Entrepreneurship and English Language Teaching Methodology (Afghanistan)
BH Fellows 2016 - 2021
Entrepreneurship and English-language Instruction
Furogh Mirdad & Ahmad Wali Rostami (Afghanistan)
Furogh Mirdad and Ahmad Wali Rostami are social entrepreneurs with a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in Business Administration respectively. They are certified English teachers as well. Building on years of experience, Furogh and Wali are leading classes in Entrepreneurship and English-language Teaching Methodology for Afghan youth, ultimately aiding them in starting their own careers. Over these five years, their program has enabled over 300 young girls and boys to attend universities, start their own businesses, teach English, and become peace ambassadors. In their capacity as Blossom Hill Sustaining Fellows, in August 2017, Furogh and Wali founded the Quality Education and Sustainable Development Support Organization (QESDSO), a non-profit organization supporting quality education in Afghanistan.
The Blossom Hill Be Kind Award was created in honor of Bill Mahoney, our late founding donor, who left behind a legacy of kindness through which he believed people will blossom. This is the third year we are bestowing this award to a Blossom Hill Fellow who has shown extraordinary compassion, resilience, dedication and impact in their program.
This year’s award goes to Ahmad Wali Rostami and Furogh Mirdad for their Entrepreneurship and English Language Training Program in Kabul Afghanistan. Over that last six years, their program has graduated about 300 young boys and girls. Many have gone on to win scholarships from prestigious universities, open their own businesse, teach English or become peace advocates.
We cannot thank you enough for pushing through such difficult times, not only during the pandemic but in these increasingly tense and uncertain days in Afghanistan, always finding ways to implement your programs in the face of adversity and keeping up the hope and dreams of your students.
OUR PROGRAMS
We fund programs, projects and products that aim to positively impact the lives of communities (children, youth, families, etc.) affected by conflict and war in the Middle East.
TECHNOLOGY
Refugee children live under unusual and difficult conditions with little or no access to technology that can improve their lives. With our innovative programs, we are reaching a wide range of children with groundbreaking technology that teach them literacy skills and improve their access to higher education.
EDUCATION
Millions of refugee children are missing out on an education. Without an opportunity to learn, they risk becoming a lost generation with little chance for a better future. Through sustainable programs, our Fellows are working to ensure refugees can learn and develop the skills they need to succeed in life.
CHILD DEVELOPMENT
The development of the "whole child" from early childhood through adolescence is critical to long-term development and success of all children. Blossom Hill is committed to providing innovative initiatives for refugee children that will not only prepare them for learning and academic success, but empower them with life skills as they continue to live under difficult conditions.
JOB TRAINING
For refugee youth whose education has been interrupted and ability to earn a livelihood undermined by war and conflict, the future is bleak. We are dedicated to empowering these youth to break from the cycle of poverty by offering innovative vocational training in computer skills, business entrepreneurship and language instruction.
