A Productive Investment

From Lebanon, Sidon; seeking Undergraduate degree in Environmental Health and is enrolled at American University of Beirut.  

My name is Jamil El Ibrik. I am a Lebanese student living in Sidon near Ein el Hilweh
refugee camp and my mother is a Palestinian refugee. I have worked hard from a
young age and believed in the power of education to change a life. I have
graduated recently with a B.S in Biology from the American University of Beirut
(AUB). I am eager to pursue my Masters at AUB in Environmental Health. I have
received 75% financial aid in the form of Graduate Assistantship (GA), and I
still have to pay about $1735 after I paid $1,000 enrollment fees. The
exchange rate at the university is still at 1,515 LBP for 1 USD, but this will
increase for upcoming semesters. This is due to the economic crisis in the
country that affected each person living in Lebanon, and it is accumulating
more on the underprivileged community - not to mention the Covid-19 pandemic,
which exacerbated the recession due to lockdown. So, students in this country
are looking for solutions to face this collapse. They are trying to find a
brighter future here and abroad, be more successful, and help people in need.
But, even paying tuition fees is becoming harder for students and refugees in
Lebanon due to Sanctions and the drop in the Lebanese pound market. Moreover,
people cannot take bank loans to fund their studies anymore.

Why Would Donors Fund You?

I am determined and ambitious to achieve my dream and goal in pursuing my Graduate
and Master’s studies in Environmental Health at AUB despite the financial
burdens. I am willing to give back to my country and community and work with
NGOs and ministries to improve the health situation for the better hopefully by
co-hosting or partnering with pop-up clinics. In addition, I am hoping to
improve the water quality in my neighborhood area and region by controlling
farm contaminants and transporting sewage water through pipe networks, and
pumping them to treatment plants away from rivers or seas. I am aiming to
improve my community's background and help disadvantaged students and refugees
in achieving their dreams and goals in the same way that I am aiming to achieve
them. I have the dedication to complete my tasks no matter what the situation
is, and I am optimistic that the donors will be satisfied and trustful in my
potentials, capabilities, and ambitions.

How Do You Plan to Payback?

I am planning to give back to the community especially those who are underprivileged and
disadvantaged in camps and rural areas. I aim to support them and guide them
through organizations and donations of philanthropic work to continue their
education and achieve their career goal and ambition. I would like to give back
to my country and city and provide free-healthcare systems and services in
rural areas for those who are in need and do not have insurance like refugees
and even self-employed people of low income.

Thank you.

Regards 🙂

Volunteer Work/Social Capital

I have volunteered in teaching in Biology and Math for grade 6 and 7 students at Saida
Orphanage Society and Hussein Teaching Cultural Center between the academic
year of 2015 and 2019. I have volunteered at ULYP office in sorting clothes to
be distributed to refugees in the Bekaa camp for the winter of 2016. I have
volunteered at Red cross in blood donations and taking first aid sessions
related to CPR.

What Have You Done to Improve Yourself? Awards and Achievements

I have worked hard on myself both academically and socially and received a full scholarship to study at Rafiq
Hariri High School for three years. Later, I received a full scholarship from
Unite Lebanon Youth Project (ULYP) to complete my undergraduate studies
(Bachelor of Science in Biology) at the American University of Beirut. I was
placed on the Dean's Honors list during my studies, and I have won a prize and
ranked the 3rd in a film making competition at the Lebanese American University
(LAU) in 2015.