- Afghan entrepreneur Mirwais Azizi has pledged to fully sponsor the education of 95 Afghan students at AUCA in Kyrgyzstan after their U.S. scholarships were withdrawn.
- Azizi signed a $500,000 support deal with AUCA, stepping in personally to prevent the students from losing their academic future.
- The move, widely praised online, comes amid shrinking international aid for Afghan students, highlighting the diaspora's vital role in sustaining hope.
Mirwais Azizi, a successful Afghan entrepreneur, has said that he will sponsor the education of 95 Afghan students at the American University of Central Asia (AUCA) in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Azizi wrote that the students had lost their scholarships when U.S. financial aid was cut, leaving them uncertain and at risk of being academically withdrawn.
When he heard about their condition, Azizi came from Dubai to Bishkek and signed a contract with AUCA to provide the students with full financial support so that they can pursue their studies.
As per Azizi, the estimated cost of subsidizing the 95 students' tuition and associated fees is approximately $500,000. This benevolent effort arrives at a time when numerous Afghan students overseas suffer tremendously with financial and political challenges because of the Taliban's leadership in Afghanistan.
AUCA, a highly respected academic institution in the region, has long hosted a significant number of Afghan students, many of whom previously received international scholarships that are no longer available.
Azizi’s support has received widespread praise on social media, where users have described his action as a powerful example of social responsibility and a commitment to empowering Afghanistan’s next generation.
In his blog, Azizi highlighted that the move is to ensure hope and opportunity for Afghan youth at a time of hardship. His effort comes at a time when most international agencies are reducing scholarship programs connected with Afghanistan.
Just as international support for Afghan schooling is decreasing, this act of a private benefactor shows how diaspora leaders can intervene to register a real difference. The action is being hailed as a source of hope for scores of students still searching for a way ahead.
