April 28, 2009, Washington, DC: Sadiqa Basiri Saleem, a prominent advocate for girls’ education in Afghanistan, has won the prestigious Samuel Huntington Public Service Award to continue her innovative network of girls’ schools.

Ms Basiri Saleem (shown at right) is the founder of the Oruj Learning Center, a partner of The Advocacy Project since 2004. Oruj began in 2002 when Ms Basiri Saleem started informal classes for 36 girls in an abandoned mosque in her home village of Godah, in Wardak province. Last year, Oruj supported the education of 2,870 girls in six schools.

For the past few years, Ms Basiri Saleem has been completing her undergraduate degree at Mt Holyoke College in Massachusetts. She is set to graduate in May.

The Samuel Huntington Public Service Award provides a $10,000 stipend to a graduating college senior to pursue public service anywhere in the world. The award allows recipients to engage in a meaningful
public service activity for one year before proceeding on to graduate school or a career.

The award is named for Samuel Huntington, former President and Chief Executive Officer of the New England Electric System, which later merged with national grid. Following his graduation from college and before attending law school, Mr Huntington taught in Nigeria, and was deeply interested in public service.

Earlier this year, Ms Basiri Saleem was also honored by women’s organization Vital Voices at their annual Global Leadership Awards ceremony in Washington.