Join the University Sunrise Rotary Club for a program featuring Hamid Stanikzai and Zafar Jaamay. Hamid and Zafar will highlight how Afghan refugees and immigrants in Washington State have contributed to and been affected by disaster relief efforts, including their role in rebuilding communities.
The program will be presented on Zoom on Thursday morning with the Zoom line opening at 7 a.m. The formal meeting including the program runs from 7:30-8:30 a.m. No registration is required, and the program is free.
The meeting will be available via Zoom. Click here to join the meeting Thursday morning. The Zoom line will open shortly after 7 a.m.
Hamid Stanikzai is a Rotarian, entrepreneur, and procurement specialist passionate about community service. A member of the Rotary Club of Kabul City since 2015, he served as Club Secretary in 2016 and was elected President for the 2017-2018 term in recognition of his leadership. During his presidency, he spearheaded the club’s official registration with the Afghan government to comply with regulatory requirements. In 2020, he was appointed Assistant District Governor for Rotary International District 2430 (Turkey), further expanding his impact.
Professionally, Hamid has held pivotal roles in procurement, including positions with UN-MAPA, MCPA (Managing Conflict in Pakistan and Afghanistan), and Afghanistan’s National Procurement Authority within the Administration Office of the President.
Now based in Seattle, he balances his entrepreneurial ventures as a small business owner of a local grocery store with continued advocacy for Rotary’s humanitarian mission. Outside of Rotary and work, Hamid enjoys playing snooker and exploring new cities’ cultural and culinary diversity.
Zafar Jaamay is an educator and community development professional with over a decade of experience in higher education, refugee support, and leadership. His career includes roles such as Dean of the Faculty of Languages and Literature at Parwan University, ESP-EFL Curriculum Developer for a World Bank-funded project, and Program Director for community initiatives supporting Afghan refugees with the American Councils for International Education in Albania. A committed Rotarian, he also served as President of the Rotary Club of Kabul City (RCKS), championing local and international service projects.
Zafar specializes in curriculum design, ESL instruction, and fostering cross-cultural collaboration. He serves as an Employment Casework Supervisor, leading a Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Employment Pathway Program team to connect clients with vocational opportunities while strengthening community partnerships. His approach emphasizes critical thinking, mentorship, and equitable access to education. In addition to his professional work, Zafar is pursuing an MBA to deepen his organizational leadership and educational innovation expertise. Zafar enjoys reading, exploring nature, and volunteering with grassroots initiatives outside of work.