Study Aid for Palestinian University students

On October 7th, following an attack by Palestinian freedom fighters, Israel increased its aggression on Gaza. More than 4,500 miles away, our Palestinian scholars in Malaysia follow the news closely, fearing for the lives of their family, friends and people. Many of them have been speaking out about the atrocities in solidarity and resistance. One scholar in particular has discovered the power of her pen and voice. 

Meet Basma

Basma is a 22-year-old student from Gaza who moved to Malaysia to pursue a degree in Business Administration. Her entire family lives in Gaza and has been internally displaced in the Gaza Strip after her childhood home was recently destroyed in a bombing. Refusing to despair, Basma has been channelling her grief into advocacy.

So far, Basma has published four articles, given two interviews for podcast shows and was one of the speakers at an event discussing 'the role of the world and the Muslim community in the development and situation of the war on Gaza'.

When we spoke with Basma, she said, "I believe it's not my fault to be born a Palestinian, but it's my responsibility to be a voice for all voiceless people if I can. Using my voice is one of the only things that makes me feel better these days. I didn't know I had the skill of storytelling. I am discovering a lot of new things about myself nowadays, and I try to focus on the good as much as I can. Even though I cannot return to my country for at least five years, I still maintain faith that my future holds numerous achievements." 

About the project

The Study Aid project, so far, has:

1. Provided all 16 students with a monthly allowance of RM300 since June 2023;
2. Paid for all outstanding university costs as of October 2023;
3. Paid for 3 students' visa application fees and 3 students' visa renewal fees.

When asked about the impact of the study aid, one student sums it up as follows: "It has alleviated my worries and enabled me to concentrate more on my studies.", confirming that the Study Aid is achieving its projected goal. 

With your generous donations, we are committed to continuing this support. Additionally, we are exploring ways to expand our support through development programmes that address non-material needs, such as subsidised mental health support, internship placement and career mentorship.

Our Palestinian Scholar submitted his mobile application into the Penang International Invention, Innovation and Design (PIID2023) Competition in April 2023. He was incredibly thrilled to announce that his mobile app, Angel Tour Guide, Malaysia - won a Gold Medal! 

Our Scholar, Saif, is a student at a University in Kedah, a state north of KL. He is in his second year studying Bachelor's in Cyber Security - Computer Science. 

"With supportive family, friends, and people around me, I confidently showcased my skills and talent. Now, fueled by this success, I eagerly aspire to achieve even greater heights, pushing the boundaries of my imagination."

Angel Tour Guide - which is available on the Google Play Store - is a mobile application that provides an interactive and informative tour guide experience for people visiting Malaysia. The app is designed to cater to the needs of travelers of all ages and abilities, including those with disabilities. 

Saif's attention to integration and inclusivity while crafting an innovative mobile application is inspiring to us and many others his age. We also asked him why he chose to build this application, to which he said: 

"It represented something that I could benefit the community with, especially different needs people and I thought that it might be a good opportunity to make a little bit of a difference on society."

Seeing Saif find success in his educational journey reinvigorates our drive to continue our support for the Palestinian diaspora in Malaysia. We hope it has inspired you too, please share our project with your family and friends!