Efforts to utilize education as an opportunity to more attainable future goals for Palestinians are proving successful in fulfilling their promise. The Palestinian Students Funds (PSF), founded in 1973 and graduating over 14,000 students, is one such example.
Through PSF, Palestinian students can apply online via their website, and upon getting accepted, they are offered a loan with 0% interest that would help cover their tuition and is expected to be repaid a year after the student graduates.
PSF Director Wafaa El Yassir explains that this process was established to ensure that the cycle of funding remains constant and in that way, an alumna would be indirectly aiding in financing the education of another student. El Yassir emphasizes that they empathize with economic hardships, especially in current times, and can be lenient in that regard.
“Our goal is to help more Palestinian students receive higher education, whether it be via our loan services or through our guidance and another funding organization,” El Yassir told Kayani Project.
For that, El Yassir explains that PSF offers multiple programs that equip students with the needed skills and knowledge before filling out their university applications. In collaboration with The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), PSF is working on a training project with around 33 accredited teachers that would tutor students for the SATs. Additionally, the PSF offers free-of-charge career guidance services to 10th, 11th, and 12th graders in order to fully inform them about the job market and what is currently in demand.
“This has helped foster positive attitudes from the community towards majors besides medicine, engineering, and law,” El Yassir mentioned.
Currently, the PSF is offering full scholarships for nursing students in collaboration with the Norwegian Aid Committee (NORWAC) and is trying to secure scholarships for those interested in speech therapy.
As part of its programs, the PSF is offering life skills and vocational training in collaboration with the likes of Kayani Project and AMIDEAST in order to attain accredited certificates in interview skills, leadership, conflict resolution, and community service.
El Yassir affirms that the PSF has the students’ best interest in mind and for that reason are looking into making volunteering a condition in their contracts. This would encourage the students to think of public interest and find applicable solutions for the problems present in their communities as well as gain volunteering experience to enhance their CVs, she explained.
Despite a decline in resources, the PSF attempts to assist its students wishing to study abroad by orienting them to the British embassy and encouraging them to sign up on Talent Beyond Boundaries.
“Exceptionally, we are able to find individual donors for students who help secure their education,” El Yassir added.
When asked about what differentiates the PSF from other student funding organizations, El Yassir focused on the core principle that the fund believes in: “Education for all.” She discussed that even students who perform below average academically have the right to a solid higher education that would secure them a brighter future. Therefore, their application criteria are comparatively flexible. For instance, when students fall behind on fulfilling their academic duties, they attempt to remedy the cause and sometimes advise a change of major or university, as well as offer a grace period to help the student catch up.
“We all don’t do this as a job. What motivates us is the personal interest and drive in educating the Palestinian youth,” El Yassir told Kayani project.