Teachers
Sahar Ziayi
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Bahara Hajizadah
My Vision
My name is Narwan Nzhat. I graduated from high school in Afghanistan during the Taliban's rise to power, which prompted my departure. In Boston, I completed Year Up, securing a job at an investment firm. Witnessing a video of a distraught Afghan young women denied education ignited a passion in me. I along with my brother and friends, launched a non-profit, RAWAN Organization., aiming to provide education and opportunities for Afghan young women. We've started with English, graphic design, and computer classes, along with counseling and internet access. Our goal is to empower Afghan young women and ensure they have the chance to shine.
OUR TEAM
Board of Directors
Narwan Nzhat
President & Board Member
A young professional with a passion for education and advocacy, Narwan was born and raised in Afghanistan, and moved to the United States in December 2021. Upon arriving at a military base in Indiana, she immediately began teaching English to other Afghan women. In 2022, she moved to Boston where she was accepted into Year Up, a selective, tuition-free job training program. After completing the program in 2023, she secured a full-time position at the investment firm at which she had interned. It was then that she conceived of the idea for RAWAN and succeeded in obtaining a grant to help her design and launch the program. In addition to serving as RAWAN’s president, she is currently pursuing a business degree at Southern New Hampshire where her commitment to personal growth and community leadership won her a full scholarship.
Edward Zlotkowski
Vice President & Board Member
A Professor Emeritus of English and Media Studies at Bentley University in Waltham, MA, Edward was the founding director of the Bentley Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Center. As a Senior Associate for Service-Learning at the American Association for Higher Education, he visited over a hundred colleges and universities across the United States and Canada, helping faculty, students, and local community members develop partnerships to address issues of public concern. He has been especially interested in programs that provide new opportunities for young people.
Ahmad Wali Sadid
Founder & Director, ALP Training Center
Board Member, RAWAN
During his university years, Ahmad was actively involved with GAAM, a nonprofit organization focused on improving the lives of street children in Afghanistan. As a key contributor to GAAM, he helped coordinate efforts to support around 100 children by securing monthly food supplies for their families and encouraging them to prioritize education over street labor. Now a dedicated dentist with a passion for humanitarian work, he has provided dental care to many children and individuals in difficult life situations. After the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban, he became committed to ensuring that Afghan girls have access to education, thus continuing his work to uplift and empower those in need.
David Merfeld
Treasurer & Board Member
For the last 34 years, as the principal of a CPA practice in Boston, David has specialized in tax consulting and planning for high-net worth individuals and real estate developers. Using his financial background, he volunteers as the treasurer for multiple political campaigns and non-profits. As the child of a refugee, he has been motivated to assist families seeking freedom and safety in America. Along with his wife, he has founded efforts to address housing insecurity and has created a variety of scholarships aimed at supporting striving young students.
Karen Silver
Secretary & Board Member
Motivated by her strongly held belief that every human being has a right to a quality education, Karen Silver has dedicated her career to ensuring that, beginning in their earliest years, all young people in Boston have access to high quality educational programs. For over 30 years, she has worked with schools across Boston to improve their educational practices with the goal of preparing and empowering their students to reach their highest potential. Her work has been driven by her strong commitment to promoting equity and women’s rights.
Bonnie Friedman
Board Member
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Mohammad Wais Taherian
Creative Director & Board Member
Long captivated by the possibilities of technology and innovation, Wais has demonstrated expertise in web design, branding, and digital solutions. His success has allowed him to establish his own company – a company dedicated to helping businesses as well as nonprofits unlock their full potential through tailored services. Over the years, his desire to give back has led him to volunteer his assistance to many philanthropic undertakings and to offer workshops in Afghanistan that raise awareness about mind sciences and mindfulness. He has been an integral part of the RAWAN since its inception, serving as its primary technology advisor and manager.
Institutional Supporters
Volunteer Consultants
Ross Turner
Margueritte Murphy
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