From Gaza To Qatar, A New Beginning Awaits

Doha, Qatar: In times of war, access to education becomes a distant dream for many. While higher education often receives even less priority during crises, it is essential to sustain it to prevent an educational gap that could affect an entire generation.

Ensuring continued access to learning is not just a necessity but a global responsibility. Organisations and institutions around the world must work together to support this critical cause.

The Education Above All (EAA) Foundation has been at the forefront of these efforts, delivering quality education to more than 22 million beneficiaries around the world. The foundation works in more than 60 countries through a robust network of more than 100 partners, making education an everyday reality for marginalised communities. To date, the foundation has provided more than 10,000 higher education scholarships to deserving students.

Haneen Abukwaik, a scholar of EAA Foundation, is one example of how the organisation has been attuned to the needs of those enduring war. Along with her clothes and basic life necessities, 20-year-old Haneen Saleh Abukwaik packed her burden of grief when she left Gaza in February 2024 and relocated to Qatar to face an unknown future.

She made the choice to flee with her family and friends to pursue safety and education overseas while the war continued in Gaza. Currently enrolled in the College of Health Sciences in the Bachelor of Respiratory Therapy degree program in Qatar, this passionate youth is committed to transforming her struggles into a tale of achievement and service.

Leaving Gaza was not merely a move, it was an escape from destruction. She remembers that,“Bombing was everywhere, even in places that were supposed to be safe. Nowhere in Gaza was truly safe.” The war had a profound effect on her family.“Our family is small, and a lot of my relatives lost their houses, jobs, and educational opportunities. I lost close friends and family members on both my mother's and father's sides,” she lamented. Three of the family members have moved to Qatar with her, while she strives to rebuild her life despite the losses.

Before the war, Haneen's days in Gaza were centred on studies, personal growth, and treasured time spent with family.“My daily routine included going to university, hanging out with family and friends on the weekends, and working on self-improvement through workshops and career development programs,” she remembered.

The welcoming reception Abukwaik received upon her arrival in Qatar made the adjustment easier.“It felt like home right away,” the respiratory therapist says.

She was able to enrol in the University of Doha for Science and Technology after obtaining a scholarship through Education Above All Foundation's Al Fakhoora program. The Qatar Scholarship Program has changed the aspiring respiratory therapist's life in the most profound way.

This Ramadan, the EAA Foundation launched the 'Eid Gift' campaign from March 5 to 20, in collaboration with Qatar Red Crescent Society. The campaign aims to collect new clothing, school bags and water bottles for people of all ages, which will be distributed to those in need in Gaza and Syria.

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