During the 2026 Scholarship Program cycle, DFL welcomed a new academic partner into its growing global network. UCLouvain is a distinguished institution in Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, taking the title of the largest French-speaking university in the country. 

Offering a vibrant academic environment and ample opportunities for learning, growth and professional enrichment, DFL, in partnership with UCLouvain, has awarded two full scholarships to two young women from Palestine, representing the inaugural cohort under this partnership. Through this initiative, we are confident that this opportunity will be a transformative turning point for both students.

Meet Nireez Al Sweidan

Nireez Al Sweidan, a Palestinian scholar enrolled in the Master’s in Computer Science program at UCLouvain, touched down in Brussels in September. Having already earned a BSc in Computer Science and Data Analytics, Nireez was motivated to pursue a graduate program that would enhance her technical skills while aligning with her lifelong passion for computers and technology.

An Emerging Global Citizen 

Her undergraduate experience at the Lebanese American University gave her the opportunity to connect with students from around the world, deepening her understanding of cultural exchange and global perspective. Highly engaged, she balanced academic excellence and participation across events to become a thoughtful, well-rounded student. Graduate school was always part of Nireez’s plans, but the cost of an advanced degree was a barrier, and scholarship opportunities were not always aligned with her goals or well-suited to her interests.

This was the case until Nireez discovered the Daughters for Life Foundation which put her on a new path. Nireez first learned about DFL through her own research and quickly felt it was the right fit. She was especially grateful to discover that that DFL provides meaningful opportunities for girls specifically from the MENA region, and is a culturally sensitive program that acknowledges the unique barriers women and girls across the region face, hindering or sometimes entirely preventing their access to education.

After being awarded, Nireez shared that she has seen a shift in what her future holds. Eager to dive into life in Belgium, she remains deeply grounded, gratitude central to her ambitions as a student abroad.

“I see the scholarship as both an opportunity and responsibility. I want to give back after receiving [this opportunity] through this scholarship.” 

Nireez emphasized her sense of responsibility to give back, pour into her peers and future mentees, and hopes to become a mentor. Today, Nireez is attending her classes, engaging with new friends, and mapping out her plan to pour into her community by leveraging technology and passing her knowledge forward.

 

Meet Nirmeen Sheikh

Our second Palestinian scholar at UCLouvain is Nirmeen Sheikh who will be pursuing a Master’s in Data Science, building on her career as a computer and machine learning engineer. With recent advances in AI and machine learning, Nirmeen was intentional about curating a highly relevant graduate school experience, hoping to deepen her expertise in data and algorithms and open new career pathways in her field.

Technology for Community

From an early age, Nirmeen was fascinated by technology. She participated in local and global competitions related to technology and earned recognition for several of her projects. As a Computer Engineering graduate from Birzeit University, her technical skill is well developed, and her imagination for technological applications in the interest of the public good is boundless. 

While looking into graduate funding opportunities, Nirmeen connected with a member of DFL’s Scholar Network to learn more about the foundation and the scholarship opportunity that had just opened up with the annual program relaunch.

The prospect of joining a community of young women supporting one another and growing together was something she was deeply interested in, cementing her decision to apply. After the decision of her acceptance came through, Nirmeen referred to being awarded as  “the most beautiful news” she had ever received. With the  full scholarship, Nirmeen feels more responsible to achieve all of her goals and be a role model for young girls. She will continue to stay actively involved in the DFL community and give back by introducing DFL to future colleagues. 

For Nirmeen, UCLouvain is the ideal academic environment for her research. Since she has been conducting research throughout her undergraduate degree, she aspires to continue her projects but with more resources and support available at her side.

In the future, Nirmeen is aiming high, and hopes to inspire others to follow an academic path through technology, science and data. She plans to become the first female professor at her alma mater, Birzeit University, in Palestine, and hopes to serve as a pivotal role model for women and girls across the region.