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Afghan
student
studying at UM
A
young woman from Afghanistan arrived in Missoula Aug. 27
to begin her studies at UM-Missoula on a full scholarship.
Sousan
Rahimi, 24, from Kabul, is among six young Afghan women
offered the opportunity to study at U.S. universities after
a competitive application process.
She
was accompanied to Missoula by Paula Nirschel, wife of the
president of Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I.
Nirschel came up with the idea to provide the gift of education
to Afghan women returning to school for the first time since
Taliban rule ended.
In
light of the degradation and isolation of women during the
former regime, Nirschel thought it fitting to offer full
scholarships to Afghan women. Armed with an American education,
the women will return home after graduating to share their
knowledge and skills.
After
her husband, RWU President Roy J. Nirschel, made an appeal
to American college and university presidents, UM was among
four institutions to meet the challenge. The University
will provide a full scholarship covering tuition, fees,
room and board for the duration of Rahimi's studies here.
The UM Bookstore has provided a scholarship to cover her
books and supplies, and a UM Foundation account has been
established for her personal expenses.
"We
were in a very hard situation (under the Taliban),"
Rahimi said. "All women were at home with no school
or university. I'm very happy to be here in Montana. It
was my dream to be in the United States."
Formerly
a freshman at Kabul University, Rahimi plans to study English
literature at UM. Her father is an English translator for
Afghanistan's Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Her mother
teaches English.
Besides
UM and RWU, other institutions participating in the program's
pilot are Notre Dame College in Ohio, the University of
Hartford in Connecticut and the University of Southern Oregon.
"The
University of Montana is honored to be participating in
this scholarship program to assist young Afghan women in
furthering their education," said UM Vice President
for Student Affairs Barbara Hollmann, who arranged Rahimi's
studies here. "We're excited to have an Afghan woman
on campus sharing her experiences with us. We hope that
more colleges and universities in the United States will
join in the program."
Hollmann
said UM's Effie Koehn, director of Foreign Student and Scholar
Services, and Juana Alcala, assistant director of Admissions
and New Student Services, were instrumental in preparing
the paperwork and cutting through the red tape to bring
Rahimi to campus.
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