From Scholarship to Civic Leadership: Qatar Connection Fellows Meet in New York
The fellowship started with an idea in November 2024: to bring Afghan students across the United States together, support their leadership, and give them opportunities to create projects that make a difference in their communities. The program was developed through the Bard College Center for Civic Engagement with support from Education Above All (EAA) and in partnership with the Qatar Scholarship for Afghan Students Program (QSAP), Institute of International Education (IIE), and Qatar Connection Network.
Over the 2025–2026 fellowship year, 37 Afghan fellows took part in a year-long program of workshops, mentorship, leadership training, and project development. Fellows participated in 11 monthly fellowship meetings and 11 civic engagement workshops delivered through the fellowship and the Global Engagement Fellows program. They also took part in five professional development workshops delivered with QatarDebate, Aspire Academy, Education Above All, and Bard CCE. These sessions covered topics such as leadership, communication, advocacy, personal branding, negotiation, resilience, project planning, and how to turn ideas into meaningful community action.
The fellowship also created opportunities for students to learn from one another across cultures. More than 100 Education Above All-supported Palestinian students from Birzeit University participated in shared programming, while hundreds of students took part in related student leadership conferences and activities throughout the year.
The fellows developed more than 25 civic engagement projects focused on issues including education and youth empowerment, women’s leadership, mental health, digital literacy, environmental sustainability, human rights and civic participation, financial literacy, cultural preservation, storytelling, and community connection.
The New York conference was an opportunity for students to present 22 of these projects, meet with partners and supporters, and learn from each other. Students traveled from across the country to share the work they had been doing in their communities.
The conference showed something very important: when young people are given the opportunity, support, and platform to lead, they can do much more than overcome difficult circumstances. They can create, organize, serve, and support others.
Many of these students have had to rebuild their lives in a new country while continuing their education. Through this fellowship, they showed that their experiences are not only part of their story, they can also become a source of ideas, leadership, and positive change.
“Having been part of the effort to support the evacuation of many of these students from Afghanistan to safety, it is incredibly meaningful to now see them thriving as leaders and creating positive change in their communities,” said Zarlasht Sarmast, Program Coordinator and Manager of the Qatar Connection Civic Engagement Fellowship. “Many of our fellows have transformed experiences of displacement and uncertainty into a commitment to service, launching projects that strengthen their campuses and support vulnerable communities. This conference is a celebration not only of what they have accomplished over the past year, but also of the resilience, leadership, and hope they represent for the future.”
For many fellows, the program provided practical support to turn ideas into real projects.“At Education Above All, we see a scholarship as the beginning of a wider journey. Through Qatar Connection, students turn education into leadership and create meaningful change in their communities." — Hani Shehada, Regional Manager at Education Above All Foundation
“It was such an honor to witness our Afghan fellows refuse to let disruption be the end of their story. Through this fellowship and conference, they turned their experiences into action, developing civic engagement projects that spoke directly to the needs of their communities. I have been honored to witness their growth, their courage, and their leadership, and help connect them with Palestinian students, creating a space where two communities with disrupted educational journeys could find connection, solidarity, and strength in one another.” — Shadin Nassar, Project Team Member
For others, the fellowship created the space and support needed to turn a long-held idea into something real:“The QSAP Civic Engagement Fellowship was instrumental in shaping my ‘Brothers Beyond Borders’ project, giving me both the inspiration and the practical tools to turn an idea into meaningful action on campus. Through its workshops, I gained the skills and confidence to build a project that is already fostering connection, dialogue, and tangible impact within our community.”
— Sayed Anwar Ibrahimi, fellowship participant and volunteer, Rutgers University
As the fellowship moves forward, the goal is to build a strong alumni network, continue supporting student-led projects, and create more opportunities for young people to connect and lead. There is also a vision to expand the fellowship and reach students from other communities facing similar challenges.“This fellowship enabled me to turn a long-held vision into a tangible opportunity that meaningfully contributes knowledge and impact to the community.” — Shahdukht Tapesh, fellowship participant, SUNY Binghamton University
The numbers tell part of the story: 37 fellows, 25+ student-led projects, 22 projects presented in New York, 11 fellowship meetings, 11 civic engagement workshops, five professional development workshops, and hundreds of students reached through related programs. But perhaps the most important outcome is the community that has been created, a group of young people who are supporting one another and using their education, experiences, and ideas to make a difference.
The Qatar Connection Civic Engagement Fellowship was made possible through the support of Education Above All, Qatar Connection, QSAP, the Institute of International Education, Bard College Center for Civic Engagement, and the many students, volunteers, mentors, and partners who helped make the program possible.
Post Date: 08-17-2026