Hadisa
For as long as she can remember, Hadisa Wali has always had the top score among the students in her school.  She has even been recognized as “student of the year” by the Afghan Ministry of Education.  But, Hadisa’s contributions to Afghan society go far beyond the classroom.  She has spent her life trying to help people and learn from other cultures.

From 2006-2010, Hadisa served as a leader of youth groups for the Afghan Women’s Network, helping other young Afghan women.  She has also excelled in athletcis, winning several gold, silver and bronze medals from the Afghan Olympic Committee and FIFA as a member of the women’s Afghan National Football (soccer) Team.  Currently, Hadisa is in charge of the Women’s Football Committee of the Afghanistan Football Federation. She is an Afghan Scholar at the Woodstock School in India.

Nizam
Nizamuddin Rezahi currently attends the Woodstock School in India.  Born in Bamian, Nizam moved with his family to Baghlan and then Karachi, Pakistan to avoid the war and insecurity in Afghanistan.  His time in Pakistan was formative, as it was there that Nizam first “understood the importance of education.”

He returned to Kabul after the fall of the Taliban in 2001.  After the fall of Taliban’s regime, Nizamuddin returned to his homeland. He has attended Habibia High School and Hewad English Language Center. Now a graduate of Habibia, Nizam declined the opportunity to study at
Kabul University’s department of Law and Politics in order to attend Woodstock as an Afghan Scholar. Nizam’s diligence and background are good indicators of a bright future for this young man.

Naimat
Born in Pul-e-Khumri in Baghlan Province, Afghanistan, Naimat spent his early childhood flying and running kites with his friends and building stone forts by his hill top house. He says “II had the greatest time of my life – nothing to think about. I was happy that I got into school where I used to sit on the rocks in our class.”

He was only in his first grade when the Taliban attacked the city.  “Rockets were coming to the city and I used to hear explosions from around the city. I heard of the word Taliban from my father but didn’t know what did it mean. Until I saw them in my house when they searched our house.”

His family fled the city, and were forced to return by foot.  Naimat remembers carrying a teapot in one hand and a pot of ghee in the other.  Soon, his family fearing for their safety, fled to Kabul and eventually Peshawar, Pakistan.

In Peshawar, Naimat first learned English as he encountered many new languages and a new culture. Life away from Afghanistan was difficult, and his family returned to Kabul in 2001, after the fall of the Taliban.  The city he had seen just years before had been ruined by rocket fire.

After seeing Afghanistan ruined, Naimat resolved to take part in the rebuilding the country.  He says “his goal cannot be completed with out Education. Today I have the opportunity to have good education and build my country through education. Education can bring peace and prosperity in Afghanistan and also the entire world. Now I have the opportunity to study but trying to make opportunities to other students who have seen harder moments than me.” Naimat attends the Oregon Episcopal School.

Sharaf
Born in the northern province of Samangan, Sharaf faced hardship throughout his childhood.  His father died during the war and his family had to move several times to escape the Taliban.  First, they moved to Pul-e-Khumri, and then they fled to Pakistan.

In Pakistan, Sharaf worked after school to help pay the monthly fees for his and his sibiling’s English and math classes.  His mother found work. Things got better.  In 2006, his family returned to Kabul.

Sharaf’s experiences have shaped his dreams and ambitions. He says “He says, “thinking about my past: the problems my family faced, my parents’ desire to educate us, the problems in our society, I always conclude that I should study hard to become a good leader.  Then I can fulfill my parents’ desire. I can fulfill something that my parents dreamed together and my father could not live long enough to see his wishes come true. To fulfill something for which my mother has worked very hard. She accepted many difficulties but she did not leave us in darkness. I want to fulfill my small siblings’ dream and desires. It is my responsibility as the eldest son. I want to make my nation understand that one can live differently. I want to serve my nation and the world community; all these can come true through hard work and good education.” Sharaf attends the Hotchkiss School.