You are here » Home » Telling Our Story
First Person
Two interns at the
USAID-sponsored Kabul
Central Materials
Laboratory pursue
engineering degrees in
the United States
Fulbright Scholars Advance Afghanistan
Photo: USAID/AIRP
“You must use every
available opportunity.
Be persistent, don’t be
afraid to innovate, be
honest and dependable,
and take responsibility
for what you do.”
- Abdullah Jan and Shabnam
When Abdullah Jan met Shabnam, they were seniors in the
Engineering Department at Kabul University. They soon began
to intern at the Kabul Central Materials Laboratory operated by
USAID’s Afghanistan Infrastructure Rehabilitation Program
(AIRP).
A year and a half later, Jan and Shabnam were on their way to
study in the United States as Fulbright scholarship recipients.
Their experience at the Kabul lab convinced them that they
could contribute to Afghanistan’s transition to a stable and economically
sustainable society. “I have received other internships,”
Jan said, “but I think that the internships that AIRP
provides to Afghan students are the most effective ones.”
In the United States, the now married couple is enrolled in the
Transportation Engineering Master’s Program at the University
of Missouri. Both have 4.0 GPAs, the highest score students
can achieve. After they complete their degrees, they will return
to Kabul University as assistant professors.
The experience at the University of Missouri is providing Jan
and Shabnam with top quality course work and widening their
horizons as future teachers and administrators. “Through professional
courses and activities, I am learning everything about
the university, including communications, administrative systems,
and the behavior of professors,” said Jan.
The more Abdullah and Shabnam learn, the more they are convinced
that they can help Afghanistan to succeed. “You must
use every available opportunity,” they said. “Be persistent, don’t
be afraid to innovate, be honest and dependable, and take responsibility
for what you do.”
When they return to Afghanistan, one of their first plans is to
start a branch of the Institute of Transportation Engineers to
support safe and efficient traffic operations and other transportation
related services in Kabul. “Anyone who wants to be a
successful engineer should never stop learning,” Jan said. “I
am really optimistic about the future of Afghanistan.”
Print-friendly version of this page (533kb - PDF)
Back to Top ^
|
RSS Feed for Recent Telling Our Story Updates
