A new chapter at Laurier: Graduating ISOW scholar Hasina Hamidi’s journey of courage, education and hope

May 27, 2025

When Hasina Hamidi crosses the stage at Wilfrid Laurier University spring convocation this June, she will mark more than the end of an academic journey. To earn her Master’s degree, Hamidi defied the odds of war, displacement and the erosion of women’s rights in Afghanistan.

“This was a life-changing opportunity for me,” says Hamidi, an International Public Policy student who arrived at Laurier in 2023 as a scholar with International Students Overcoming War (ISOW), a student-funded initiative at Laurier that supports international students from conflict-affected regions.

Before Laurier, Hamidi’s path had taken her through international borders, political upheaval and great personal sacrifice. She was living in Afghanistan in late 2021 when the Taliban reasserted control over the country. At the time, she had already applied and received a scholarship for post-secondary studies in Kazakhstan.

“The Taliban took over and we had no time to plan our next step,” says Hamidi. “I was lucky that I applied for a scholarship to study in Kazakhstan before the Taliban came to power and was able to get out of the country.”

The Taliban’s return to power in 2021 closed nearly every door for Afghan women, who were banned from work, school and public life. Even parks became off limits.

“They erased women from all spheres – social, academic, economic, political. Everything,” says Hamidi.

Escaping Taliban rule

Hamidi’s story is deeply rooted in the history of conflict in her homeland. Born in Pakistan after her parents fled Afghanistan as refugees during the Soviet invasion of the 1980s, she spent her childhood in Pakistan before returning to Afghanistan with her family in 2013. In Afghanistan, Hamidi pursued schooling – earning a Bachelor of Business Administration degree at Kabul University in 2018 – and considered starting a career in the country.

“Before the Taliban, we had freedom to pursue any field we wanted, to work, to travel – there were all kinds of freedoms,” Hamidi says. “But there were also constant security threats – suicide attacks, explosions every day. You could not know when it would be your turn.”

Following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, Hamidi was able to leave Afghanistan in April 2022 to pursue her Master of Business Administration degree at Kazakh-British Technical University in Kazakhstan. However, as she approached graduation from the institution in August 2023 she faced the looming expiration of her visa.

“That was a worrying point for scholars from Afghanistan,” says Hamidi. “We could not stay in Kazakhstan, as they were not extending our visas.” 

Four months before her graduation from Kazakh-British Technical University, Hamidi discovered Women Leaders of Tomorrow, an organization that helps Afghan women and girls access scholarships and bursaries in North America. Women Leaders of Tomorrow referred Hamidi to ISOW and after submitting documentation, essays and completing an interview, she was awarded a scholarship to study at Laurier.

ISOW is a multi-faceted initiative unique to Laurier that brings students, staff and faculty together to enable students from war-affected regions to study in safety and security in Canada. Initiated by students in 2014, ISOW is student-funded, made possible by an $8 contribution from each student every semester.

“The thing I really appreciate and admire about ISOW is that they are truly dedicated to their mission,” says Hamidi. “They have flexibility in every area. It’s not just about getting scholars into the country. If a scholar has unique issues, they find a way to deal with them.”

In Hamidi’s case, the issues were profound. Just as her plans to travel to Canada were materializing, she returned to Afghanistan to visit her mother, who had fallen ill. The visit became an unplanned stay. Taliban restrictions made it unsafe for Hamidi to travel alone and she faced significant bureaucratic and travel documentation challenges to leave Afghanistan, but ISOW stayed by her side.

“There were many problems, issues and challenges,” says Hamidi. “But ISOW was there in every step of my application – guiding me, supporting me and giving me that confidence that no matter what happens, they will find a way to get me out.”

Hamidi’s uncle, who holds a British passport, was instrumental in helping her get to Canada. He travelled with Hamidi back to Kazakhstan – without a male chaperone she would not have been able to board a flight – and from there she could travel to Canada. Hamidi began studies at Laurier in September 2023.

Support without borders

ISOW offered what Hamidi describes as “comprehensive support,” from visa arrangements to accommodation and even social integration. Once in Canada, she found herself embraced by ISOW and the academic community at the Balsillie School of International Affairs, where she completed her Laurier degree requitements.

“I was surrounded by people who were really welcoming and accepting of diversity,” Hamidi says. “It was a really good experience from every perspective, so I count myself very fortunate and lucky.”

Hamidi says missing her family in Afghanistan is the hardest part about being in Canada, but she stays in daily contact through WhatsApp. She especially misses her younger sister, who was banned from completing schooling after the Taliban’s return to power.

Now, with her Laurier degree requirements completed, Hamidi is contributing to Canadian academic life. She currently works as an administrative coordinator in the dean’s office at Laurier’s Faculty of Social Work. Outside of that position, she says ISOW continues to be a source of connection. The program’s faculty advisor, Associate Professor Gavin Brockett, hosts monthly gatherings for ISOW scholars at his home, informal events that help foster a sense of community among participants.

“ISOW goes way beyond what you would expect of a scholarship program,” says Hamidi. “We have that sense of being connected with a family and they do provide us that personal support, which I admire.”

Hamidi says ISOW is making real change and shared her hope that the organization’s model could be expanded to other post-secondary institutions. She also expressed gratitude to Laurier students for supporting the initiative.

“ISOW is funded by students providing $8 per semester and that amount of money can change somebody’s life,” says Hamidi. “This is what making change looks like – caring about people from war-torn countries and supporting them with resources. This contribution by students should not be overlooked.”

Looking ahead, Hamidi is exploring further academic opportunities while continuing her role in Laurier’s Faculty of Social Work. Her long-term hope is for a peaceful Afghanistan, where girls can dream and achieve their goals freely.

“I’m hoping for an Afghanistan where girls are allowed to grow, to develop, to have the opportunity to get an education, to have the opportunity to choose a career they are interested in,” says Hamidi. “At the same time, I’m also hoping for peace – no more conflict, no explosions, no more blood and no death.”