Najia Jalal, a social activist and founder of the grassroots organization Gift for Girls, has won the first prize at the E³UDRES² International Science Festival 2025 in Austria for her educational and support projects aimed at women and girls in crisis situations.
Najia Jalal, a master’s student in Human Rights, Politics, and Law at Fulda University of Applied Sciences in Germany, impressed both judges and audiences with her impactful initiatives, securing the top spot at the prestigious international festival.
The festival, held under the motto “Local Pulse, Global Waves”, was hosted by St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences in Austria on May 19–20, in collaboration with universities and higher education institutions from across Europe.
The event featured 20 student projects from various EU countries competing for top honors.
Gift for Girls, founded by Najia Jalal, attracted widespread acclaim for its effective programs, including support for underground schools for girls in Afghanistan and the provision of psychological and psychosocial support services for women and girls in crisis.
The initiative is centered around two main goals:
- 1. Establishing and supporting underground schools for girls in Afghanistan, operating under oppressive educational conditions.
- 2. Providing psychotherapy and psychosocial support to women and girls in crisis, particularly in areas with limited access to healthcare and mental health services.
Competing against 19 other student-led projects from across the European Union, Gift for Girls received the highest number of votes during both online and in-person voting rounds on May 19 and 20, 2025.
E³UDRES² is an alliance of nine higher education institutions and dozens of academic and research organizations across Europe, working to promote social innovation, sustainable development, and international collaboration.
This achievement marks a significant step in advocating for the rights of women and children in difficult circumstances and highlights the power of science in addressing global challenges.
