In the midst of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, two scholars, Manar and Mahmoud, represent a flicker of hope for many aspiring students from the region. Manar, 36, an English teacher from Rafah who has experienced the brutalities of war firsthand, has been displaced 14 times. Now, she is living in a tent with her husband and three small daughters. Against these odds, she won a Cara Fellowship. This award will provide for her to pursue a doctorate in education at the University of Glasgow.
Mahmoud, a 27-year-old physician from Beit Lahia. He will be pursuing that dream on a prestigious Boren scholarship, which is funding his master’s degree in global health policy at the London School of Economics. He is one of nine students from Gaza. Just last week, they heard from the British government that they were working to ensure their evacuation. Each is currently in a limbo of their own as they await important decisions that will allow them to begin realizing their academic dreams.
Manar’s path toward acceptance into the Cara Fellowship was not an easy one. Her grant application was submitted from the rooftop of a still collapsing four-storey building in Rafah. The ever-changing and often dangerous nature of her environment has created a constant sense of vigilance.
“Every day, I wonder which will come first – a message from the UK government, or a missile,” – Manar.
Now living with fear every minute of the day, Manar shares her frustration with how evacuating has been handled. This makes her feel like only some of the scholarship holders are being given priority while the rest, though equally deserving, are left high and dry.
“I feel deeply disappointed by this process, as some scholarship holders seem to be prioritised over others, even though all of us deserve equal consideration,” – Manar.
Mahmoud’s circumstances mirror her own. When informed of his scholarship, he was holed up in a shelter in central Gaza, sleepless from the sound of bombs outside. The announcement was certainly a rare moment of jubilation in what appears to be some kind of political meltdown engulfing the man.
“When I saw the word ‘congratulations’, I froze for a moment,” – Mahmoud.
When the bomb blasts stopped for that brief time, he remembers feeling hopeful again. Mahmoud is hopeful that his education will play an important role in rebuilding Gaza’s delicate healthcare system.
“This opportunity is not an escape. It is a responsibility to study, to learn and to return stronger for them,” – Mahmoud.
Together, both students represent a larger story about access to education for students from conflict areas. Here, University of Glasgow scholar Professor Alison Phipps, who has been fighting for these scholars, highlights the difficulties they are experiencing.
“It’s been a long hard road for these nine students,” – Professor Alison Phipps.
She provides insight into the bureaucratic hurdles that are making their evacuation journey that much more difficult.
“There seems to be a kind of bureaucratic block, and it would just really help us if the government could identify what that is, so all the students who meet the thresholds can come out,” – Professor Alison Phipps.
Phipps acknowledges that while these scholars have demonstrated significant commitment and resilience, many other eligible students deserve similar opportunities.
Immediate action needed Mahmoud warns that the UK government needs to move fast. Otherwise, it risks losing not only these students, but future applicants from Gaza and other areas suffering under comparable oppression.
“If the UK government does not act now, it will lose not only us, but future applicants from Gaza and other regions facing similar challenges,” – Mahmoud.
Manar and Mahmoud continue to wait with great anticipation for news of their evacuation. They are living proof that change is possible in a city too often defined by hopelessness. Their stories inspire us with a powerful reminder of ambition, but they raise serious questions about who gets an education amidst conflict.
