Shabana Basij-Rasikh, an advocate for girls’ education in Afghanistan and co-founder of the School of Leadership Afghanistan (SOLA), has announced a $2.5 million scholarship fund for Afghan women to study at the University of Oxford.
On Saturday, October 10, Basij-Rasikh wrote on X that the scholarship was established in partnership with the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust and will enable at least one Afghan woman to pursue a master’s degree each year.
According to Basij-Rasikh, the scholarship is called the Afghan Women Leaders Fund and covers all tuition fees for an eligible master’s degree program.
Recipients will also receive an annual stipend to cover food, accommodation and some other student expenses.
They will also participate in an extensive leadership development program organized by the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust.
Basij-Rasikh said she is herself a graduate of the trust’s scholarship and leadership program at the University of Oxford. She added that the funding was established in recognition of the resilience and courage of Afghan women.
The scholarship is intended for students who will begin their studies at the University of Oxford in September 2027.
