Dr. Loren Swartzendruber Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish

Eastern Mennonite University in the United States is the latest academic institution to kindly offer opportunities for two young women students from the Middle East to study abroad for an undergraduate degree. Daughters for Life (DFL) founder Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish signed a memorandum of understanding with the university’s president Dr. Loren Swartzendruber in early October.

Fred Kniss, the provost at Eastern Mennonite University (EMU), said the partnership with DFL would provide the university with an opportunity to “support a worthy cause and to enrich the learning community here on campus at the same time”.Fred Kniss EMU

Eastern Mennonite University is based in the town of Harrisonburg in the state of Virginia.  Its foundations are based on Mennonite Anabaptist teachings and the ethos of this small university is to provide a learning environment where academics know their students well and also provide them with skills to serve and lead in a global context, with special emphasis on  peace, justice and environmental sustainability.

“We hope to bring talented young international women to campus who have significant academic and leadership potential,” said Dr. Kniss.  “We hope they can exercise their gifts here on campus, developing them further in order to make a significant contribution to their home communities after they graduate. Eastern Mennonite will welcome the first two DFL students in fall 2016.”

“Establishing a just, safe, healthy and peaceful world is only possible if we ensure that women are educated and able to fully participate in and contribute to their communities and the world,” said Dr. Abuelaish.  “The Daughters for Life Foundation is proud to be playing an important role in supporting the education of women in the Middle East and we are honored to have Eastern Mennonite University join us in our  mission to foster peace through education.”

DFL believes that creating a lasting peace in the Middle East can only be achieved through empowering young women through education to develop strong voices and improve their lives and respective communities. DFL currently has fourteen scholars studying at universities in North America.  The foundation has also renewed its partnership with the Asian University for Women in Bangladesh, where currently six DFL scholars are studying.

The foundation provides these future young leaders with the chance to study – an opportunity that they would be inaccessible to them.  Scholarships at a number of universities in Canada and the United States are offered to students from across the Middle East.  DFL is now looking for talented young women students, who would like to study at one of our partner universities.  The deadline for registration is Dec 31, 2015. More information about the scholarship program at https://daughtersforlife.com/apply/