Afghan women supported through scholarship at the University of Dundee celebrate graduation

Afghan women who have been supported through a scholarship at the University of Dundee are celebrating becoming graduates.

It’s a dream that seemed impossible after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan three years ago – almost completely banning women and girls from education.

Among those graduating was Madison Safdari, an Afghan woman who was living as a refugee in Iran with her family.

Her parents are still in the country but are proud of their daughter’s achievements.

“I come from a very average family and my parents both didn’t have a university education,” she told STV News.

“So they always put this effort into us that you have to succeed. It didn’t happen for us so it has to happen for you.

“That added a lot of pressures and you feel so responsible but they are so happy. They are so happy.

“When you imagine a goal and sometimes when you achieve it and you have been through so much, you think that second you are achieving that goal isn’t going to be that much of a deal because you have been through so much.

“But today when I was walking past and getting tapped on the head and getting graduation I was just like yeah I’ve done it. I’m so happy.”

The University of Dundee was awarded Sanctuary Status is 2022 and offers humanitarian scholarships.

Earlier this year, a group of 19 women came to Scotland from Afghanistan to continue studying medicine.

They were supported by the Linda Norgrove Foundation – a charity set up in memory of the Scottish aid worker who died after being kidnapped by the Taliban in 2010.

For Madison this is just the start of what she wants to achieve.

She said: “Today was the graduation but, for me, the next step is being a part of a society that is trying to make inclusive communities because I have been in a male-dominated country. I have experienced those societies and want to make it happen for other women.

“It doesn’t matter where they are from but I could be an example that you can turn big and you can go forward.

“There’s going to be a lot of obstacles and anxiety and stress but you can make it happen.”