About Our Awards Program
The Daughters for Life Foundation is dedicated to removing barriers that hinder the ability of women in the Middle East to pursue and complete their post-secondary education. Driven by a mission to empower, uplift and inform, our Award Program offers a one-time financial award to eligible female students completing their undergraduate degree at a partnered academic institution in the Middle East.
Award funds are intended to alleviate the financial burden of final-year tuition and other academic costs for students nearing graduation, allowing them to fully commit to their studies and the pursuit of their dreams. We aim to acknowledge and reward resilience, dedication and community-minded action.
This program is also offered in loving memory of Bessan, Mayar and Aya Abuelaish, the 3 daughters of our founder Dr. Izzeldin Abuealish, who were tragically killed in 2009 in the shelling of their home by the IDF. We honour and preserve their legacies in the act of opening doors to deserving young women across the Middle East who strive towards a brighter future.
Next Steps
Please note: DFL’s Award Program eligibility criteria and program structure have changed for 2025.
- Review DFL’s Criteria to learn more about eligibility.
- Review the Program Guidelines for guidance on nominations. Be mindful of deadlines and plan your document submissions accordingly.
- Use the Nomination Checklist to ensure you have everything you need to nominate a student.
DFL’s Award Program eligibility criteria has changed for 2025.
Eligible candidates must:
- Be a female student enrolled at Gaza University.
- Be enrolled in an undergraduate program, currently in your third year of a four-year undergraduate degree.
- Be a citizen and current resident of a nation in the Middle East.
- Be nominated by a member of faculty, leadership, or governance at Gaza University. Please note: Self-nominations will not be considered by the Selection Committee.
Candidates will have a higher likelihood of success if:
- They have overcome significant hardship or adversity and achieved success despite their personal circumstances.
- They have a record of academic excellence during their current and previous education (minimum GPA must be 75%).
- They are in demonstrable financial need.
- They have a record of an outstanding contribution that has led to the improvement of the lives of others, including any applicable extracurricular, employment or volunteer activities.
If you are a student interested in being nominated for this award, please connect with a member of Gaza University’s faculty to initiate the nomination process.
If you are a member of Gaza University’s faculty or staff with a student in mind for nomination, please add them to the Nomination Spreadsheet. For assistance with the nomination procedure or to gain access to the Nomination Spreadsheet, please email us at apply@daughtersforlife.com.
Program Goals and Usage
- DFL aims to award up to 100 female students with a one-time financial award of USD 300.
- Award funds will be issued to the university accounts of recipients.
- Award funds are prohibited from being deposited into the awarded student’s personal bank account, and must be used only in an educational context.
Nominator Requirements
- The nomination process is conducted in conjunction with faculty at Gaza University.
- Valid nominators can include professors, academic advisors, supervisors, staff, leadership, and the student affairs department staff of Gaza University.
Ineligible Nominators
- Students may not self-nominate for the Award Program.
- Family members or members of the general public who are not otherwise affiliated with Gaza University may not submit nominations on behalf of eligible students.
- Applications that are submitted by persons other than staff or faculty of Gaza University will not be considered.
Deadlines for Nomination and Decisions
- The deadline to nominate a student for the 2025 Award Program is July 15, 2025, by 11:59PM EDT Toronto Time.
- A final decision on awardees can be expected by July 31, 2025. This date is subject to change, and DFL reserves the right to extend or accelerate program delivery times as needed.
Gaza University staff who wish to nominate a student are encouraged to use the checklist below to ensure they have gathered all the required information for a successful nomination.
Nomination Checklist
- Have you informed the student of your intention to nominate them and received their consent?
YES / NO
- Have you collected the student’s contact details and received their consent to submit this information to DFL for the purposes of this nomination?
YES / NO
- Have you collected all relevant academic documents to support the nomination? (e.g., transcripts, grades, course lists)
YES / NO
- Have you gathered the necessary financial information to demonstrate the student’s need? (e.g., household income, financial statements, details of living situation)
YES / NO
- Based on the documentation, does the student clearly demonstrate financial need?
YES / NO
- Does the student meet the minimum academic requirement of a 75% GPA or higher?
YES / NO
- Has the student made documented contributions to their community?
YES / NO
Note: The answer to all questions above must be: YES in order to proceed with the nomination process. If this is the case, please use the Nomination Spreadsheet to nominate the student you have in mind.
If you answered NO to any of the questions above, please re-examine student eligibility and gather any missing information before adding the student to the Nomination Spreadsheet.
For assistance with the nomination procedure or to gain access to the Nomination Spreadsheet, please email us at apply@daughtersforlife.com.
2025 Award Program Academic Partners
Past Award Program Academic Partners
Our Award Recipients
GET INVOLVED
Many factors in the Middle East can make education for young women very difficult. But with your donation, we can help many talented women, access the best education possible. We believe that investing in young women’s education is the key to long lasting peace and better future for all of us.