Aref Dostyar is the founder of Afghans for Progressive Thinking (APT), a civil society organization that promotes a culture of tolerance, openness, and respect by providing Afghan university students with opportunities to critically engage contemporary issues. Since 2010, APT has partnered with donors like the National Endowment for Democracy, the United States Embassy in Kabul, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Kabul, Oxfam Novib, Cordaid, and Samaritan's Purse to develop and implement programs such as academic debate, leadership development, intercultural dialogues, and media talk shows. 

Aref served as the Director of APT from 2010 to 2013 and now serves as the Chairperson of the Board of Directors. He is currently a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Notre Dame in the United States where he is pursuing a Masters in International Peace Studies as part of the class of 2016.