My name is Dana Anwar Abdullah Al-Sawalha, and I recently left the Gaza Strip due to the ongoing war on July 12, 2023. While in Cairo, I enrolled in an online program through the Ministry of Education in Palestine to continue my studies. I completed my secondary certificate exams in Cairo and obtained my certificate in 2024 with a scientific specialization.

I applied to several Egyptian universities and was accepted into a software engineering program. However, the tuition fees are prohibitively expensive, and I am unable to pay the full amount. I left Gaza after my home was demolished, many of my relatives were martyred, and we lost everything we had. Life in Egypt is challenging not only because of tuition fees but also due to the costs of books, housing, and basic necessities, which we struggle to provide.

I am applying for this scholarship to help cover my tuition fees and achieve my dream of obtaining a bachelor's degree in software engineering. This scholarship could open up future job opportunities that would allow me to support my family and help rehabilitate our home and lives in Gaza. When I left the Gaza Strip, I had to leave with only the bare essentials to save my life and continue my education, as schools in Gaza have been closed and many have been destroyed, leaving me without the means to study online.

Please consider my application for the scholarship to help me pay my fees and achieve my lifelong dream. I have worked hard to study in Egypt despite the pain and trauma of my experiences. I prepared for the Tawjihi exams, even when they were rescheduled to the second half of the last academic year, studying day and night to secure a high score and gain admission to an engineering program.

I hope for a prompt response and sincerely request that you do not overlook my situation. My family cannot afford to pay my fees, and my older sister also needs support to continue her university studies. Currently, my family is struggling to cover rent and living expenses in Egypt, making it impossible to pay tuition fees at Egyptian universities.

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Dana Anwar Abdullah Al-Sawalha | Gaza Strip, Palestine

By Arab Student Aid International

Dana Anwar Abdullah Al-Sawalha | Gaza Strip, Palestine

Major: Software Engineering