Perseverance pays

Syrian, from Syria /zabadani; seeking Undergraduate degree in Biology and is enrolled at Lebanese University.  

I am Hajar Al Masri, a 19-year-old from Zabadani Syria. I am an aspiring medical laboratory Freshman the Lebanese International University.

I experienced displacement many times over. By the time I
was 13, I attended 3 schools, lived in three cities, and eventually left my
country to become a refugee in Lebanon.

2016, the year we arrived in Lebanon, was the worst year of my life. I was 13, and my parents were both detained. I became a homemaker in 8th Grade.

Upon his release, my father took us to Lebanon. My mother eventually joined us a year later.

My father was seriously ill, but he still worked hard to send me to school.

Lebanon gave me opportunities that I would have not dreamed of. This kind of compensated for the challenges I had to overcome.

When I joined edSeed, I had a big dream. To become a dentist like my aunt, my namesake. The challenges I faced forced me to change course. I was proud to prove my ability to light the candle instead of cursing the darkness.

I adjusted my sails and decided to become a lab technician. This major will allow me to remail in the health sciences and help me find a job.

Why Would Donors Fund You?

I had many reasons to lose hope: fear for my parents, caring
for my siblings when I was still a child, and losing my country.

I want to be independent and to have a successful career.
I can only do that with a college degree. I will be able to support my siblings.
Your generosity will travel far and will lift at least 3 families out of poverty.

Hope sustained me at times when it was very difficult to get
through the day. Today, I hope again that I will be able to become a successful
woman who can have role in society and be active person. I hope I count on you.

How Do You Plan to Payback?

Hope and positivity are contagious. I will work with
displaced girls and show them how to overcome their displacement trauma. I will raise awareness about the need to increase the presence of girls in STEM.

Volunteer Work/Social Capital

2017: Illiteracy program for grade school Kids “Amel” Center

· 2019 Started a chess club for school age children to teach them mental and social skills about this game.

· We organized a “Reward for Learning” program for the ACCESS camp’s students.

· I joined “Action Aid” center for the empowerment of women and girls and to integrate and entertain children with special needs.

What Have You Done to Improve Yourself? Awards and Achievements

• Attended Access, an English American program for 2 years.

• 7 habits" self-improvement course.

• 3-week “Learners do matter" online program.

• Extracurricular physics, chemistry, and genetics courses.

• Computer class for 3 weeks with ANERA & UNHCR.
• Nursing class for 3 months with YMS.
• Photography and photoshop class with ActionAid.