THE HALA ATALLA  SCHOLARSHIP  FUND

FOR  SUSTAINABILITY  OF  PALESTINIAN  WOMEN’S EDUCATION

Background

The Hala Attala Scholarship Fund was established in 1996 in memory of the late Dr. Hala Atalla.  Dr. Atallah was a renowned faculty member who founded educational counseling at Birzeit University.  She was also a pillar in the community working in issues of human development, including a special interest in women’s rights and welfare in Palestinian society.  To commemorate her work in both education and improving the situation of women in Palestine, the Institute of Women’s Studied established the Hala Atalla Scholarship Fund for women students aspiring to continue their higher education at the university. Taking into account the fact that there is a link between gender and poverty, the institute was motivated to help close the gap between women and men in assisting women to pursue their higher education.  

Since its establishment, the Hala Atalla Scholarship Fund has assisted women students, especially those from remote villages and poor backgrounds, to fulfill their ambitions for higher education. Each semester 30 women students are awarded full tuition scholarships from the Fund. In addition, at least 90 women students are helped partially by the scholarship, either through tuition payments or assistance in emergencies.

Information Technology and Gender Development:

The Hala Atalla Scholarship Fund, in cooperation with the Information Technology Unit at the University, launched a popular training course in May 2002 for graduating female students. The program is designed to prepare graduates for the working world through giving them the kinds of skills that will improve their chances in the job market.  The program targets women from remote and rural areas by providing them with tools and skills to become computer knowledgeable and to assist them to gain a competitive edge in a job market that requires IT knowledge as well as higher education. The course also focuses on skills such as preparing a resume, doing well in a job interview, and other related issues.

The United Nations places access to IT as the third most important issue facing women globally. It can be an important opportunity for women to improve their lives and the lives of their families. It contributes to their exodus from poverty, as IT knowledge increases their chances of employment. It is noted that only 6% of internet users are women in the Middle East, and they are mostly the educated elites, therefore women from the rural areas are excluded and marginalized.

Training sessions are intensive, and are held on Fridays and Sundays, the two weekly holidays at the university.  Sessions cover the following:

·        Introduction to Microsoft Tools

·        Introduction to Power Point

·        Excel and Word

·        Email and documentation

·        Internet usage as a research tool

·        Resume writing techniques

·        Interviewing skills and dress for success

·        Communication skills and problem solving techniques

Administration of the Fund

The Fund is supervised by the Institute of Women’s Studies and is administered through the Hala Atalla Scholarship Fund Council composed of representatives from the Office of Admissions and Registration, the Students’ Affairs Office, and the Institute.  The Fund receives support from various individuals and organizations such as UNDP, and has received numerous grants from the Union of Arab Professional Women in the USA.

Selection Criteria

Students are selected according to criteria and policies established by the Fund’s Council.  Students seeking assistance through this Fund are requested to fill out an application that ascertains their financial need, academic performance, and community commitment.  The applications are reviewed by the Fund Council, and decisions are made by the Coun

Eligibility

The Hala Atalla Scholarship Fund assists women undergraduate students at Birzeit University who are facing financial hardship.  These are women who are unable to finance their education through other means.  The Fund specifically targets women who are widowed, divorced, orphaned or who for other reasons have no major breadwinner in the family; women from rural areas and refugee camps; poor women; and married women with children who are looking for means to improve their families’ financial situation through higher education

Areas of Assistance

According to their demonstrated needs, scholarship recipients may be provided assistance to cover the following costs: tuition fees, housing fees, books, transportation (for women from remote areas), psychological counseling, employment resources and training.

All scholarship awards are disbursed to students through the University’s Finance Department.

For more information contact:

Hala Atalla Scholarship Fund

Institute of Women’s Studies

Birzeit University

P.O. Box 14

Birzeit, Palestine.

Telephone: 972-2-2982959

Fax:           972-2-2982958

E-mail: bkhoury@birziet.edu

Donations and grants to the Fund are always welcome. Tax-deductible donations are possible in the United States (EIN # 38-287-0089).