Palestinian, from Gaza/Palestine; seeking Undergraduate degree in Microbiolog and is enrolled at Al-Azhar University.
Hello, I am, Shaima Abu Sariya, a 21-year-old girl from Gaza, Palestine.
I have a bachelor's degree in microbiology from Al-Azhar University.
My degree is still embargoed due to the debt I owe to the University. I survived five wars, and have not lost my determination to pursue my higher education.
Today, I have a chance of lifetime. I can get a master's degree in microbiology from Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University University in Turkey, IF Al-Azhar releases my degree.
My father works in construction. My mother is a housewife. I have 5 siblings, who all managed to get college degrees thanks to the importance my father attached to our education. We in Gaza live in a big prison. Education is our passport.
When I was in elementary school, one of my cousins contracted meningitis, and his life was in danger. Meningitis causes an inflamation of the brain and spinal cord membranes and can be life-threatening . I was so scared for his life, and curious to learn more about diseases and how to cure them. As I grew older, I found myself attracted to scientific disciplines, especially microbiology. Microbiology has been my favorite subject since I was in grade school..
My compassion for microbiology did not dampen my talent for drawing and the arts. I participated in competitions and training courses, and won a visit to the West Bank sponsored by UNICEF, QATTAN Foundation, The Fakhoura Talent Support program and the Ministry of Education. I became known as the Artist of Gaza and has been running drawing courses for children since I was a high school student.
Why Would Donors Fund You?
Palestine has the lowest percentage of female science researchers in the Middle East. I want to increase this percentage, I want to establish a center to promote the love of science among women and girls . STEAM is the for future education and I want it to be part of our science education pathways.
I also hope to explain to lay people how microbiology is part of everyday life, from cooking to health and hygiene.
How Do You Plan to Payback?
- Given the importance of STEAM, I want to establish a Center to promote the love of science among women and girls upon my return to Gaza.
- I want to raise public awareness plain to lay persons how miccampaigns to exrobiology is part of everyday life, from the cooking to
health and hygiene. Very few people know that salmonella is harmful bacteria
that can contaminate the food we consume and could be fatal. - We needed to mobilize the public to fight pandemics. COVID is a case in point. It has been extremely difficult to
convince the public about the importance of vaccines in fighting pandemics, prevention measures and curtailing the spread of disease.
Volunteer Work/Social Capital
- I volunteered with Sanabel Al Khair team in many events: cleaning streets, landscape beautification, food baskets during Ramadan..etc.
- I volunteered to raise awareness about health, hygiene and other relevant topics of scientific knowledge among school children.
- I volunteered to draw murals in schools destroyed during air raids on Gaza.
What Have You Done to Improve Yourself? Awards and Achievements
- I participated with the Nayzak Project to develop my scientific capabilities.
- Participated with UNICEF in the project of beautifying school murals
- I volunteered with the Sanabel Al Khair team in many events
- Including (Eid clothing, fasting breakfast, street cleaning and many more)
- I volunteered with a group of schools to educate students about health and awareness.
- I received many awards for the best human rights murals, namely embodying the Provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: the right to Freedom and the right to live in peace sponsored by UNRWA and UNICEF, and the best mural painting in the Gaza Strip
- I worked as a babysitter at summer camps
- I worked as a trainer for drawing courses
- I took English courses
- Computer courses
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