Ruqia Qudos
Ruqia Qudos is a Fellow at Displaced International (DI). Originally from Afghanistan and currently based in Pakistan, she brings the perspective of a displaced scholar deeply committed to digital equity, education, and social justice. She is earning her Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), after receiving two prestigious undergraduate scholarships—one in Turkey and the other the Allama Muhammad Iqbal Scholarship. Pursuing higher education in Pakistan under the Allama Muhammad Iqbal Scholarship advanced her academic journey and deepened her passion for fostering positive change and community development.
Ruqia currently serves as a Research Fellow with Bytes for All (B4A), an organization advocating for digital and human rights in Pakistan. At B4A, she supports campaigns on internet freedom, digital security, and women’s empowerment through ICTs. She is a 2024 Women, Peace & Security Scholar with Sweden’s Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA) and an active member of the Afghan Women Leaders’ Forum, where she amplifies the voices of Afghan women in peacebuilding and policy dialogues. Additionally, she is the founding president of the NUST International Club (NIC), fostering inclusive spaces for international students and promoting intercultural exchange.
Ruqia’s commitment to social impact extends to her role as a co-developer of Kaamsaz, a visual and multilingual literacy platform designed to empower illiterate and linguistically marginalized communities. She has addressed various social and development issues, earning first place in the Afghan Short Documentary Contest organized by HEC and winning the Essay Award from the Institute of Law and Society, Germany, for her piece Foundations for a New Afghan Social Contract. She also earned AIESEC’s Top Performer distinction for two consecutive terms, recognizing her impactful leadership and sustained contributions.
Fluent in Dari, Pashto, Urdu, English, and basic Turkish, Ruqia leverages her multilingualism and expertise in software development, web technologies, and UI/UX design to advocate for inclusive and transformative change by promoting access to education and digital empowerment. Her work lies at the intersection of technology, human rights, and community engagement. With a mission to uplift Afghan communities and expand access to opportunities, Ruqia envisions a future where displaced voices are empowered and digital inclusion paves the way for broader equity and peacebuilding.
