Announcing the 2025 DFL Awards Program:
Supporting 100 Female Palestinian Students With Financial Bursaries
The Daughters for Life Foundation (DFL) is proud to announce the renewal of its impactful Awards Program, designed to ease the financial burdens faced by young Middle Eastern women as they complete their post-secondary education.
Through this initiative, DFL provides one-time financial support to female undergraduate students nearing graduation at partner institutions in the Middle East. The program is grounded in DFL’s mission to recognize academic excellence, resilience, and service to others, particularly among women who face extraordinary adversity.
Empowering Women Through Education
The Awards Program alleviates a portion of tuition and academic expenses for students who demonstrate financial need, exceptional academic performance, perseverance, and meaningful contributions through employment, volunteer work, or extracurricular engagement.
This support allows young women to focus on achieving their academic goals without the added burden of financial insecurity. It is a direct investment in women’s education and, by extension, in the advancement of their communities. As of 2023, DFL has proudly awarded a total of 399 young women across the Middle East since 2011 through this initiative.
Gaza University: A Partner in Resilience
For the 2025 Awards Program, DFL is honoured to renew its partnership with Gaza University (GU), a returning partner that last participated in the 2023 cycle, where 16 GU students were awarded.
GU is a national institution that continues to serve its community despite unimaginable circumstances. With over five faculties and multiple diploma programs, GU plays a critical role in advancing educational opportunities in Gaza. Its vision includes strengthening the local labour market, responding to societal needs, and promoting academic excellence.
In recent years, GU has endured the destruction of its campus, libraries, and essential facilities. Still, it has remained committed to education by delivering its curriculum online and continuing to uplift students amid displacement, poverty, bombardment, and limited access to electricity and internet.
Doubling Our Support in 2025
In response to the ongoing challenges faced by young Palestinian women attending GU, DFL is nearly doubling the number of awards granted compared to the previous cycle. In 2023, the foundation awarded 58 total recipients across 5 institutions.
For 2025, DFL will offer a one-time grant of 300 USD to 100 eligible female students currently enrolled at Gaza University. This represents a historic and unprecedented investment in a single institution and a timely response to urgent educational needs.
The awards are intended primarily for third-year students to help cover final-year tuition costs. Each recipient is nominated through a rigorous internal process managed in collaboration with GU faculty and administration. This ensures that awardees reflect DFL’s values of resilience, commitment, and leadership.
“Even in the darkest moments, education is the light that cannot be extinguished. By standing with the women of Gaza, we are investing not just in individuals, but in peace, hope, and a more just future for all.”
— Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, Founder and President, Daughters for Life Foundation
Honouring Legacy, Uplifting the Future
This initiative, valued at 30,000 USD, is deeply rooted in DFL’s founding purpose: to empower young Middle Eastern women through access to higher education. The Awards Program is offered in loving memory of Bessan, Mayar, and Aya Abuelaish, the three daughters of Dr. Abuelaish, whose legacies continue to inspire every DFL initiative.
Through its renewed collaboration with Gaza University, DFL reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that education remains a beacon of hope, even in the face of adversity.
Stay Connected
As we launch the 2025 Awards Program, we honour the courage, determination, and dreams of this year’s recipients. These are future leaders who will go on to transform their communities and inspire generations to come. We are deeply grateful to our generous donors, whose support makes this life-changing program possible. Together, we are investing in education, resilience, and hope.
Follow DFL’s journey and meet this year’s award recipients as we share their stories in the months ahead!