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A month in the past, Sharif Safi’s dream of learning within the UK was on the verge of coming true.
He was one in all 35 younger Afghans chosen amongst 1000’s of candidates for the Chevening scholarship, a prestigious and extremely aggressive UK authorities grant which affords individuals from internationally the chance to review in Britain for one yr.
However final week, the group was advised by the British embassy in Kabul that it may not course of their visas, which meant they may not take up UK college locations they earned by a gruelling, year-long utility course of.
“I am nonetheless in shock,” mentioned Mr Safi. “I am devastated after the information. All my goals have vanished.”
He had sat by a five-hour-long obligatory English check at residence in Kabul whereas unwell with COVID-19, with excessive fever and physique aches that introduced tears to his eyes.
The embassy letter, dated 6 August and seen by Sky Information, mentioned that the “present circumstances” meant that the British embassy in Kabul was unable to manage the components of the programme that should be finished in Kabul in time for candidates to start their programs this yr.
It added: “The International, Commonwealth and Improvement Workplace is happy with the position Chevening has performed and can proceed to play in providing Afghan students the chance to review within the UK and we stay dedicated to reinstating the programme as quickly as doable.
“We might subsequently prefer to give you a deferral till the educational yr 2022-2023.”
However Mr Safi, who deliberate to pursue a masters in peace, battle and diplomacy at London Metropolitan College, mentioned that he and others had already deliberate their lives round their upcoming yr overseas.
“Personally in my case I handed over my job and all my duties in my organisation to another person,” he mentioned.
“I declined a job provide in an vital diplomatic mission and I rejected a number of different instructional alternatives simply because I opted for Chevening over every other alternatives.”
Mr Safi and a number of other different students advised Sky Information they met the UK deputy ambassador in Kabul final week and proposed to journey to British diplomatic missions in neighbouring Pakistan, India, or an alternate nation to have their visas processed, at their very own expense, however that was declined.
In addition they requested if they may begin their programs on-line from Afghanistan for so long as it took for his or her visas to be processed, however have been advised that was not doable.
Mr Safi mentioned: “Put your self in our place – you’ll be able to see different Chevening students from everywhere in the world travelling to the UK to begin their programs, however you, simply since you reside in Afghanistan, simply since you’re an Afghan you need to bear the sorrow, you need to bear the frustration.”
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