From Tajikistan to Tech: Bakhtibegim's Journey of Growth & Grit

My name is Bakhtibegim Qurbonova, and I come from Tajikistan. After high school, I was overwhelmed by questions like "Where should I apply?" That's when I found the Shams Family Foundation (SFF), an organization that helps students study at South East European University in North Macedonia. At first I was scared — I had no experience, and the visa process looked impossible. But SFF believed in me, helping me fill out every form and coaching me for the visa interview.

One of the greatest sources of support throughout my journey has been Kamruddin Shams, who was always there with the right advice at the right time, treating each of us with care. Another major turning point was my Erasmus exchange experience — in my third year, I spent a semester studying in Seville, Spain, learning alongside students from across Europe.

Graduation day was a moment I had dreamed of for years. We were the first group of students from SFF to graduate from the university, which made the day even more special. While still a student, I completed a six-month remote internship as a software tester at a Swiss company, Intelact. After graduating, I secured a remote position as a QA Engineer at Imperum, a company based in the Netherlands, where I've now been working for almost a year.

There was no way I could have imagined this path when I was still in high school. But thanks to the incredible support of the Shams Family Foundation, what once felt impossible became my reality. No dream is too big when you have the right people supporting you.