Our amazing scholar Wafaa Alzaanin participated in the UN Geneva Graduate Fellowship. Wafaa wrote: “My experience was very rich and informative, I was able to learn deeply about unilateral organizations and the humanitarian response. I was able also to make powerful networks, overall my experience was amazing!”
Congratulations to STEPS students Noor Mehdawi and Nadine Abushaaban who participated in the graduation ceremony this June. Both of our students finished their degrees in 2020, but their graduation was delayed due to Covid restrictions.
The trustees held a welcoming dinner for the new students at West Lodge. We spent a very nice time chatting with our new students about their new experiences and study. We wish them all the best with their master’s study!
Our scholar for 2020-21, Ala Mustafa, graduated in September 2021
with a merit in her MSc in Health Psychology and has returned to the West Bank
where she almost immediately found a job in a research clinic in Ramallah,
where she has already been promoted and says that she is greatly enjoying
helping people with mental health problems there. She hopes before too long to
study for a Ph. D. in Psychology. Despite the difficulties of studying last
academic year, she greatly enjoyed her time at St Andrews and wishes to thank
all those whose help allowed her to come here.
We are delighted to welcome our new scholar Wafaa from Beit Hanoun, Gaza Strip. Wafaa is doing an MSc in International Development Practice. We wish her all the best in her study. Here are a few words from our scholar: “My name is Wafaa Alzaanin, I am a motivated female dentist from Gaza, Palestine. I was honored this year to be a STEPS scholar to study master’s degree at the University of St Andrews. Being a student at St-Andrews University means being in a diverse environment where every day I learn new skills, make new friendships, and communicate with different people from different backgrounds. I cannot say how much I enjoy pursuing my master’s degree here. STEPS gave me the best experience in my life “
Our new students are finally here. A very warm welcome to Amro Abdallatif from Gaza city. Amro is studying MSc in computer science. We wish him all the best. And here are a few words from our scholar: “As a Palestinian student from Gaza, getting to the University of St Andrews, the oldest and best university in Scotland, is mostly a dream. STEPS helped bring that dream to reality. I am beyond excited to be studying here in a course I am deeply interested in, and I am happy to have the opportunity to share my experiences and tell Gaza’s story from my own perspective with people from all different backgrounds. “
A very warm welcome to our scholar for this year, Ala’ Mustafa. Ala’, from Al-Fara’ camp in the village of Tubas, northern West Bank, is studying for an MSc in health psychology. We wish her every success, especially at this difficult time.
On Friday 24th January, 7.30pm, Colinsburgh Community Cinema will be presenting a screening of the Palestinian film Lemon Tree. Entry will be £4.
Lemon Tree, starring renowned Palestinian actress Hiam Abbass, tells the story of a Palestinian widow has to stand up against her new neighbour, the Israeli Defence Minister, when he moves into his new house opposite her lemon grove on the green line border between Israel and the West Bank. The Israeli security forces are quick to declare the lemon trees pose a threat to the Minister’s safety and issue orders to uproot the trees.
We’re delighted to announce our latest graduation. Nahil Al-Rumi, pictured here with her supervisor, attended the University of St Andrews’ graduation ceremony on 4th December to collect her Master’s degree. Nahil, who is already a qualified medical doctor, is continuing to learn having one a place as a clinical fellow at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
