Palestinian, from Gaza; seeking Undergraduate degree in Dentistry and is enrolled at Al Azhar university.
My college journey was made possible by sacrifices I can never forget.
My mother worked for six months as a cleaner at the United Nations to secure my university registration
fees, despite suffering from both diabetes and high blood pressure. Every day, she left home at 7 a.m.
and returned at 3 p.m., completely exhausted after long hours of cleaning hallways and carrying heavy
waste that weighed on her already fragile body.
During our displacement, we had no choice but to sell our home furniture to cover our basic needs. It was
heartbreaking to watch my family lose what little we had left, piece by piece, after being forced to leave
our home. It did not end there; my father and younger brother had to go to dangerous distribution points,
such as Zikim and Nabulsi, among thousands of people, just to secure aid.
Amid all of this, I made a clear decision: I would not let my mother’s sacrifices go in vain.
Today, I study Dentistry, determined to turn these sacrifices into a real future. Every step I take carries my mother’s patience and strength with me. My goal is not only to graduate, but to provide a dignified life for
my family and repay even a small part of what can never truly be repaid.
Your support not only helps me continue my education, but it also gives my family hope that everything we have endured was not in vain.
Why Would Donors Fund You?
I never lost hope. That is why my donors should fund me. Imagine what holding onto hope takes amidst that amount of loss and destruction! It takes an iron will to rebuild. It is said that “For only from the ashes of who we were, can we rise up to become who we’re to be” .
How Do You Plan to Payback?
My decision to study Dentistry was not random; it was shaped by a personal experience when a tumor was discovered in my sister's throat through a simple X-ray. This highlighted to me the critical diagnostic phase in my and other medical professions. Based on this, I aim to use my specialization not only to provide treatment, but also to promote prevention and early detection, especially in communities with limited access to healthcare services. After graduation, I aspire to organize awareness campaigns in schools and local communities, provide treatment days for underserved populations, and contribute to spreading health awareness through programs based on scientific and sustainable approaches.
Volunteer Work/Social Capital
- I engaged in community work by volunteering with organizations supporting children and women. Please describe activities
and add the name of the organization(s) - I volunteered at Al-Shifa Hospital during periods of medical staff shortages.
What Have You Done to Improve Yourself? Awards and Achievements
- I studied English levels 1-6 at the AMIDEAST Center in Gaza
- I Robots in high school in a joint project between UNICEF and my high school, Abdul Rahman Bin Auf.
This experience enhanced my presentation and critical thinking skills. - I studied music at the Edward Said Conservatory, where I participated in choir performances and cultural events reflecting Palestinian heritage.
- I also studied music at Rashad Al-Shawa Center, an affiliate of the Gaza municipality to preserve Palestinian cultural heritage.
- I actively participated in school broadcasting.
- I represented my school in technology competitions , which contributed to developing my leadership skills and strengthening my initiative
and ability to perform under pressure.
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