The Meredith College Class of 2011 will include Sweeta Hashimi, who is the second student to attend Meredith through the College’s partnership with the Initiative to Educate Afghan Women (IEAW).

Hashimi, who plans to major in business administration, said a desire to help her country inspired her to apply to the IEAW program.

“I want to serve my country and nation, especially the women who have suffered lot of difficulties and were away from education during the Taliban’s regime,” Hashimi said.
She is also interested in learning from her Meredith classmates. When asked what she’d like her fellow students to know, Hashimi said “I want to tell them that I love to know different cultures and to make friends. I am always optimistic, and I like to talk too much and get more information.”

Meredith is one of 17 colleges and universities in the U.S. to participate in the IEAW, a scholarship program and transcontinental partnership between the people of the United States and Afghanistan. Meredith is also the only college in North Carolina involved in the program.

Hashimi calls the opportunity to attend college by being accepted into the IEAW a dream come true.

“I will try my best to study hard to help my country and nation,” Hashimi said.

For more information on the IEAW, visit www.ieaw.org.