Benazir Bhutto Leadership Program at Harvard now accepting applications

"The world needs, more than ever, the kind of leadership that Benazir’s principles inspire," said co-chair

A fellowship at Harvard University to honour Benazir Bhutto which was announced earlier is now accepting applications.

The fellowship has been established by ClassACT (Class Achieving Change Together, www.classacthr73.org), which is an organisation created by members of the Harvard-Radcliffe (HR) Class of 1973 who were classmates of the late twice elected Prime Minister of Pakistan.

The program is housed at the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS). It aims to educate and support mid-career leaders particularly from the Middle East and South Asia, ClassACT shared on their website.



Titled the HKS ClassACT HR 1973 Graduate Leadership Program Fellowship in Honour of Benazir Bhutto, the fellowship will support those accepted into the Edward S Mason Program at HKS.

The HKS has started accepting applications to the Mason Program for the first year of the fellowship.

The advisory board of the fellowship includes Sanam Bhutto, sister of late Benazir Bhutto.

"In college, we were privileged to have Benazir Bhutto, who was to become the first woman to lead a predominantly Muslim country, as a classmate,” said Marion Dry, Co-Chair of ClassACT and Director of the Benazir Bhutto Leadership Program.

"The world needs, more than ever, the kind of leadership that Benazir’s principles inspire," she further maintained.

Classmate Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, former Lieutenant Governor of the state of Maryland commented, "Benazir arrived at Harvard as a 16-year-old with verve, energy, curiosity and enormous determination. She inspired us with her courage in the face of tragedy, integrity where corruption was rampant, and focus when so many forces could lead to dissipation. We are eager to carry her spirit in our hearts and her legacy at our alma mater"

Jamshed Kazi, Country Representative of UN Women Pakistan and a Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School said, "Benazir Bhutto has been an iconic and inspirational figure for many women -- as well as plenty of men like myself

"Bhutto worked against considerable odds to promote democratic principles and boost gender equality initiatives in a patriarchal setting. The launch of the Benazir Bhutto Fellowship is a fitting tribute to her legacy," he added.



ClassACT  is founded on the premise that "it is not too late for us to change the world". The organisation’s fundamental purpose is to bring together HR73 classmates to address important local, national, and international problems by creating and supporting positive change.