Obama Scholar Fatima Zaman, MAIDP Class of 2019

Fatima Zaman’s life was changed by one of the greatest tragedies in London, the July 7, 2005 bombings that left more than 50 people dead, almost 800 injured, and a nation shaken. She was a young teen when she witnessed the 7/7 bombings in London.

Zaman was inspired to act, and as a Muslim woman, felt compelled to speak up to combat violent extremism. She earned a BA in Politics from the School of Oriental & African Studies at the  University of London, an MSC in Security Studies and Political Science from University College London, and set up the first roadshow, reaching marginalized youth across the United Kingdom and working to “inoculate against hate,” her life’s mission.

“I am keen to use education and policy as a mechanism to combat mainstream violent extremism, by combining the use of credible counter narratives to dispel, destroy and drown-out extremist propaganda,” Zaman, now 25, said.

Zaman currently serves as an Advocate for the Kofi Annan Foundation and the Extremely Together Programme.

“As an Obama Foundation Scholar, I'm looking forward to building and expanding my area of expertise, by exploring the intersection between security and developmental policy. I'm keen to explore this concept in an international context to inform my ability to look at social problems from an alternative viewpoint.”