Full Breakdown
“The Last Free Women”: Afghan Refugees, Education, and a Pittsburgh Connection
9/6/2026, 11:46:54 PM
A New Book Chronicles an Uncertain Journey
Rebecca Blumenstein, NBC News president and former New York Times managing editor, and journalist Diana Kapp co-authored *The Last Free Women: A Daring Escape from Afghanistan and Coming of Age in America*. The work follows four Afghan women—Maryam Alokozay, Marwa Rahim, Mursal Rahim and Samira Rustami—who fled Kabul after the Taliban’s August 2021 takeover and now confront language barriers, tuition costs, and cultural adjustment while striving to resume their medical and legal studies in the United States.
From Kabul to Pittsburgh: The Refugee Journey
Blumenstein coordinated the evacuation of a group of 124 Afghans, including the four women highlighted in the book, after the Taliban seized the capital. Their initial resettlement took place in Texas before a network of Pittsburgh contacts, prompted by a conversation with Daniel Rosen of the Jewish Healthcare Foundation, opened pathways to local universities. Carnegie Mellon president Farnam Jahanian helped arrange placements: three women enrolled at Chatham University for a year of intensive English instruction, while the fourth began at the University of Pittsburgh before transferring elsewhere.
Educational Support and Funding
To cover tuition and living expenses, the authors established the Journalism Refugees Education Fund. Proceeds from book sales are earmarked to support 11 Afghan refugees pursuing education in America.
Voices from the Authors
- “I was in the middle of the evacuation and resettlement of this group of 124 Afghans.” — Rebecca Blumenstein, NBC News president
- “We feel one of the best and most direct ways to help someone get a fresh start is to give them an education, which is a theme that runs through the book.” — Diana Kapp, journalist and co-author
- “Rebecca always jokes that she doesn’t go to a single family gathering that Samira and her daughter, Durrin, and husband aren’t at.” — Diana Kapp, journalist and co-author
What’s Next
Later this month, Kapp will converse with Samira and Marwa at City of Asylum, and Blumenstein will attend a September ceremony in Pittsburgh honoring Laura Kessler for her assistance to the families. These events aim to spotlight the ongoing integration of Afghan refugees and the role of community support in their educational pursuits.
