Dr. Abdul Qayum Safi
Dr. Safi was born in Kunar, Afghanistan, the eldest of ten children. He grew up in a district where there was only one elementary school for boys — and no school for girls at all. Of the 35 children in his class, he was the only one who went on to high school.
With a government scholarship, Dr. Safi attended a boarding school in Kabul, then earned his undergraduate degree from the American University of Beirut and a doctorate from Teachers College, Columbia University in New York City. He is fluent in English, Dari, Pashto, and Arabic, and is currently retired in South Florida.
"No matter where you go, you will always come back to the children of your ancestors." — The Pashto proverb that inspired Afghan Rural Schools
Inspired by this saying, Dr. Safi founded Afghan Rural Schools in 2013 to give back to the community that shaped him. He has pledged all proceeds from his memoir, One Life: An Afghan Remembers, to the organization, and maintains weekly contact with his relatives who teach in Khas Kunar to ensure every donated dollar reaches the right hands.
"Living in a rural village should not prevent a child from achieving his or her full potential," he says. "Nor should a child have to travel such a circuitous route simply to receive an education."
One Life: An Afghan Remembers
In his memoir, Dr. Safi traces his journey from a small village in Kunar Province through boarding school in Kabul, university in Beirut, and graduate studies in the United States — all while navigating war, displacement, and the weight of being the first in his community to pursue higher education.
It is a story of perseverance, hope, and the transformative power of education. Meant to inspire anyone navigating hardship, the book shows that hard work and determination can overcome even the most daunting obstacles.