- Nineteen female medical students granted visas and places
- The students arrived in Edinburgh earlier this week
- It has raised over £60,000 to support the 19 students' relocation
Nineteen female medical students, forced to abandon their studies under Taliban rule in Afghanistan, have been granted visas and places at Scottish medical schools.
The Linda Norgrove Foundation, a Lewis-based charity, played a crucial role in securing their passage to the UK.
The Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021 severely restricted women’s rights, forcing many to give up their education.
The 19 medical students faced the prospect of a lost future until the Linda Norgrove Foundation intervened.
Despite bureaucratic hurdles and conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, the foundation, with support from the UK and Scottish governments, managed to secure student visas for the women.
The Scottish government also amended student funding regulations to allow them to be treated as home students.
The students arrived in Edinburgh earlier this week, expressing immense gratitude for the opportunity to continue their education.
They endured years of suffering and confinement under Taliban rule, but the Linda Norgrove Foundation provided a lifeline.
The foundation was established in memory of aid worker Linda Norgrove, who was tragically killed in Afghanistan in 2010
It has raised over £60,000 to support the 19 students’ relocation and education in Scotland.
The women’s arrival in Scotland marks a significant milestone for their personal and professional journeys. It also highlights the importance of international solidarity and support for those facing persecution and oppression.
The successful relocation of the Afghan medical students to Scotland is a testament to the power of education and the unwavering commitment of individuals and organizations to support those in need.
Their journey from Afghanistan to Scotland represents hope for a brighter future and a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.
