Afghan students in Glasgow who were banned from studying medicine in their country are being helped to become doctors.

The seven young women, who were forced to give up their studies when the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, have been given upcycled iPads by Wheatley Foundation.

The foundation, part of Wheatley Group, is helping the women who are studying in Glasgow, with their studies.

The students are part of a group of female refugees who travelled to Scotland to study after being banned from attending university in Afghanistan.

(Left to right)  Laura Crumlish [Wheatley Foundation Manager] - Cllr Bostani - student Wazma Shafaq - Laura Pluck [Group Director of Communities at Wheatley Group] (Image: Wheatley Group) Wazma Shafaq, one of the students, said: "I’m really happy and we really appreciate being invited here to receive the devices as they will really help us with our studies.

“Most people use iPads for taking notes and accessing online resources, so it is going to make life easier.

“People use these devices for lots more than studying and it can have a potentially life-changing influence.”

Wheatley Foundation has teamed up with Glasgow Afghan United to support the students.

 

(Right to left) Tahmina - Zahra - Hasina - Cllr Bostani - Malika - Wazhma - Fariba - Masoma (Image: Wheatley Group) Paddy Gray OBE, chair of Wheatley Foundation, said: "As soon as we heard the remarkable story of these young students studying in Glasgow we wanted to help.

"We’re delighted to be able to support these students this way and help them fulfil their ambitions and settle quicker into their new life in Scotland."

The Scottish Government amended student funding legislation to ensure the women could be treated as home students and receive free tuition and cost of living support.

Scottish charity the Linda Norgrove Foundation has been supporting the women and secured agreement with four Scottish universities – St Andrews, Glasgow, Dundee, and Aberdeen – where the students will continue their medical degrees as they work to become doctors.

Councillor Abdul Bostani thanked Wheatley Foundation for supporting the students.

He said: "The iPads will be used for many years to come and will be very helpful for the girls."