There are some 3.5 million Palestinian refugees
scattered throughout the Middle East, most of them living in extreme poverty.
Higher education remains a dream for the children of these refugees. While
UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) provides a limited number
of elementary and high schools, these facilities don't come near to matching
the need of this population. In Lebanon, for instance, there are only
three high schools to serve close to half a million refugees. In Syria,
UNRWA provides only a small number of elementary schools. In the West
Bank and Gaza the schools are overcrowded and impocverished, and often
are closed for months at a time. There are a number of small colleges
and universities in the West Bank and Gaza, but all are relatively small
institutions with limited facilities and extremely limited financial resources.
Their fees, while small by American standards, are for the most part beyond
the financial abilities of the refugee population. Moreover , many of
these institutions have been forced to close down for months or even years
at a time during the Palestinian Intifada . For instance, Beir Zeit University
-the largest and most prestigious college in the West Bank, often described
as the Palestinian Harvard -- was closed for some two years, its classrooms
raided and precious equipment destroyed or damaged.
The Hope Fund is a small, new organization with a spectacular track record.
In just four brief years of operation, we have managed to provide scholarships
worth a total of over one million dollars. Most importantly, we occupy
a vital and un-served niche, targeting the very poorest and most vulnerable
Palestinian refugee high school graduates. These graduates constitute
probably not less than 98 percent of this age group in which a college
education is beyond their wildest dreams.
The principal mission of the Hope Fund is to provide a college education
for young people who have demonstrated academic excellence, determination
and drive.
We provide scholarships to Palestinian refugees living below the poverty
line throughout the Mideast, but especially in the West Bank, Gaza Strip,
Jordan, Lebanon and Syria where the needs are most urgent.
We Strive to award an equal number of scholarships to young men and women.
We encourage students to pursue disciplines that will provide economic
uplift both to the individual and his or her community. Such disciplines
include training in the sciences, computers, engineering, agriculture,
accounting, public and business administration, health and social services,
education, community development and conflict resolution.
While we aim to one day provide places at institutions of higher learning
in the Middle East, this option is not currently viable because the resources
of those institutions are already stretched thin. Instead, we have had
great success in partnership with a growing number of United States colleges
that share our vision and have provided scholarships which include tuition,
room and board. The Hope Fund provides additional needs such as travel
expenses , insurance, educational supplies and social support during the
crucial early, transitional months when students are adjusting to a new
culture.
It is important to our mission that Hope Fund Scholars return to uplift
their communities after obtaining their degrees. While there can be no
absolute guarantee, we do require all scholarship recipients to sign a
pledge to return or to repay the Hope Fund the entire amount expended
on their education. In addition, the type of visa granted usually stipulates
that these students must leave the United States once their education
is completed. Experience has shown that the vast majority of students
from the Middle East do, as a matter of course, choose to return home.
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