The annual scholarship, established in the memory of two exceptional figures, Zhinus and Houshang Mahmoudi, celebrates students in Asia and Africa who demonstrate academic excellence coupled with an outstanding approach to education that advances access to social justice at the grassroots level.

The scholarship, established in 2019 by the Cambridge-based Ward & Brown Foundation and supported by Full Circle Learning and Zambian Gems Foundation is now administered by an independent panel of the Mahmoudi Foundation formally launched in 2024. Inspired by Zhinus and Houshang Mahmoudi, whom the scholarship honours, it supports 15 to 18-year-olds involved in research or community service activities that apply social justice to help promote racial, economic or geneder-based equality as a means to greater access to the socioeconomic rights to education, work, health, shelter or food.

This year, the scholarship panel received a number of applications from Asia and Africa. From among them, nine students are receiving much-deserved scholarships in order to help increase their impact in their immediate spaces through greater access to social justice. To honour and encourage these young scholars, many of whom reside in marginalised communities throughout Africa, the 2025 Mahmoudi Scholarship Award Ceremony will take place on:

Friday, 24 January 2025, at :

South Africa – 7:00 am;
Gambia – 5:00 am;
Uganda – 8:00 am;
U.K. – 5:00 am;
USA PST 9:00 pm on 23rd; EST midnight on 23rd;
NZ – 6:00 pm

To join this unique scholarship ceremony in support of young promoters of social justice, please register here:

RSVP on EventBrite

To learn more, get involved or donate to the Mahmoudi Scholarship, please click here

About the Mahmoudis
Born in 1929, Zhinus Mahmoudi was the first female Iranian meteorologist who headed the country’s National Meteorological Organisation, a part of Iran’s Ministry of Defence. Raised in an educated family, her mother was a teacher and her father a publisher. Jinous studied physics, was a proponent of equality of rights for women and men. She advocated a healthy lifestyle through her translation of books on veganism and yoga. She produced the Geographical Atlas of Iran and led some of the most advanced and ground-breaking research in her industry.

A mother of three, she offered in-depth workshops for youth on significant trends of the time, including the cause of justice. Houshang Mahmoudi was a documentary filmmaker and an educator born in Iran back in 1927. In his earlier years, he co-founded an exemplary secondary school, and became known as a beloved educator among youth. He established Iran’s first children’s edutainment television program and coined phrases that shaped new approaches to parenting and family life. A passionate lawyer, Houshang produced a number of important books, documentaries, articles and poems that demonstrated his dedication to justice as a fundamental element of the new world.

The Mahmoudis served on national governing bodies of the Iranian Baha’i community. Following the
establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979, Houshang, whose whereabouts remain unknown to this day, faced enforced disappearance on 21 August 1980, and following a two-week imprisonment, Zhinus was executed on 27 December 1981.

Zhinus Mahmoudi was born in Tehran in 1929. She received her Bachelor of Science in Physics from University of Tehran, and her Masters degree in Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences. Zhinus Mahmoudi was the first female meteorologist in Iran and became the first female Director of the Iranian Department of Meteorology. She directed the research and was responsible for publication of “The Climate Atlas of Iran” and directed the cloud seeding and artificial rain Project in 1963. Zhinus served on the first Committee for the Study & Research of Air Pollution and the National Committee of Oceanography and Represented Iran in the Congress of World Climatology. She established the Meteorological units for the Ports & Maritime Organization and is therefore remembered as the Founder of Marine Meteorology in Iran. Zhinus was an active participant in Women Rights’ movement; she chaired the Ministry of Roads & Meteorology’s Organization of Women Employees. Zhinus was arrested and executed in December of 1981 for being a Baha’i.

Iran International TV series: ‪@IRANINTL‬

The Mahmoudi Foundation held its inaugural event in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA, on 23 March 2024. Raising awareness about basic human rights, and funds in aid of its scholarships, the Foundation is focussed on empowering a younger generation to promote and practice the oneness of humanity. Established in honor of one of the most impactful and multitalented couples in 20^th Century Asia, Zhinus and Houshang Mahmoudi, the Foundation is built around its scholarship programme, recognising 15-18 year old youth who in addition to academic brilliance, demonstrate an outstanding commitment to the cause of justice and its role in building a united and harmonious community. 

This unique scholarship is a collaborative effort with the California-based educational organisation, Full Circle Learning, and Zambian Gems Foundation, an Oxford-based charity registered in the United Kingdom. The three organisations serving the youngest continents on earth, Asia and Africa, are focussed on the right to education, one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4), and a universal right that the Islamic Republic of Iran withholds from its largest non-Muslim minority, the Baha’i community, which the Mahmoudis belong to.

The inaugural concert featured performances by a world-class tenor, Ramtin Ghazavi, a star of the most famous opera house in the world. Ghazavi was forced to leave his native Iran to pursue his studies in Italy due to the Islamic Republic’s discriminatory laws against the Baha’is. It also involved a range of local talents, including pianist, Samuel Nelson, and classical dancer, Shahrzad Mazouri.

“We are excited to mark our beginning with such wonderful response from all over,” said Mona Mahmoudi, one of the founders of the Foundation, “We look forward to welcoming patrons of art, educators, music lovers, and anyone interested in advancing education among the younger generations to get involved with our work, particularly our scholarship for youth in Africa and Asia.” 

The Mahmoudi Foundation is a 501c3 registered organisation. The Foundation welcomes applicants for its 2024-2025 acdemic year and is busy planning its next fundraising event, as well as a range of media projects. For more information and to get involved, please email us at [email protected]

About The Mahmoudi Scholarship 

The Mahmoudi Scholarship for Justice is established in honor of one of the most impactful and multi-talented couples in contemporary Iran.

Zhinus Mahmoudi was the first female Iranian meteorologist and head of the country’s National Meteorological Organization, a part of Iran’s Ministry of Defense. Raised in an educated family, her mother was a teacher and her father a publisher. Zhinus studied physics and was a proponent of equality of rights for women and men. She advocated a healthy lifestyle through her translation of books on veganism and yoga. She produced the Climate Atlas of Iran and led some of the most advanced and ground-breaking research in her industry, used to this day. A mother of three, she offered in-depth workshops for youth on significant trends of the time, including the cause of justice.

Houshang Mahmoudi was a documentary filmmaker, lawyer, historian and educator. In his earlier years, he established an exemplary elementary school, and became known as a beloved educator among youth. He started Iran’s first children’s edutainment television program and coined phrases that shaped new approaches to parenting and dignity of children and youth. A passionate author and poet, Houshang penned a number of important books, articles and poems that demonstrated his dedication to justice as a fundamental element of the global community.

The Mahmoudis served on national governing bodies of the Iranian Baha’i community. Following the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Houshang faced enforced disappearance on 21 August 1980, and Zhinus was executed on 27 December 1981.