Oxford Brookes Gaza Scholarship

Helping young Gazans make their mark on the world while offering hope

About

Oxford Brookes’ Gaza Scholarship was started in 2009 by Sir Iain Chalmers and Dr Paul Brankin OBE to indicate to Palestinians in Gaza that they hadn’t been forgotten.

Life in Gaza is often precarious. The local economy is stifled by the blockade, and for many ambitious young Gazans there are few local opportunities to progress. Higher education beyond Bachelor’s level is not available so scholarships such as this one, offering a chance to study for a Master’s, are a practical way of supporting talented Gazans to make their mark on the world.

“The humanitarian situation in Gaza is very severe and I want to contribute positively to improving things. The reputation of the master’s at Oxford Brookes is well known and directly relevant so I searched and found this scholarship. This was my chance to come here.”

Haya Abdalhadi, MA Development and Emergency Practice graduate and Gaza Scholarship recipient

Past scholars

Since the Oxford Brookes Gaza Scholarship was established in 2010, our scholars have gone on to make significant impacts in a wide range of fields, including environmental sustainability, journalism, refugee support, cancer treatment and digital technology. And all of them have helped to promote Palestinian culture and carry the message of how much the people of Gaza have to offer the world.

We are tremendously proud of all our scholars and what they have achieved. As students they enriched our University community and as graduates they have made lasting impacts – in Gaza, the UK and globally. And we are determined to help many more Gazan students do the same in the future.

Ramy Salemdeeb ’11 - MSc Environment Management &Technology

After graduating, Ramy set up volunteer-based Zero Waste MENA, which promotes sustainable practices, with the ultimate goal of closing all the landfills in the Middle East and North Africa region. Much of its work is in sharing knowledge across social media, blogs and conferences, but they did also manage to get funding to run a six-month project in Gaza.

In 2013, Ramy started a PhD on food waste at Cambridge University. And after completing that, moved to Stirling to work for Zero Waste Scotland, as an Environmental Analyst.

Ramy is keen to promote Palestinian culture and is part of the Palestinian History Tapestry team, led by friend of the Gaza Scholarship Jan Chalmers.

Sadly, Ramy has not been able to visit family and friends in Gaza since 2013. But he is hopeful he can go back soon, and in the longer-term return to use his professional and academic expertise to improve waste management and wider environmental issues in his homeland.

Jamila Alza’anin ’12 - MA Development & Emergency Practice

Jamila studied Computer Engineering at bachelor’s level, and then worked for a UN agency and development agencies in Gaza, but felt she lacked the relevant qualifications to take her career forward at that point, this is why she applied for the scholarship.

Jamila now works for a global humanitarian agency which supports refugees. She and her team work with fundraising teams around the world to bring funds that help refugees and displaced people. She is based in Dubai and covers the Middle-East and North Africa region.

Like most Gazans, Jamila is a refugee and so working for an organisation that helps refugees is particularly meaningful for her.

Hassan Alhallaq '13 - MSc e-Business

Hassan is now Senior Partner Enablement Manager at Cybersource in Oxford.

Jehan Alfarra '14 - MSc Computer Sciences

Jehan is now a multimedia journalist at Middle East Monitor, specialising in Palestinian political news and social issues. Based in London, she covers many stories that don’t get picked up by mainstream media, providing a much-needed platform for Palestinian voices to be heard on a global stage.

She also covers events happening in the UK which are of interest to people in Palestine.

Middle East Monitor has English, Spanish and Portuguese language websites – reaching a wide global audience, and Jehan feels that slowly but surely the discourse around Palestine is changing.

Shayma Alwaheidi ’15 - MSc Public Health

Shayma Alwaheidi graduated in 2015 with an MSc in Public Health. She recently completed a PhD in Cancer Studies Research at King’s College London and is now working for the World Health Organization in Palestine.

Omar Jouda '17 - MSc e-Business

Omar Jouda graduated in 2017 with an MSc in e-Business and is now a Product Manager at GlobalData Plc in London.

Amal Jaber ’18 - MA Development & Emergency Practice

Amal Jaber graduated in 2018 with an MA in Development & Emergency Practice. She is now an Urban Displacement Outside Camp Technical Officer with the Norwegian Refugee Council in Palestine.

Hadil Louz ’19 - LLM Human Rights Law

Hadil Louz graduated in 2019 with an LLM in Human Rights Law and is now working towards a PhD at the University of St Andrews.

Read her interview for our alumni magazine Observe >>

Haya Abdalhadi ’20 - MA Development & Emergency Practice

Haya Abdalhadi graduated in 2020 with an MA in Development & Emergency Practice and she is now a Gender Justice Officer with Oxfam in Palestine.

Mosab Alkhatib '21 - MSc Mechanical Engineering

Mosab Alkhatib graduated in 2021 with an MSc in Mechanical Engineering and is now a Mechanical Engineer at Minibems Dynamic Heat Networks in Bournemouth.

Read his interview in our alumni magazine Observe >>

Soha Altayeb '24 - MSc Applied Sport & Exercise Nutrition

How to support

The scholarship is co-funded by the British Council’s Higher Education Scholarships for Palestinians (HESPAL) scheme. Oxford Brookes University raises the remaining funds from individual donors (£14,000 a year) to welcome a new Gaza scholar on campus. Every donation makes a difference and is gratefully received.