A Lifetime of Service

Bibi Bahrami, ’14, has dedicated her life to caring for others and serving her community. She is a co-founder and the president of the Islamic Center of Muncie, a Rotarian, and a previous member of the advisory boards for Ball State’s Center for Peace and Conflict Studies and several other organizations.

In 1979, her family was forced to leave their home in Afghanistan after the war that followed the Soviet Union’s invasion. She spent six years in a refugee camp before eventually immigrating to Muncie with her husband, Saber.

Ms. Bahrami refused to forget those left behind. The Bahramis continued to visit Afghanistan, bringing medical and other supplies, and treating as many Afghans as possible. After the terrorist attacks of September 11, Ms. Bahrami realized it was the perfect time to act and make a difference.

“I grew up in the kind of home where there wasn’t a stranger,” she said. “We treated people from all walks of life as one of us, as humans, and I have continued to do that since coming to beautiful, beautiful Muncie.”

Grateful for her own opportunities, she founded the non-profit organization AWAKEN (Afghan Women’s and Kids’ Education & Necessities) in 2002 to give Afghan women and children access to healthcare, education, and vocational training. Also, AWAKEN has built schools, opened a medical clinic that treats over 3,000 patients per month, and much more.

In 2021, AWAKEN formed the Muncie Afghan Refugee Resettlement Committee subcommittee to assist in the urgent need to resettle Afghans starting new lives in the U.S. Around 35 families—more than 130 people—were relocated to the Muncie community. Though the subcommittee work has ended, Ms. Bahrami and AWAKEN continue to work nonstop to battle hunger and help struggling families in Afghanistan with basic needs.

Ms. Bahrami has received many honors and awards for her charity work, including the Ball State International Development Award and the Indiana Women of Achievement Award. Her lifelong dedication to helping others has had a positive impact on local and global communities. She was also nominated for an Academy Award for the Malala Yousafzai-produced documentary “Stranger at the Gate,” which helps spread the message that compassion can transform people’s lives.

“I’ve been so inspired by my community here, the good work they do, and the support I’ve had for the last 37 years of my life in Muncie,” Ms. Bahrami said. “But I am especially grateful for the last 20 years with AWAKEN, working alongside the people of Afghanistan.”