Veterinary Medicine: A Rare Specialty in Gaza
Responding to high market needs, Al Fakhoora’s Dynamic Future’s Program awarded three new undergraduate scholarships to young Palestinians from Gaza in the field of Veterinary Medicine. The students started their journey early in 2014 in a distinguished program at the Jordanian University for Science and Technology.
Veterinary Medicine, as a specialty, does not exist as a degree in Palestinian Universities. All the Veterinary Medicine specialists in the market received their degrees years ago mainly from Egypt, and for the time being are either retired or will be retiring in the upcoming years.
The Gaza Strip is one of the biggest markets for animal meat, yet relies so much on importing meat. However, several farms in Gaza and private businesses are trying to invest more in animal wealth to meet local needs. The current Veterinary Medicine specialists are highly overloaded following up on the farms in Gaza.
Tapping into this demand, Dynamic Futures opened competition for an International undergraduate degree in Veterinary Medicine and three candidates were awarded these scholarships and started their studies in Jordan.
Moatasem Qadoura, 20, from Gaza City left to Jordan in early 2014 and started his studies. Moatasem said, “I am very enthusiastic for this field. I was looking for this opportunity for a long time. In fact, I was studying business at the Islamic University in Gaza for the past 18 months and had been performing well in my studies. Yet I knew the market is full of business graduates. So I was so happy that Al Fakhoora announced this scholarship.”
Moatasem added, “Veterinary Medicine is not only an interesting field, but it’s missed in Gaza. As I see many unemployed people, I think I will be able to get a job quickly and help my family. My father started a small farm to raise and breed rabbits, and so did my brother by taking care of a few sheep for breeding so they can make business out of this.”
Moatasem concluded, “One day I dream of having my own farm, where my expertise later on in Veterinary Medicine will be an added value, so I can manage all possible problems, and can build up a successful project.”
