A journey of self fulfillment

Syrian, from Homs; seeking Undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering and is enrolled at Amman Arab University.  

I started on a journey of self-fulfillment by choosing a major I loved: civil engineering.

I am Aya Zahra. I come from Emissa /Homs–where Zenobia, the ancient rebel queen of Palmyra is said to have ‘conquered Egypt, captured Roman provinces and nearly transformed her realm into an empire equal to Rome” according to National Geographic. This glorious history made me a warrior myself. “I planned each chartered course” to quote Frank Sinatra, to get to know by trial and error what I really wanted to be, and finally landed the major that was fit for my purpose.

I arrived in Jordan with my family in 2012. We could only afford to live in Karama, a remote town in the Jordan Valley region that lacks adequate
services – particularly education. I passed my Tawjihi and got a British Council scholarship for a two-year diploma in ICT. I sat for the bridging exam
hoping to proceed with a B.SC degree in ICT and ranked first among my peers. I still did not get any scholarship to pursue a bachelor’s degree. The only job I
found was in a coffee roasting business. I did not hesitate to accept it. Eventually, it turned out the owner was an engineer who was planning to start his business in engineering. The trial period convinced him of my qualities. Little did I know that this would be the first step to thejob I loved, one that made me chose engineering as my career. I am a sophomore, engineering major at Amman Arab University. I need your support to get my degree.

I can only do this with your help.

Why Would Donors Fund You?

108.4 million people were forcibly displaced by 2023. Only 7% of young refugees seeking college education were able to get it. I used every opportunity to improve myself as demonstrated in my continuous learning. I hope it is is enough to convince my donors that I am serious, and that I will not rest until I achieve my dream. Working and studying full time come at a very high cost. I feel a debt to my parents first, my city and community and want to be qualified to pay back. I can only do that when I get my college degree.

How Do You Plan to Payback?

I have already made it through my freshman and about to complete my sophomore year. I joined edSeed because I believe that what goes around comes around. That applies to both good and evil. I will start by paying back by offering my expertise in social media publishing if needed. I also hope that one day I will be able to become a partner in an engineering office and offer internships to qualified students.

Volunteer Work/Social Capital

UNHCR and Jordan River Foundation (JRF):14/11 to the 16/11/2021 Child protection and prevention of gender-based violence.

Queen Zain Al Sharaf Institute for Development: Soft skills and E-Marketing for 15–20-year-old youth

Souriyat Across Borders (SAB): Photography, e-Marketing

Nour Al-Hussein Foundation: Play-wrighting and acting about the psychological and physical impact of girls’ underage marriage.

LOYAC: Help cancer patients and the elderly. I also participated in environmental preservation projects.

What Have You Done to Improve Yourself? Awards and Achievements

SAB: Online mentoring/education advising, life skills, & English Language

Engineering Office: Project Management and Advertising Content: 6 weeks.

Kings College: Online English '22

Studio B in Cooperation with Plan Natural: Digital Marketing 25/7-29/8 '21

AFAD: Content Writing 26/6-24/7 21

Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair : LTUC 21/5 - 24/6/ 2021 GPA 95%

INJAZ: Microsoft data Analysis: B 1/3-20/421

Noor Al-Hussein Foundation: Life Skills 3/9-22/8 '19

National Academy for Training and Technology/ NATT: TOT 7/6-24/11 19

Mosaic: access to higher education.

Edu-Syria: 50 hrs Home-Based Business Program

Al-Balqa University: comms. & networking. Eng.

Khawarizmi Tech. College: Diploma electronic engineering technology & networking.