Category Archives: Womens Scholarship Fund

News, Womens Scholarship Fund

‘Inspiring’ the Scholarship Fund 10th anniversary event

Inspiring and Uplifting. These two words were repeated by many of the people present at the Scholarship Fund’s 10th anniversary event in Sheffield Town Hall, marking International Women”s Day 2017.

The town hall reception room was packed to hear the stories of the students who have received scholarships since 2007. The stories are moving and full of hope despite the reality of life in Gaza,

Please pass my deep feelings of love and gratitude to all in Britain connected to the Sheffield Scholarship Fund.  You have opened a new window in the dark sky of living in Jabalia under occupation. Sama Wadi, Jabalia refugee camp, 2008

I really appreciate the efforts made by the women’s group in Sheffield to help and support Palestinian women. The scholarships show there’s justice in the world and they tell us that we deserve to live a decent life as in the rest of the world. Thank you from the depth of my heart. Maisaa Salah Abu Khadra, Bureij refugee camp, 2016

Thanks to the Lord Mayor, Cllr Denise Fox and the

Lord Mayor Cllr Fox and Kholoud Ajarma
Lord Mayor Cllr Fox and Kholoud Ajarma

Deputy Lord Mayor, Cllr Anne Murphy for hosting the event and welcoming the Fund. The Lord Mayor’s words of support for the students and for the work of Fund was really appreciated.

Speakers by SPWSF banner
Speakers by SPWSF banner

Thanks to our speakers, Kholoud Ajarma and Musheir El Farra. Thanks to Sheffield Socialist Choir for opening the event with song.

The Scholarship Fund is aiming to raise £23k this year to bring the total sent out to Gaza of £100k in 10 years. Please support us to reach this target. Email for details: sheffieldpwsf@yahoo.co.uk

Campaign, News, Womens Scholarship Fund

Scholarship Fund 10th anniversary newsletter

“I am proud of what we have done together” Mona El Farra in Gaza tells Julia South, our newsletter editor. 
The Scholarship Fund is proud of what we have achieved in our first ten years, starting with three students in 2007 to supporting 39 in 2017-17. Our special 10th anniversary newsletter includes interviews with students who have graduated and how supporters of the Fund have raised money and awareness throughout the year.
With special thanks to Dr Mona El Farra and Wafaa El Derawi in Gaza and for Julia South in Sheffield for writing and editing the newsletter.
Read what a difference your support has made and then come and celebrate these achievements at the 10th anniversary event on Wednesday 8th March in Sheffield Town Hall from 7-9pm. See our flyer: International Womens Day Sheffield March 8th 2017
With all the troubling news in the headlines, this is a chance to celebrate solidarity and social action – we can make a difference!
Campaign, Cultural event, News, Womens Scholarship Fund

Celebrate International Women’s Day with Palestine Women’s Scholarship Fund

To mark Sheffield Palestine Women’s Scholarship Fund 10th Anniversary, we are holding a celebration event on International Women’s Day, March 8th 2017 in Sheffield Town Hall at 7pm.

Full information here: International Womens Day Event

Hosted by the Lord Mayor, Denise Fox, with songs from Sheffield Socialist Choir, stories from our scholarship students, speeches from Sheffield PSC activist Musheir El Farra and Palestinian woman speaker Kholoud Al Ajarma on the power of women’s education.

All welcome to celebrate how Sheffield has shown its solidarity with Palestinian women students in Gaza, Palestine.

Event is part of SheFest

Fundraising, News, Womens Scholarship Fund

2017 is 10th anniversary year for Scholarship Fund

Sheffield Palestine Women’s Scholarship Fund sponsored its first three women students into university in Gaza in 2007. This year we are celebrating our 10th Anniversary  and aiming to reach the target of sending out a total of £100,000 over 10 years.

To reach this target we need to raise £23,000 by June 2017. We have raised £19,000 to date, so are well on the way. There are events planned during the year including an International Women’s Day celebration in Sheffield Town Hall on Wednesday 8th March at 7.00pm. The event is being hosted by the Lord Mayor’s Office.

Come and join us to celebrate the students who have gained degrees and those we are currently supporting. Hear their stories and see their achievements.

10th Anniversary Flyer

News, Womens Scholarship Fund

This year’s Scholarship Fund students announced

Sheffield Palestine Women’s Scholarship Fund is supporting 41 Palestinian women into university in Gaza this year. The students are studying a range of subjects from medicine to English Literature, from Law to Sociology. See the full list here and watch the video of students who have received funding this year: جمعية آفاق جديدة – منحة شيفلد

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Students sign for their scholarship cheques

There are some this changes this year as we have been asked by the organising committee in Gaza to alter how much we pay for each scholarship. One university has reduced its fees to $500, others remain at $600 but medical and health related courses vary from $1-1500. By paying the additional fees for the medical and health related subjects, we are able to support Palestinian women to aspire and achieve.

However on top of this, the exchange rate this year has been very poor. This means that though we sent out more money than last year, it is worth less in dollars. Therefore, this year we are sponsoring 41 students (in 2015/16 we sponsored 43 students).

Please join us in wishing our students an enjoyable and successful year.
News, Womens Scholarship Fund

Stories from Women in Palestine

Northern Women for Palestine comprises a group of activists who work to stage events across the north of England around International Women’s Day.

Mahasin Arwa Reem Zayneb and Kholoud in Bradford
Mahasin Arwa Reem Zayneb and Kholoud in Bradford pictured together during the WOMEN OF PALESTINE: LIVING THROUGH TRAUMA, BUILDING RESILIENCE series of events

They connect the struggle of Palestinian women to the wider movement for justice and rights for all women. The latest visit involved events in Manchester, Saddleworth, Sheffield, York, Hebden Bridge, Bradford and Halifax.

The women pictured above have written about their experience for the Morning Star. We reprint it here.

Arwa’s story

Kholoud’s story

Zayneb’s story

For further information, contact Annie O’Gara at annieog@googlemail.com and (0114) 438-2351.

Fundraising, News, Womens Scholarship Fund

Women of Palestine: living through trauma, building resilience

northern women for plaestineJoin us for a series of events dedicated to the women of Palestine for International Women’s Day. Our theme is Women of Palestine: Living through Trauma, Building Resilience”.

Through film, music, drama, poetry, workshops, photography and women’s personal accounts, we will explore the daily trauma of life for Palestinian women. We’ll also be celebrating how they survive and thrive against all the odds – supporting each other, their families and their communities, by being politically and creatively active.

Running for a week, from Saturday 5 March Sunday 13 March, this programme has been devised by Northern Women for Palestine, a group of activists from towns and cities across the north of England committed to campaigning for justice for Palestinians.

reem in concertSat March 5 – Manchester

Sunday March 6 – Saddleworth

Tuesday March 8 – Sheffield

Thursday March 10 – York

Saturday March 12 – Bradford: Grand Finale

Sunday March 13 – Halifax: Reem Kelani in Concert