Completing my PhD in Islamic Finance and Economy

Help me continue my PhD program in Islamic Finance and Economy

A year ago, I managed to secure 50% scholarship to start my PhD degree in the Islamic Finance and Economy program at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar. I have successfully completed my first year of my Ph.D. while deferring payments of the remaining 50% of the costs. I have been actively looking for an outside funding source to supplement my scholarship. Unfortunately, up until now, I have not been able to secure additional funding, and therefore I will potentially have to pause pursuing my dream. I have until September 2nd, 2021, to pay my tuition dues to be able to register for this coming semester. Until then, I am determined to continue knocking on every door, including this fundraising campaign.

My story

I consider myself a determined, yet lucky, Palestinian who have had some of the best educational opportunities. I have attended an outstanding high school in the United Kingdom and a fantastic university in the United States before going back home to Palestine to work and live with my family, where I have been volunteering in many non-profit causes.

For us Palestinians, education is a tool for survival and a means of resistance. To continue my education is a significant step for me to help my Palestinian and Islamic community at large. I have worked hard all my life to be where I am today, and I continue to believe I will reach even higher. I have placed among the top students in my Master's program with a GPA of 4.0 (out of 4.0), and despite working tirelessly part-time and in a stressful pandemic year, I got 3.5 out of 4.0 in my first year of Ph.D.

Growing up in Palestine and attending a public school in my village at the forefront of the nonviolent resistance to the conflict in the West Bank, I had many a setback. I was incredibly lucky to have participated in a program called the English Access Micro Scholarship Program from 2006 to 2008, which provided foundational English language skills to talented Palestinian children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. After my graduation from the program, I got a scholarship to attend the Atlantic United World College in the United Kingdom and be part of the international movement of the United World Colleges. Upon completing the IB Diploma, I attended the Reeves School of Business and Economics at the Methodist University in the United States, graduating in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a minor in Resort and Club Management.

Upon my return to Palestine after completing my first degree, I started working at a local bank at the operation department and I also began working as the Access Alumni Coordinator at the AMIDEAST — the same program I benefited from when I was a school student in Palestine. Through my work, I organized different community service activities for the benefit of the needy members and sectors of the Palestinian community. Additionally, I became a volunteering member of the United World Colleges National Committee of Palestine, where I took part in promoting the scholarship program to overlooked and marginalized communities, in the scholarship selection process, and in the onboarding and orientation of incoming students.

Volunteering and community service have been the compass of my life, and I believe I will always look for ways to contribute and give back to my Palestinian and Islamic communities. In the United Kingdom, I took an active part in the Cardiff and Vale Rescue Association (CAVRA), Amnesty International, and Model United Nations. In the United States, I was selected to be part of the Delta MU Delta, a US national honor society in business administration. I was also on the Dean’s List several times, and I graduated with a GPA of 3.4. In addition, I was selected as a Mathematic Tutor for three years, and I worked as an administrative assistant at the Alumni Office. I was an active member of Rotaract Club and took part in several fundraising activities to fight polio. I helped organize several events for the March of Dimes.

Your help will make a difference

I was, and still am, greatly grateful for the opportunities I had because I could not have been part of them without the generous support I received throughout my life. Coming from a family with a very limited income and underprivileged economic conditions, generous support from individuals and organizations have made a profound difference in my life. I hope this fundraising campaign will help me continue my PhD program, and propel me to continue giving even more back and being an active member of the community. Thank you for your generosity and trust.