The Challenge of Living and Studying In Jerusalem
Al Fakhoora and UNDP at times have the opportunity to work with students outside of Gaza to ensure access to higher education. Bisan is one such student, who stayed behind to study in Jerusalem while her family left to Canada as they were unable to earn enough to support the family.
20-year-old Bisan Al Shwaiki is in her third year studying medicine in Al Quds University in Jerusalem. Bisan and her six family members used to live in Hebron in the South of the West Bank where her father owned and ran a small bookstore, but facing an ever increasing cost of living and the inability to earn enough from the bookstore, the family left to Canada while Bisan stayed to attend college.
Bisan was awarded the Al Fakhoora scholarship based not only on her financial situation, but also on her remarkable academic achievements, scoring a stunning cumulative mark of 98% during secondary school. Al Fakhoora’s scholarship lifted a financial burden on her family, but her father was still facing the challenge of sending her two other sisters to university due to the high fees and other requirements such as the cost of accommodation and books.
Living and studying in Jerusalem is truly a challenging experience. Bisan described how Israeli soldiers keep storming into the university and disturbing students. “It’s challenging to focus on studying, but I do my best and get high grades as I know that I do this for my family and country and also value the tremendous support the scholarship has brought to us.”
“I live in the university dorms, as it’s hard with checkpoints to go to Hebron every day. It’s safe for us as female students, but I know that male students face ongoing disturbances from Israeli soldiers – overall it’s not an easy experience, studying in such a tense environment.” Bisan added
“I am proud of studying in Jerusalem, and having an Al Fakhoora scholarship, and inshAllah I complete my degree and will serve my people in Palestine.” Bisan concluded.
