From Afghanistan to Foxcroft In Search of An Education

From Afghanistan to Foxcroft In Search of An Education

By Cathy McGehee Foxcroft Head of School

It’s been more than a year since Foxcroft welcomed two students fleeing Afghanistan, with only their backpacks.

Lema S. (Class of 2024) and Khujusta N. (’24) arrived at Dulles airport with four other students, destined for Virginia schools, carrying only essentials and a commitment to get an education and help other Afghan girls do the same in the future.

Lema and Khujusta at Foxcroft

When they first arrived, they experienced a very different kind of school community from the one they left behind. “Seeing new and different girls from different countries with different ideas was something good,” Lema said. “I was happy and excited because the campus and nature looked bigger than my old school.

“Last year was hard, because there were a lot of new things, and we had to improve our academic English and learn to study in an American school. This year, I feel more comfortable and I’m able to be more independent.”

Lema’s favorite class is modern world history. Khujusta enjoys leadership opportunities, and is currently a whip in Dillon dormitory and an international ambassador.

Their journey began when I learned from the International Coalition of Girls Schools about an opportunity to help students fleeing Afghanistan after the Taliban took over the government.

It’s a major commitment for the school because the students needed everything, from financial aid to clothing and shoes to phones and computers.

“Foxcroft has made a three-year commitment to provide financial aid, which is a real cost to the school,” said Kate Hastings (’78), chair of Foxcroft’s Board of Trustees. “Cathy came to the board and said, ‘if not Foxcroft, then who will help?’ We all felt this was the right thing to do and fully aligned with our mission.”

Whether sharing traditional music and dance or morning meeting presentations on Afghanistan that show how beautiful their country is, and the observance of Ramadan and the celebration of Eid— the entire student body has gained from having Lema and Khujusta as classmates.

“We feel grateful to have Lema and Khujusta join us and share the cultures and traditions celebrated across Afghanistan and the beautiful traditions and practices in Islam,” said Leyla Akhundova (’23).

For Farah Alvarez-Miranda (’23), it’s personal.

“Having Lema and Khujusta at Foxcroft has revealed my mother’s culture in ways I never thought,” she said. “She left Afghanistan around their age and it’s wonderful to welcome them, as I hope my mother was welcomed all those years ago. I even performed an original Afghan dance with them for the school. I’m certain they will accomplish a lot in the future.”

Khujusta noted that in America, “families let students focus on studies and sports at home, whereas in Afghanistan, girls are expected to study and to help around the house, doing cooking and dishes.”

Still Lema and Khujusta are among the few Afghan girls whose parents are committed to their education, even if it means sending them to the U.S. and not knowing when they will see them again.

Leaving loved ones behind has been hard but both girls talk to their families on weekends. They both want to attend American universities. Khujusta is interested in medicine or law; Lema wants to study dentistry.

“I just want to be healthy and succeed in my academic program, “Lema said. “I want to learn a lot about people’s environments, and the things that can help me achieve my goals.”

Details: To help support these students, contact Foxcroft’s Office of Institutional Advancement (advancement@foxcroft.org).