Hope and Perseverance: The Journey of a DFL Graduate

A member of DFL’s 2024 cohort celebrated her graduation this past fall, and the foundation was present to mark the exciting occasion with an interview. Join us as we spotlight Amna Hmeedat of Palestine, who recently completed her Master’s in Nonprofit and Leadership at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJ). The program is a joint project developed and operated by the Rothberg International School and the Paul Baerwald Faculty and School of Social Work and Social Welfare. Amna is among 4 DFL Scholars who have pursued the program with a curriculum dedicated to equipping burgeoning professionals with all the knowledge needed to successfully operate and guide the trajectory of a successful nonprofit organization.

Resilience and Growth in Times of Crisis

A few weeks after Amna celebrated being awarded a fully-funded DFL Scholarship as part of the group that joined us in 2023, the events of October 7th rocked the entire region of the Middle East and would continue to play a significant role in her experience as a Master’s student residing near Bethlehem. In a candid conversation, Amna touched upon how regional affairs affected her and how she resolved not to let them throw her off course.

Amna Hmeedat, a graduate of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJ) on a DFL Scholarship.

“The situation here [was] difficult and challenging,” Amna shared, “I had to be adaptable, and to keep going with my studies, and achievements.” She described the importance of fortifying her will to push forward in her studies, how she invested more time into academic progress and how she adapted to a rapidly changing, and increasingly concerning situation.

“This is what happened,” She went on, “I don’t think anyone expected that. Despite the circumstances, I’m proud of myself, and I believe I achieved more than a degree. I built many relationships with people from different backgrounds around the world. One of my dreams was to improve my English. I can’t say that this experience hindered my will to achieve.”

Recognizing Pillars of Support

Throughout the events of the following year, DFL remained closely connected with Amna and all scholars affected by the troubling developments in the region. For that support, she shared her appreciation. “I would like to express my gratitude to DFL’s entire team for granting me this opportunity to pursue my education,” Amna began, “As well as all the effort and time.”

Visions of Tomorrow and Empowering Women

Currently employed in an Accountant role in the city of Bethlehem, Amna expressed her goals to seek out new and broad opportunities that align with her interests in the development and nonprofit sector. She is actively looking into domestic and international roles that offer the chance to work with diverse client bases and that seek to do the most good possible. 

In particular, Amna highlighted her firm belief in the importance of learning. “I believe in the power of education,” She said, specifically highlighting how vital it is to provide greater access to education to women in the Middle East, a notion that dovetails with DFL’s core mission.

However, Amna’s hopes for giving back are not limited to women as a target demographic. In fact, in these early ideation days, she envisioned a campaign for collaboration with educational organizations and institutions in the West Bank to help children of the Gaza Strip, the vast majority of whom have been entirely severed from the education system since the start of the war. Understanding the higher need to reconnect children with the chance to complete their education, Amna considers it a priority to establish remote learning opportunities wherever possible.

These ideas resonated with the foundation deeply and speak to a shared sense of duty and focus on learning, growth and community-building. We can’t wait to see what initiatives Amna is able to bring to life in the future.