Help Imsha Achieve Her Stanford Dream

Update: $6,000 out of $20,000 raised

Hello! My name is Aleena Ahmed and I am raising funds for my friend, Imsha Rehman, who has been selected for Stanford University's prestigious Learn Abroad Program. Since GoFundMe does not operate in Pakistan, I have set up this campaign to support her. Below is Imsha's story in her own words:

Hello everyone! I am Imsha Rehman, an Electrical Engineering sophomore in Pakistan at Habib University. My university has taken a chance on me and selected me from a pool of over 100 students to go for Stanford Summer International Honors Program 2025. However, the cost of the program is too much for me to cover on my own, and for that I need your help.

Studying as a woman in STEM in a third world country is challenging, especially if you genuinely aim to build a career in your field. There are very limited resources, academic opportunities, and role models. Regardless, I am doing my best at availing every possible resource and learning. With multiple projects every semester, student employment, and extracurriculars, I move closer to my goals every day.

Why Stanford?

In my first semester, I took a course called Design Your Habib Experience, modeled around Stanford's design school (called d.school) teaching methods, where I experienced the melding of design and problem solving and immediately fell in love with the potential there. Learning about trans-disciplinarity deeply inspired me and encouraged me to research more into Stanford's d.school as well as Habib's own Playground.

I had the pleasure of doing this alongside my DYHE instructor and academic advisor, Dr. Anzar Khaliq, who himself has his PhD research in physics, but was teaching a course on design. I conversed easily with him due to our similar ambitions of recognizing the importance of cross-disciplinary studies and we discussed the Learn Abroad Program and me potentially getting to study in the environment that fosters exactly what his classrooms did. Upon his encouragement, I also took interest in Habib's own design hub (Playground), which is reflected in my meta-curricular activities. Even though he is no longer physically at Habib University, I remember everything he taught me vividly and that itself is proof of how effective transdisciplinary studies are for me personally. I dream of a semester at Stanford where I can engage in that again.

About Stanford Summer Program:

The Stanford Summer International Honors Program (IHP) is an eight-week academic program running from June 21 to August 17, 2025. It is a collaboration between Stanford Summer Session and select international teaching and research institutions. Participation is by nomination only; students must be endorsed through a selective admissions process initiated by their home institutions. The program is currently being offered to Habib University students exclusively in Pakistan. Candidates for the program are selected through a rigorous screening process where the candidates’ academic performance, meta-curricular achievements, presentations, and interviews are assessed and the best are selected.

What I Plan on Studying At Stanford:

Stanford is known for its entrepreneurial spirit, design approach, and transdisciplinary studies and I want to make use of that. As Pakistanis, we don't see much of that in our current education climate and are often restricted to our designated majors, but I have always dreamed of exploring science and art in the same academic sphere.

Firstly, I aim to take a course that integrates design thinking, problem-solving, entrepreneurship, and engineering and make the most of Stanford’s famous d.school learning methods. Two courses that I found that fulfill this are "Redefining Creativity: Designing Human Connections in an AI World" and "Drawing, Study, and Inspiration."

Secondly, I have been studying literature and film for more than 6 years now and since it is something I am very passionate about, but don't get to explore much in Habib due to my tight grid, I would love to take a course in that. Some examples are "Image and Sound: Filmmaking for the Digital Age," "smART Phone Photography," and "Human Rights and World Literature."

Thirdly, even though I am studying Electrical Engineering right now, I still feel like there is so much in the world of technology and innovation that I won't get to explore in my current 4 year bachelor’s degree. That is why I would like the third course to be in a type of engineering other than electrical, such as biomedical, mechanical, or aerospace to broaden my engineering knowledge. I hope that exploring out in the field of engineering will help me bring insights and enhance my future projects, such as my final year project, as electrical is closely connected to all branches of engineering.

What I Plan on Bringing Back to the Community:

Stanford is known for pushing the boundaries of technology while fostering inclusivity, social impact, and personal growth. Through the Learn Abroad Program, I hope to strengthen my leadership and community-building skills by engaging with diverse communities. At Habib, I’ve participated in Habib Reads with Professor Ali Mehdi, discussing student activism, gender dynamics, and socioeconomics. These conversations have taught me how to facilitate meaningful discussions and build connections across perspectives—something I aim to continue at Stanford.

I’m also part of Habib’s Center for South Asian Music, where I play the tabla in an inclusive, collaborative space. This experience has shown me how shared cultural expression brings people together. At Stanford, I look forward to connecting with communities centered around arts, culture, and social justice, broadening my perspective. Ultimately, I want to bring these learnings back to Pakistan (and specifically, my own circle at Habib), reinforcing the idea that we are more alike than we think—and that understanding can make our community even stronger.

A Brief Look At My Recent Experiences:

Habib University Student Ambassador (Sept 2023 - July 2024)

Habib Reads Moderator

Academic Affairs Cabinet Member in Habib University Student Government

Poetry Editorial Team Member of Arzu Anthology Vol. 6

Astronomy Module Lead in NSC’s Spectra Science Olympiad

Salutatorian of Alpha College Batch of 2023

Assistant Teacher (August 2022 - July 2023)

What You Can Do to Help:

This is a major, one-of-a-kind opportunity for me to broaden my horizon for the cause of education, inclusivity, and art. Every donation counts. Given my family’s financial circumstances and the lack of resources in Pakistan, I am unable to support my passion for this learn abroad opportunity myself. I have gotten through A levels on 100% scholarship and am now doing a bachelor’s on 70% scholarship and aid. This is where your help would be tremendously appreciated.

The deadline for finishing fundraising is late May 2025. I will be forever grateful for any contribution you can make toward my goal. If that is not possible, please help me by sharing my story as much as possible to anyone who could help. If you’re connected to organisations that could offer sponsorships or partnerships, connecting me with them would be invaluable.

This is the link to my Sponsorship Proposal. Please share this as much as possible: https://drive.google.com/file/d/18Vggcjfn7g5zHZ4nQ8ypVku9BQaKlb9E/view?usp=sharing

Cost Breakdown:

Program Dates: June 21st – August 17th, 2025

Total Estimated Cost: $19,793.00

Fee Breakdown:

I-20 fee: $160.00

Technology fees: $94.00

Document fees: $125.00

Subsidised tuition fee (8 units max): $9,261.00

Housing fees: $3,272.00

House dues: $97.00

Dining (15 meals/week): $1,953.00

Campus health service fee: $261.00

Health insurance: $1,905.00

Mail service fee: $30.00

Roundtrip airfare (Karachi–US): $1,700.00

Visa fee: $185.00

SEVIS fee: $350.00

Books and supplies: $300.00

Airport transfer: $100.00

Personal Expenses: $1000

Please note that I also have to take into account $1500-2000 for emergency and personal expenses during the program, which makes the total expense around $22,000.

GoFundMe charges a transaction fee of 2.9% plus $0.30 per donation.

Bank account details:

Habib University’s Account

Habib University

06-01-02-20311-714-119898

PK12MPBL0102027140119898

MPBLPKKA078

Star Gate Branch, Karachi

HABIB METROPOLITAN BANK LIMITED

My Personal Account

IMSHA REHMAN

IBAN PK34

BAHL 5001008102299301

Bank Al Habib Limited

Warmest Regards,

Imsha Rehman