Afghan female medical students set to enjoy first traditional Scottish Christmas in the Highlands

Preparations are under way to host 19 female medical students from Afghanistan in the Highlands for Christmas.

The students arrived in Scotland in August after Western Isles charity The Linda Norgrove Foundation arranged their travel from Afghanistan, student visas and places at four Scottish universities.

They had been prevented from continuing their medical studies in Afghanistan after the Taliban came to power three years ago and barred women from studying.

Now they are set to get together in Beauly for their first Scottish Christmas with a group of local volunteers putting together a week-long schedule of activities and entertainment.

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As well as being introduced to Scottish traditions, they will also have the chance to learn to ride a bike.

An appeal has also been made for practical help including transportation during their stay.

Volunteer Jane Cumming said: “The girls have settled into their new lives and studies really well, but holiday periods are a particularly difficult time to be so far away from their families.

“They’ve also been split up into groups at medical schools around the country so we wanted to bring them together for Christmas and Beauly seemed like the ideal place to gather.

“They’re very excited about all getting together again for the first time since they arrived in Scotland and we are very much looking forward to introducing them to some Scottish Christmas traditions.

“We’re also planning to teach them some practical skills such as riding bikes which women have been banned from in Afghanistan under the Taliban.

“People have already been really generous, with Moray Coat Hangar and Inverness Inner Wheel helping to collect warm winter coats and woollens for them, and others offering free or discounted tickets.”

The Linda Norgrove Foundation was set up in memory of aid worker Linda Norgrove, from Uig in Lewis, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2010.

The charity highlighted the plight of the medical students last year but efforts to bring the women to the UK were delayed by bureaucracy and regulations.

But it thanked the Scottish government and UK government's Scotland Office for finding ways to overcome some of the major challenges involved.

By the time the 19 women arrived in Scotland, the charity had raised £60,000 to cover the cost of getting them to the UK and accommodating them.

Anyone who would like to make a donation to the students’ welfare fund should visit The Linda Norgrove Foundation at lindanorgrovefoundation.org/donate/, specifying that the donation is for the Afghan Medical Students fund.

If anyone would like to offer practical help, such as transportation, for the students’ stay in Beauly they can email Jane Cumming on jane@jmccomms.co.uk.

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