Current Scholars News

Manal Awad (right), from Palestine, is being supported by the Foundation for an MA in Theatre Directing at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). Manal was one of only three directors chosen from 94 applicants for this prestigous course.  As part of her studies, Manal directed the British premiere of Junun ('Dementia'), a play by Jalila Baccar, which has been performed by professional actors throughout July at RADA's GBS Theatre.

In April Ghada Hamad (MRes Clinical Psychology, Birmingham) went to stay with the Rochefort family in Herefordshire.  The visit was organised by HOST UK, a voluntary organisation that places international students with UK residents for a weekend visit to give them an insight into the British way of life.  The Rocheforts made Ghada feel extremely welcome and took her on a tour of the local towns, villages and castles.  Ghada was also able to tell them about Jordan, which they are planning to visit next year: "I told them I would be happy to return their wonderful hospitality!"

New CDP Officer

CDP News

The Foundation has recently begun supporting two new project partners in the West Bank, Palestine. Bani Naim Charitable Society, near Hebron, will provide a basic education and integration programme for 45 children with disabilities, who are currently marginalised due to the lack of access to such services in this poor rural area.  Jasmine Charitable Society (right) will expand and improve their existing speech therapy services in order to reach an additional 50 children from Ramallah and nearby villages.

We have also renewed our support for a number of partners we have worked with in the past.  In Lebanon, grants have been made to the Ghassan Kanafani Cultural Foundation for a comprehensive therapeutic intervention project for 130 children with disabilities, and to the Welfare Association for an education project for 240 children in Nahr El Bared camp.  In the West Bank, LCR Askar (above) is to extend its outreach services to 200 children with disabilities in New Askar camp and the surrounding area.

Read more about these and the other projects we support on our website.

Alumni Corner

Jude Yagan (MSc Nephrology, Sheffield 2008, pictured below) works with children needing kidney dialysis at Ibn Rushd Hospital in Aleppo, Syria.  In May she took some of her patients on a special trip to a new games centre and skating rink (right). The trip was funded partly by the generosity of the games centre management and partly by the charity established by Jude and some of her colleagues to help improve the children's daily lives.  Jude is now in the process of setting up a dedicated dialysis room for children at the hospital, containing books and games, and is looking for volunteers to help the children with their reading skills, as almost all of them are denied the chance to learn due to their illness.  If this is of interest to you please contact the Foundation and we will put you in touch with Jude.

Thaer Zuabi (MA Feature Film, Goldsmiths 2005) has made a film about the Palestinian poet Abd Al Raheem for the Al-Jazeera documentary channel, broadcast in March 2010.  You can watch the film, Onshadet Thaer ('Rebellious Chant') in Arabic with English subtitles here: Part One, Part Two, Part Three.

In our e-newsletter of July 2009 we reported on Fatenah, the first major Palestinian animated film, directed by Ahmad Habash (MA 3D Computer Animation and Visual Effects, Bournemouth 2007).  We are delighted that the whole film is now available to watch online: Part One, Part Two, Part Three.

Finally, congratulations to Omar Al Tabbaa who won the Leeds University Business School MSc Management Student of the Year Prize at his graduation in December 2009.