The Arab Culture Association (ACA) and Rawda Bshara Atallah Scholarship program celebrated the end of the current school year 2019/2020 and the graduation of 80 scholarship students who completed 3 years in the program. The celebrations were divided into 3 separate evenings last week, in order to abide by the general health regulations imposed because of the novel coronavirus.
Each of the celebrations opened with the Palestinian National Anthem “Mawtini” after a group photo, followed by a short video message from the Galilee Foundation, which funds the Rawda Bshara Atallah scholarship. The Galilee Foundation emphasized that the end of the students’ scholarship journey after 3 years, does not mean that their education journey is over, encouraging them to continue giving back to their community.
Group photo of 2019/2020 graduates[/caption]Graduates shared their feelings and thoughts about the end of the educational and volunteering scholarship program, after 3 years of rich experiences. Bara Jabarin shared: “It is hard for me to part ways with ACA, which stood by me throughout my education journey for 3 years, concerned with my success and future and other students. I would eagerly wait for the activities whether they were workshops or trips, where I gained much cultural and educational information.”
Jabarin then addressed the coordinators of the Rawda Bshara Atallah program, Mustafa Renawi and Lubna Touma, in addition to the Galilee Foundation stating, “I appreciate everything you have provided for us. I will do my best to keep in touch with ACA as much as I can, and my giving back to the scholarship program will not stop, as I never considered it as only a scholarship, but like my family, so you have my complete respect and love.”
National Palestinian Anthem during the graduation ceremony[/caption]ACA annually provides many scholarships funded by the Galilee Foundation for Arab students, the scholarship is financial aid for undergrad students, in addition to receiving capacity workshops, especially in identity strengthening.