Iqraa has contributed more than $90,000 to support UPA’s educational programs since 2008. This has been accomplished through the efforts of 80+ runners, as well as volunteers and innumerable donors.
In 2011 funds raised by Iqraa runners were directed to UPA’s University Scholarship Program and the Spafford Children’s Center. The scholarship program supports around 100 Palestinian students annually to study at 14 universities in Palestine, offering higher academic education opportunities to many young people who would not otherwise be able to afford college. In 2011 alone, Iqraa supported 7 students in Gaza with full tuition.
The Spafford Center, in the Old City of East Jerusalem, provides services to children having difficulties in school due to speech problems, learning disabilities, and psychological problems due to stress disorders. Iqraa’s generous donation covered the costs for 243 children for one to three semesters of special education and speech therapy. This included pre-course assessments, post-course evaluations, and parent participation, to provide holistic support to the children. Dr. Jantien Dajani, who serves on Spafford’s Board of Trustees, wrote us:
“Last year, thousands of children could not register for school because of a lack of classrooms and schools for the East Jerusalem Palestinian population. We are therefore very grateful for the grant that we received from Iqraa and UPA, which gave us the opportunity to continue and to intensify our educational program. Your donation made this possible.”
In 2012, Iqraa plans to continue funding students in West Bank and Gaza universities and also to sponsor a UPA work-study pilot program. This program is intended to leverage donors’ money to provide more students with UPA scholarships, thus fostering a stronger partnership among UPA, Iqraa, and participating universities. These invaluable scholarships will offer students the opportunity to invest in their post-secondary education and will provide them with valuable work experiences to improve their future prospects.
Selected students will receive an $800 UPA scholarship and commit to working 40 hours a year with their university in return for a $200 tuition credit. A $1,000 total scholarship covers most if not all of a student’s tuition costs. Following this pilot, UPA plans on expanding this program to other university partners in Palestine.
