Congratulations to our STEPS scholar for the former year Ahmed Nehad. Despite the difficult situation in Gaza and the continuous stream of bad news during his studies, Ahmed managed to complete his MSc in Sustainable Development and graduated with distinction.
Congratulations Ahmed and we wish you the best in your future.
Curator Ruba al-Thaher explores the personal and cultural significance of Palestinian embroidery at Tiraz: Widad Kawar Home for Arab Dress. Each dress in the Amman collection tells a unique story of heritage and resilience, reflecting diverse regional identities. The exhibition features stunning embroidered garments that serve as symbols of identity and protection. Check their Instagram post for more details.
5-year-old Marlin has now arrived in Scotland after being granted a visa to exit Gaza and come here to be reunited with her mother, our 2023-24 STEPS scholar, Israa. Thank you very much to all those who campaigned, worked or made donations to make this possible. Last weekend Israa and Marlin went strawberry-picking in Fife.
We have been delighted to hear that, with the enormous help of a human rights lawyer in London working pro bono, and a GoFundMe campaign organized by a former STEPS trustee, Gilbert Ramsay, our 2022-23 scholar Israa Aljaish, who is now in Dundee, has managed to secure the funds and a visa to get her five-year-old daughter Marlin out of Gaza, and is planning to bring her to Scotland in the next few weeks. We are extremely grateful to them and to all who have contributed to making this possible.
Our scholarship recipient for 2023-24 is Ahmed Elsheikh Khalil, who is studying for a Master’s degree in Sustainable Development. Welcome, Ahmed! Since his family is from Gaza, he has obviously faced a lot of trauma, but despite this he has managed to continue with his studies and completed his first semester courses at the University with merit.
We are thrilled to announce that Israa Aljaish, our scholar for 2022-23, graduated in September 2023 with her MSc in International Education from the University of St Andrews. Israa’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable, marked by determination and resilience.
As Israa reflects on her graduation, she shares:
“Officially graduated from the University of St Andrews this year! It wasn’t this easy, nor was it this light when we decided to celebrate. I was not able to contact my family, mum, and my daughter to see me getting my certificate and that is due to what is happening right now in Gaza. I dedicate this to my father’s soul, to pure Gaza’s soul, to the souls of all our beloved martyrs. May they have eternal peace. To my mother’s heart, my daughter, my grandmother, and the hearts of my brothers, teachers, and friends… Finally got my Master of Science in International Education.”
We stand in solidarity with Israa and her family, hoping for their safety and a brighter future. Congratulations, Israa, on your well-deserved success. May your journey ahead be filled with continued accomplishments and prosperity.
St Andrews Education for Palestinian Students (STEPS) condemns the targeting of all civilians in war and supports the calls by other charities for the UK government to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel. We have looked on in horror at the tragic loss of civilian life since October 7 in Israel and, overwhelmingly, in Gaza. Israeli bombing has killed over 10,000 people, nearly half of these were children. This has to stop. Our government must also demand the entry of humanitarian aid, the rescinding of the order to over 1,000,000 civilians to leave their homes, and an end to the blockade of Gaza.
STEPS was founded in 2011 and, over the years, several of our scholars have come from Gaza. They have brought their personal stories of growing up in a place where Israel controls everything, and everyone, that is allowed in or out. The economy has been strangled and the infrastructure destabilised. By 2017, three years earlier than the UN predicted, much of the population was suffering in “unliveable” conditions. And now, with no regard for the principles of International Law, a catastrophic humanitarian crisis is being created on the orders of the Israeli government. The UK government must demand an immediate ceasefire.
Congratulations to our amazing STEPS students Amr and Wafaa who participated in the graduation ceremony this December.
We wish both of them a very bright future.
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.
We wish both of them a very successful life.
