Students at the University of the West of England are campaigning to bring a Palestinian student, currently suffering at the hands of Israels crippling blockade of The Gaza Strip, to come and study at the UWE.
In January of 2009 a group of around 30 students staged an occupation in the University of the West of England in protest against Israel’s deadly "operation cast led" attack on the Gaza strip, which claimed over 1400 lives and left many others injured, homeless and malnourished. The students occupied the space for 3 nights and presented the university with a list of demands, the most significant of which was that the university provide fully paid scholarships for Palestinian students in Gaza to study at the University of the West of England. Two years on, the University has agreed to fund one fully paid scholarship at the cost of around £45,000 a year. However this is on the condition that the donors raise the first £5,000 pounds . Once this has been achieved, the university will fund a fully paid scholarship for a Palestinian currently living in the Gaza strip. This will profoundly change the life of someone currently suffering at the hands of Israel’s crippling blockade of Gaza.

Students at UWE are now in the process of raising £5,000. They aim is to raise the money by June this year, this would allow a prospective student from Gaza to start studying as early as September 2011. In order to raise this money the students have decided they need to look outside the university for private donors. So far the students have managed to raise £2,336, with Viva Palestina donating £2,000 towards the cause.

“We aspire to champion the real people behind the politics who are in intolerable situations and experiencing unimaginable suffering. The Conflict Zone Bursary fund has been set up in order to offer these people a way out. We hope the project will run annually to create lasting legacy, offering scholarships to students from war torn countries.” – Yazan Abu-Jbara, UWE student and member of the Conflict Zone Bursary team.

Official Statement from UWE:

The conflict zone bursary fund has been set up in order to offer the real people behind the politics, who are in intolerable situations and experiencing unimaginable suffering, a way out. This charitable project aims to bring the students and the university together in a joint effort to raise money in order to make this wonderful idea become a reality.

As the Bursary Fund was set up in response to student support for the people of the Gaza strip, the first scholarship will be directed toward a student from that area.

The University of the West of England has agreed to provide a comprehensive scholarship for a student to come and study at UWE starting in September 2011. The total cost for this scholarship is estimated to be £45,000 which includes fees, maintenance, flights, orientation, and other expenses. However, we the donors, have to come up with the first £5,000. Therefore, we urge you to donate generously towards this noble humanitarian cause in order to profoundly transform an individual’s life.

To donate, find out more or track progress of the student campaign, visit the campaign website, through the link provided or alternatively, email Joe Odell at odell88@hotmail.com