“The opportunity that the Hope Fund gives to Palestinian students was something that genuinely changed my life and my family’s life for the better.”
Ibraham Mohammad, a Palestinian refugee in Lebanon, helping his father sell juice in a cart to earn a living at age 11, earned the chance to go to college with the help of Hope Fund. Living in a refugee camp, Ibraham was a victim of poverty. At a young age, he already tried juggling different jobs to help with their family’s daily needs.
Anything you can think of to make money I pretty much did: welder, mechanic, carpenter, plumber, electrician, and worked for different stores. This is the story of my life. Never did I imagine myself reaching college and having a degree.
It was probably the most important call of Ibraham’s life, an invitation for an interview for the Hope Fund. Hope Fund is a program under the nonprofit organization AMIDEAST granting US college scholarships for deserving Palestinian students.
An emotional Ibraham shared his feelings when he received the good news.
It was a difficult decision for me to make. I was torn between wanting to reach my college dream or to help provide for my family. Years of working taught me that when an opportunity comes, you must waste it.
My father’s response broke my heart and fueled my dedication to achieving my college dream. We usually don’t skip work, because if we don’t work we have nothing to eat. But on the day of my interview, my father skipped work and went with me to the interview.
Mohammad got a full scholarship to study at The University of Rochester, completed his bachelor’s degree in 2017, and is now in his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering.
Hope Fund started with a Palestinian boy
Hope Fund was founded by the couple Fahim and Nancy Qubain in 2000. The couple was inspired by an article by Geraldine Brooks who once helped a little Palestinian boy who threw a stone on her car. Brooks helped the boy go to college where he aspires to become a doctor.
The Qubains connected with the US nonprofit organization AMIDEAST to recruit students for the program. After Fahim’s death in 2015, full control of the program was handed over to the organization and still ongoing up to now.
“The opportunity that the Hope Fund gives to Palestinian students was something that genuinely changed my life and my family’s life for the better.” Check out this inspiring article from @insidehighered to learn more about how #AMIDEAST is making an impact https://t.co/IlCVVYO09O pic.twitter.com/PKN09y2ZZP
— Amideast (@AmideastHQ) September 24, 2019
