Stronger than Conflict: My Commitment to Education
I have a love of languages, I speak Arabic, English and Turkish. Growing up, I had dreams of becoming a writer or a poet. My father was my inspiration, and he always encouraged me. But since his death, I have struggled to write anything. For me, education is like food or fuel--an energy that gives me the power to keep going. It is my refuge and my salvation after each experience of conflict in Gaza.
I was fortunate to be a participant in the Dynamic Futures Scholarship programme, which is supported by Al Fakhoora and the Education Above All Foundation. With their help, I was able to graduate from the Islamic University of Gaza with a degree in English Literature. I hope to continue my education and get a master's degree. I am currently an intern at Gaza Sky Geeks, the first education technology hub in Gaza. I am learning many things and want to increase my professional skills.
More than anything else, I want to continue to tell the world my story and the stories of many others like me. This week, my friends from Gaza and I participated in a panel discussion at the WISE Summit, where we shared our stories of how conflict and war have impacted our lives and shaped our identities. Despite these obstacles, we are committed to using our inherent resilience and sense of defiance to advocate for a better future for ourselves, our families and our communities in Gaza.
Photo: © EAA/Paddy Dowling