The Power of Being Heard: What Happens When Marginalized Students Lead

The Qatar Scholarship for Afghan Students (QSAP), the Institute of International Education (IIE), Bard College Center for Civic Engagement (CCE), and GHEA21 organized the annual Afghan Students Conference (ASC) on November 29 and 30, recreating a unique platform shaped and powered by emerging voices of influence belonging to underrepresented communities that have long been silenced. With approximately 300 Afghan and Palestinian students in attendance, the ASC demonstrated the need to design cross-border knowledge exchanges in a way that addresses and corresponds with the lived realities of students in contexts where educational opportunities are obstructed. This initiative reflects the long-standing commitment of networks like QSAP, IIE, EAA, and Bard CCE to create synergies between creative and theoretical learning tools and practical civic engagement initiatives that respond to particular community needs. Many students expressed that their participation in the ASC was an act of resilience and perseverance itself, which was further developed by their exposure to skill-based workshops, keynotes, and personalized prompts that cultivated within them the elements of purpose-driven leadership, which all started with students learning to ask themselves, “What is my why?” 

These workshops were specifically designed for students from conflict zones to extract information pertaining to leadership in times of crisis, artistic advocacy, women and youth empowerment mechanisms, and active listening. These workshops allowed students to experiment with different scopes and modules of leadership that can be refined locally to drive tangible impacts. One of the important parts of this annual conference is to invite students to contribute their ideas, experiences, and voices by creating interactive spaces that support and uplift stories of resilience and leadership in contexts of political instability and prolonged occupation. With a number of focused prompts prepared by conference facilitators Zarlasht Sarmast and Shadin Nassar, students were encouraged to think of challenges as stepping stones, approach instability as temporary but with opportunities for permanent lessons learned, and embody the spirit of collective learning by coming up with creative solutions to real-life scenarios, particularly when resources are scarce. Students were also invited to connect with their mind and body and adopt a psychosomatic approach to their everyday resilience by recognizing that they operate in a context of intergenerational trauma. These sessions reaffirmed the need to prioritize mental well-being to be able to engage responsibly and gear civic engagement efforts towards community betterment.

Here is what some students had to say about their experience: 
“One specific lesson from today's leadership seminar was the idea that good leaders prioritize listening before acting. The aspect that spoke to me the most was when the trainer discussed how knowing people's needs may completely alter the outcome of any decision. It taught me that leadership is more than simply giving orders; it is about making room for people to speak and feel heard.” – Doaa Hamdi Dar Musa, Beirut University.

“One significant takeaway from today's civic engagement session was the immense power and impact that young people have, particularly those from the Global South who appreciate the need for civic participation. Hearing their stories and witnessing how active people are in influencing their communities was both encouraging and eye-opening.” – Fatema Afshar, American University of Afghanistan

“The idea that small, local initiatives often cause large structural change inspires me. The speaker demonstrated how even basic activities, such as forming peer-learning groups, may boost confidence and improve leadership abilities. This made me realize that substantial change does not necessarily necessitate significant resources. It begins with young people taking tiny measures and remaining engaged.” – Sohaib, The Hubs for Connected Learning

Post Date: 12-16-2025