Leeding the Way as an Intercultural Ambassador
Abeer Al Abiad, 26, lives in Gaza and studied accounting at Al Azhar University in Gaza. After graduating, she worked as lecturer at the UNRWA’s Technical Training Center, teaching management and development.
Abeer applied for an Al Fakhoora International Master’s Degree scholarship for 2013-2014 with a remarkable application looking to study Education Management, putting her case strongly forward that this is a field massively needed in Gaza.
Abeer was accepted into the International Education Management Program at the University of Leeds in the UK. In her words Abeer stated that “This was the best news I have ever had, yet leaving Gaza was a HUGE challenge.” As her program started, the Rafah Crossing, the only terminal for people to leave Gaza closed with no fixed schedule or indication of when it would reopen.
Leaving Gaza was very challenging, “I was supposed to join the program on September 15th, and was finally able to make it on September 23rd after five days of commuting daily to the border to see if it was open and I could get through. Because I left on the 23rd I ended up missing orientation week.”
Abeer continued, “Yet, I have to say the program is very interesting, though it was very difficult in the beginning, particularly that I changed my track of studies from accounting to education management, still I have been able to relate to my practical experience as an instructor at the UNRWA Technical College. In Gaza we truly lack the resources and books related to education management, now I feel it’s time to change and dig deep to develop our educational systems.”
