Lotus Leadership Awards: First Lady of Afghanistan Rula Ghani

The Asia Foundation and the Lotus Circle honored First Lady of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Mrs. Rula Ghani at the sixth annual Lotus Leadership Awards Gala in New York City on May 11. Mrs. Ghani, selected as one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2015, was recognized for her efforts to improve living standards for Afghan women. Dr. Vartan Gregorian, president of Carnegie Corporation of New York, accepted a Lotus Leadership Award on behalf of the institution for its partnership with The Asia Foundation to improve access to university and advanced level education to Afghan women. Proceeds from the evening go to support innovative women’s empowerment projects at the Foundation.