KAILUA-KONA — The path of progress continues for the young woman from Tajikistan who evaded an arranged marriage with local assistance: She’s headed for college.
Mehrengez Rahmatova, 19, was accepted to multiple colleges and recently decided on Milikin University in Illinois. This comes after almost a year at the Hawaii Community College — Palamanui after locals who’d heard Rahmatova’s story donated to help fund her American college dream.
Her host mother, Pamela Wang, is requesting additional financial support for Rahmatova. She has already earned a merit-based scholarship and a private grant, covering her attendance at the school. This does not cover the estimated $15,000 a year for housing.
“She remains very humble and feels very much beholden to her benefactors. She has very high aspirations and wishes to prove her worthiness to everyone involved in her life,” Wong wrote.
Donations can be made to Christ Church Episcopal, PO Box 545, Kealakekua, HI, 96750, which provides a letter for the tax-deductible donation. A Go Fund Me campaign is available at gofund.me/rh5ed4z2. Because of costs associated with the online service, Wong prefers donations be made to the church. Make checks payable to Christ Church and in the memo line, write Mehrengez.