Your share could raise $30
Before you go, did you know that simply by sharing this campaign, you could help it raise $30? It's an effective way to support the cause.
No thanks- Pin it
- SubscribeUnsubscribe
- Embed
- Report
World Hazara Council USA hasn't added a story.
Esmat Roshangar, a young Hazara Afghan evacuated to Brazil, has been accepted to the American University of Paris (AUP) for his undergraduate studies! AUP has provided a generous financial aid package, but there is still a tuition shortfall of $10,784 per year and a need for funding or in-kind support for housing so that Esmat can live safely in Paris and maintain a high GPA to retain his scholarships.
Caption: Esmat leading a session on youth in leadership and decision-making during a youth empowerment program | July 21, 2021.
The Ask: Any amount will help, but here are a few suggested donation levels:
- $20 will cover a meal
- $50 will cover a textbook
- $75 will cover a month of Esmat's monthly transportation costs (Navigo pass)
- $1000 will cover Esmat's flight from Brazil to Paris or a month of living expenses.
- $5392 = One semester of tuition and fees
The World Hazara Council-USA is generously letting us use their platform to fundraise for Esmat, so 5% of all donations will be set aside for them to support other Hazara who are still in need.
Esmat's Story in his words:
“Growing up in a small village in Afghanistan, I experienced the hardship of war and ethnic persecution. I educated myself with the dream of becoming an advocate for peace, gender, and ethnic equality. I have gone from being a shepherd tending sheep to becoming a leader and a peace and human rights defender.
My dream for peace, freedom, and equality in Afghanistan is deeply personal. I am a victim of violence, part of an ethnic and religious minority which has been persecuted in Afghanistan for decades: Hazara Shia Muslim. I grew up in Ghor, the poorest state in Afghanistan, in a remote village with few resources and low levels of education. I couldn’t start my education until the age of ten when I was old enough to make the three-hour, round-trip trek to school on foot, while also tending to my family’s sheep. Each morning I woke up early to help my mother milk the sheep before going to school. After school I returned to the mountains to take care of my family’s herd, and this is where I studied.
When I was a teenager, we moved to the city of Herat. For the first year, I lived with my aunt so that I could prepare for school and adapt to an urban lifestyle. I had finished Grades 1 and 2 in my village, and had only the basics of reading and writing plus some basic mathematical skills. My cousins assisted me with my studies and taught me the basics of English. I started school from Grade 3 and was ranked top of my class for academics by the end of the year. In addition to my regular studies, I participated in various exchange and educational programs both within Afghanistan and abroad, funded and designed by the U.S. Government. The programs provided me with a foundation in leadership, peacebuilding, and human rights, as well as English language skills. I gained the skills I needed to help me contribute to the social advancement in my community.
While still in high school, I founded The Young Advocates, a youth activist group working to build peace, protect human rights, and promote equality in Afghanistan. We empowered Afghan girls by developing an athletic program—volleyball, running, bike-riding, and hiking, which ran for five years. We created a volleyball team starting with seven girls, which grew to more than 30 athletes. Four of these girls were part of the national team and contributed to reaching our goals by bringing their friends into sports. We were forced to shut down all of these programs when the Taliban came into power. My success on these projects made me an important target of the Taliban. I fled to Kabul, and a few days later, my family’s house was attacked by the Taliban. I escaped to Pakistan legally and then gained temporary residence in Brazil in February 2022.
Caption: A Safehouse that Esmat lived in while hiding from the Taliban in Kabul.
My short-term goal is to study International and Comparative Politics at AUP, to enhance my knowledge and skills to continue to build on my work in this area. My personal, professional, and educational experiences and my international exchanges have prepared me to study in this field.
My long-term goal is to continue my work and advocate alongside international organizations to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan, and to work for the betterment of disadvantaged people, especially girls, women, youth and minorities around the world.
Growing up in a village, being threatened for my work for justice, going into hiding, and managing my life alone as a refugee have shown me that I am resilient and independent. I look to AUP to enable me to pursue my advocacy work, and to become a part of my journey.”
Caption: Esmat giving a speech about the role of sports for promoting peace, reconciliation and gender equality | July 5, 2019.
We are so excited that Esmat has this opportunity to continue his studies and to move forward with his life after the Taliban tried to silence him, but this can only happen with support from our global community. Thank you for sharing Esmat's story! We hope to send him to Paris for the next four years so he can get his Bachelor's degree and also continue the important human rights and gender equality advocacy he began in his home country.
Caption: Esmat talking to the girls cycling team about gender equality in sports and the importance of their participation in sports | April 10, 2020.
Highlights
See all activity37Updates
Activity
The mission of World Hazara Council USA is to provide advocacy and humanitarian assistance to at-risk Hazara and at-risk marginalized populations in their time of need, both in the United States and globally.
We strive to be a resource to defend human rights and every person's freedom to live.
Our goals are to empower people at risk by amplifying their voices; to mobilize against attacks on marginalized populations; to provide monetary assistance, when needed, to keep those people safe from harm; and to develop and implement programs that empower and improve the quality of life of marginalized populations in need.
World Hazara Council USA Inc. is a Not-for-profit corporation in New York State & a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. EIN 92-0889582
Delete media item?
Delete this item from the media gallery? It will also be deleted from any related story update.
Set as ?
The campaign video will appear in social media and email.
The campaign cover picture will appear in social media and email.
The will appear at the top of your campaign page and in social media and email.
Reset ?
It will be removed from the top of your campaign and won't be used as default in social media and email. The will remain in the media gallery.
Embed
Share a link
Delete update
Delete this story update?
Any pictures or videos will remain in the campaign's media gallery.
Report campaign
Report submitted
Thank you. We take reports like yours very seriously. Our goal is to keep the community safe.
Please know that we may contact you for more information, but that we won't notify you personally of our decision. If the campaign remains available within a few days, it's likely that we determined it not to be in violation of our policies.
Thank you. We've already received your previous report. If the campaign remains available within a few days, it's likely that we determined it not to be in violation of our policies.
Tell us about the problem. Please fill in both fields below.
Record a video
Upload a video
Nothing grabs attention for your cause like a personal video. Take a minute or two to record one now. Record a short video message of support. Or upload one from your device. You can preview or redo your video before you post it.
Nothing grabs attention for your cause like a personal video. Upload a short video message of support. Upload a short video message of support. Or record one right now.
- Most effective video length: about a minute.
- Maximum length: 5 min.
- You can preview or redo your video before you post it.
Heads up! The existing video will be replaced.
Email your friends
Join our team
Tell people why our cause matters to you. Your personal message will encourage others to help. Easy, effective, optional.
Say it in video
Short personal videos by supporters like you are incredibly powerful. Record one right now and you'll help us raise more money. Easy, optional, effective.
Add a personal goal
Set a personal fundraising goal. You'll encourage more contributions if you do. And rest easy. There's no obligation to achieve your goal or bad consequences if you don't. Easy, optional, effective.
We have a video!
Video thumbnail
We'd love to show you our campaign video. Want to take a look?
, you're already on the team.