Saddleworth Palestine Women's Scholarship Fund

The Saddleworth Palestine Women’s Scholarship Fund is organised by a group of women in Saddleworth to enable women in Gaza and the West Bank to access higher education.
Together with groups in Sheffield and across the region we sponsor around 60 women through university. Once a Scholarship is confirmed we guarantee to continue funding until the end of the course. The fund covers the full tuition fees for each woman being sponsored.
University education in Gaza and the WB costs about $600 per year, beyond the means of many women who live there.

WHY IS THERE A NEED FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP FUND?
Education has always been important to the Palestinian people and the Scholarship Fund is a wonderful way to show our solidarity with Palestinian women who dream of a university education.
For decades the political situation in Gaza and the West Bank has created widespread poverty.
Since 2014 repeated attacks by Israel and the extension of restrictive and discriminatory measures continue to have a devastating effect on the economies of Gaza and the West Bank.
Since the 7th October 2023, the situation in Gaza and the West Bank has changed tragically and dramatically. This includes the destruction of schools and universities in Gaza and their closure in the West Bank.
The Scholarship Fund continues to raise funds, for women in the West Bank directly now and for women in Gaza in the future, holding on to these funds until it is clearer how best they can be used informed by our committees in Palestine. Even amidst the rubble of Gaza’s destruction, women as keen to reconnect with their education, to complete their courses somehow.

HOW IS THE FUND ADMINISTERED
The fund is managed in Gaza by a panel drawn from the Board of Directors of the Red Crescent Society and the Union of Health Work Committees; in the West Bank by a committee of women active in education and employment (the Teachers Creativity Centre); and in the UK by the Sheffield PWSF. Candidates for Scholarships are nominated by their local community centres. The strict criteria include the candidate’s socio-economic background, commitment to community work, academic achievement, and circumstances such as a recent home demolition or war injuries.
Money raised by our group in Saddleworth is routed to Gaza and the West Bank via the Sheffield group which is a registered charity (number 1133499).

WHAT PERCENTAGE OF DONATIONS GOES TO THE WOMEN?
Approximately 95% of money raised goes directly to the women. The balance, around 5%, goes towards paying for things like room hire for fundraising events in their country and for transferring money to and administering the funds in Gaza and the West Bank.

HOW CAN I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIP FUND AND UPCOMING EVENTS?
Email the Saddleworth group at Saddleworth.pwsf@gmail.com and a member of the group with respond as soon as possible. Let us know if you’d like to join our mailing list.

Thank you for your support