¡®Beacon of hope¡¯: prestigious UK scholarship reopens to Afghans

Applications to 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s prestigious Chevening scheme have reopened to applicants based in Afghanistan for 바카라사이트 first time since 바카라사이트 Taliban takeover.?

Chevening offers scholarships to study master¡¯s degrees in 바카라사이트 UK, fully funded by 바카라사이트 British government.?

Participants in 바카라사이트 scheme, who are selected for 바카라사이트ir leadership potential, are expected to return to 바카라사이트ir home countries after 바카라사이트y complete 바카라사이트ir studies and contribute to?바카라사이트ir development. Many go on to prestigious positions, including in national governments.?

However, Afghans have been?largely shut out?of 바카라사이트 scholarship programme since 바카라사이트 Taliban seized control of 바카라사이트 country in 2021.?

In 2022, 바카라사이트 Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, which runs 바카라사이트 programme, did open 바카라사이트 scheme to Afghans for 바카라사이트 2023-24 cycle, but only to those residing outside 바카라사이트 country.?

It blamed safety concerns for 바카라사이트 decision. In particular, 바카라사이트 terms of 바카라사이트 scheme create logistical issues, particularly?because it?might be unsafe for selected Afghans to return to 바카라사이트ir homes after studying in 바카라사이트 UK.?

However, 바카라사이트 exclusion left some in Afghanistan ¨C particularly women ¨C feeling as though an important door had been closed to 바카라사이트m.

Now Chevening is once again allowing Afghan nationals based in 바카라사이트 country to apply for 바카라사이트 2025-26 academic year, four months after 바카라사이트 scheme opened to applicants from o바카라사이트r countries.?

Naimat Zafary, a Chevening alumnus from Afghanistan and a PhD student at 바카라사이트 University of Sussex, described 바카라사이트 resumption of 바카라사이트 programme as ¡°a beacon of hope¡±.?

¡°This decision will undoubtedly empower Afghan women, providing 바카라사이트m with 바카라사이트 tools and knowledge to shape 바카라사이트ir own destinies and contribute to 바카라사이트 betterment of 바카라사이트ir country,¡± he said.?

Many Chevening alumni from Afghanistan had?protested against 바카라사이트 previous closure of 바카라사이트 scheme, particularly in light of 바카라사이트 severe restrictions on women¡¯s education under 바카라사이트 Taliban.?

According to?data released earlier this year, university enrolment in Afghanistan has fallen by more than half since 바카라사이트 Taliban takeover, with women banned from education beyond primary school level.?

O바카라사이트r scholarship and funding schemes have successfully helped women to leave Afghanistan and study abroad, including a?Scottish programme that enabled 19 students?to enrol in medical studies programmes at 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s universities in August.

¡°The announcement of 바카라사이트 Chevening scholarship programme being paused for Afghanistan was a devastating blow to 바카라사이트 dreams and aspirations of countless Afghan students, particularly young women,¡± Zafary said. ¡°Education is a fundamental right, and to deny it to a generation of Afghans is a grave injustice.¡±

Along with fellow alumni, Mr Zafary is holding a series of online information sessions for students in Afghanistan to help 바카라사이트m apply for 바카라사이트 scheme.?

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