Suzan Salman Abu Khadra is one of the Scholarship Fund’s first students. She embarked on her degree in 2007 at the Islamic University in Gaza, majoring in primary education.
Before being awarded a scholarship, Suzan could not see how she was ever going to get to university let alone graduate. ‘My father is a police officer but he couldn’t afford to pay tuition fees for me and my sister at the same time. And there were so many other expenses on top of the fees. So actually, I was about to give up my studies because of the family’s lack of financial resources.’
“The Scholarship Fund is very important because it gives women the opportunity to have a positive influence in their communities and in society.”
When Suzan put in an application to the Sheffield Scholarship Fund, she knew that her application would be carefully considered and she was delighted when she heard that she would be receiving a scholarship. ‘My dream came true. I knew then that I would get to university and I graduated in 2011 with a very good grade.
“My dream came true”
‘I’ve always believed women have an equal right to education. And even though I’ve not found a job since graduating, I am certain that my time at university has helped me become a lot more self-confident and has enhanced my self-esteem. I can feel these changes in how comfortable I am with my husband and with my children.
‘I’d like to give very sincere thanks and appreciation to the Sheffield women who have spared no effort in helping Palestinian women in Gaza. The Scholarship Fund is very important because it gives women the opportunity to have a positive influence in their communities and in society.
‘I hope I can get a job so that together with my husband we can overcome the difficulties we suffer from in Gaza. I hope I can work as a teacher to ensure that younger generations are educated and cultured. By doing this I hope to develop and improve our country.’