Featured Person: Muzaffar Hussain Laghari
Meet Muzaffar who came from Pakistan to the United States on a U.S. Department of State exchange scholarship program.
Age: College graduate
Disability: Mild cerebral palsy
Program Country: United States of America
Program Length: 1 year
Program Type: Study abroad
About Me: I grew up as a person with cerebral palsy in Sindh, a province of Pakistan. In Sindh, I received ongoing encouragement from my mother to pursue education. It was her dream for me to become a respected member of society. I earned a bachelor's degree with high grades and found a job as an accountant at the National Rural Support Program, a non-governmental organization in Pakistan.
Was your international exchange experience arranged through an exchange organization? If so, what was the application process like?
I participated in the Community College Initiative Program, which is administered by the Community Colleges for International Development. Having spotted a newspaper advertisement for a U.S. Department of State exchange scholarship, I applied and was selected as a principal candidate from fifty-one others. Until then, traveling abroad had never occurred to me, but with this scholarship secured, study in the United States became possible. I enrolled at Johnston Community College in Smithfield, North Carolina for a one year professional Business Administration Certificate program.
What was your experience living in the host country? Please share your impressions of housing, transportation, activities, cultural attitudes towards disability, and your strategies for navigating abroad.
Disability is the challenge of my life, but I have never been discouraged even for a single time. Through my participation, I learned a lot about American values and respect for disabled persons. Here in the USA I was surprised because people show a lot of respect for disabled people.
I completed the program with outstanding grades and earned a letter of appreciation from the president of the college and an invitation to join the National Technical Honor Society of America.
As part of the program, I met with the local community to share Pakistani and Sindhi culture with local school classes and community groups through cultural presentations. One of the highlights of taking part in this service was discussing Islam with an audience at a local church. Beyond Smithfield, I also traveled to Atlanta, Georgia for leadership workshops and training, and to Washington, DC, where I met with Congressman Bob Etheridge of North Carolina.
What were the benefits of the experience, and how has your international experience informed your future plans?
After I complete my studies here I want to go back to Pakistan to find employment and be an example for our society that disabled people can play an important role in the development of society if they are given a chance to prove themselves.
Do you have an exchange or disability-related question for Muzaffar? Email clearinghouse@miusa.org to get in touch with him.
Visit our "Featured People" page to meet other international exchange alum.
