402/initiative-researchers-at-risk
Resources for students:
Hanns Seidel Scholarship Program: HSF’s flagship project Hanns Seidel Scholarship Program (HSSP): Support for Afghan Refugees in Pakistan aims to strengthen to regional stability in Pakistan-Afghanistan through extensive education: by providing long-term support to young, talented students from Afghanistan who are registered as refugees in Pakistan and enrolled in Pakistani universities. Deadline: Rolling
https://pakistan.hss.de/scholarships-1/hanns-seidel-scholarship-program/
Hilde Domin Students at Risk Programme: The programme serves to support students and doctoral candidates from across the globe, who are at risk of being formally or de facto denied educational or other rights in their country of origin, and to provide these students and doctoral candidates with an opportunity to begin or complete a study or research degree at a higher education institution in Germany. Deadline: March 16th – April 29th, 2022 / September 16th – October 28th, 2022
https://www.daad.de/en/study-and-research-in-germany/scholarships/hilde-domin-programm/
Columbia University Scholarship for Displaced Students: The Scholarship supports displaced students from anywhere in the world who are unable to complete their higher education. These students will receive up to full tuition, housing, and living assistance while pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees across all 19 Columbia schools and affiliates. Deadline: Rolling (dependent on Columbia schools and affiliates deadlines)
https://globalcenters.columbia.edu/CUSDS
European Resettlement Network’s University Student Resources: This page provides examples of student-led initiatives on education and refugees, including refugee mentoring projects, other education assistance programmes and campaigns aimed at expanding the educational opportunities for refugees.
https://www.resettlement.eu/page/university-students-supporting-refugees
UC Davis’s Article 26 Backpack: A tool to allow scholars and students to upload and secure copies of the academic and professional credentials.
https://human-rights.ucdavis.edu/news/afghanistan-emergency-resource-information
The Institute of International Education’s Platform for Education in Emergencies Response (IIE PEER): Database of educational opportunities and resources for displaced and refugee students.
Afghan Talent, powered by Talent Beyond Boundaries: an initiative to catalog the skills and work experience of Afghan evacuees in the USA to help facilitate local employment.
Visa and transit resources:
[US] Information on visas and pathways out of Afghanistan: Application for eligible Afghans under the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa program, the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, and other pathways for Afghans at risk
www.state.gov/afghanistan-inquiries/
[Canada, UK, US] International Catholic Migration Commission: Summary information on visas and pathways for those relocating to the Canada, the UK and the US.
[US] Human Rights First: Those seeking legal assistance in the United States (whether physically in the US or abroad) can complete this form to submit a request for pro bono support through HRF’s Project: Afghan Legal Assistance.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfWSOnuYHe_VUdWfNKk1dYfBT0KEBjjvDoyQ4F8kIRCvneJ_A/viewform
[US] Justice for Immigrants: Summary of visas and pathways to the United States for Afghan nationals.https://justiceforimmigrants.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/U.S.-Pathways-for-Afghan-Nationals.pdf
Digital security resources:
Access Now: Digital security tips
https://www.accessnow.org/online-safety-resources-afghanistan/
Human Rights First: Protecting digital privacy:
LinkedIn Safety Guidelines (in English, Pashto, and Dari):
https://www.scholarsatrisk.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Linkedin-Guidelines.pdf