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Rasha Abu Sha'ban is registered at a Scottish university but is not allowed to leave Gaza, July 2008
Rasha Abu Sha'ban, Student
Rasha Abu Sha'ban
I have two married brothers, one studying in Gaza and the other in Britain, and two sisters at home. Last summer, I completed my studies at the Islamic University in Gaza and received a bachelor's degree in English. My grades were very good.
During my last semester, I applied to Aberdeen University, in Scotland, for admission to an MA program. I wanted to write my masters' thesis on Jerusalem. About two months later, I received a letter in which school officials set a time for a telephone interview. They interviewed me and about a week later, I was notified by e-mail that I had been accepted. I obtained a fellowship from the al-Maktum Institute.
In August 2007, I applied for a student visa at the British offices in Gaza and received it a few days afterwards. However, the border crossings were closed, so I couldn't exit Gaza. I was supposed to begin my studies in September 2007.
After the studies began, I kept in contact with the university through the Internet. I explained to them that the closure prevented my arrival at the university. They told me I had to get there because classes had begun. They asked me if there was some other way I could travel.
In November, al-Maktum informed me they had cancelled the fellowship because I had not arrived at the university. They said I could apply for a fellowship for the following year.
In May 2008, I reapplied for the fellowship. They interviewed me again and informed me, in July, that I had been granted the fellowship.
I very much want to continue my studies, and I follow the news all the time, but I am losing hope. I intend to register for a computer course in Gaza so I don't waste my time. I looked for work, but couldn't find any because there are lots of people in Gaza with a BA and not many available positions. My parents still give me pocket money. My father is already old, 67. I wanted to be the one helping my parents, and not vice versa.
Whenever an announcement is made for registration of students stuck in Gaza, I sign up with the hope that I can go. So far, my hope has not been realized.
http://www.btselem.org/english/testimonies/20080708_rasha_abu_shaaban_student_stuck_in_gaza.asp------------------
Imprisoned in Gaza, Mayada Mhana cannot complete her media studies in Cairo, July 2008
Mayada Mhana, Student
Mayada Mhana
I am working temporarily as a teaching assistant at the Islamic University in the city. In 2003, I obtained a BA in press and media studies from the same university. After graduating, I worked at various temporary jobs. From 2004 to 2006, I studied for an MA in a university in Cairo.
In February 2007, I returned to Gaza to do field research for my thesis, which is on women in the Palestinian media. I got a job for two months at the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, and after that I got the position I am working at now. I work eight hours a week and earn six Jordanian dinars an hour (approximately nine dollars). In the meantime, the situation in Gaza has deteriorated more and more, and Rafah Crossing, by the Egyptian border, is now closed.
Now I can’t travel to Egypt to complete my degree, which is very frustrating. I’m cut off from the university and can’t be in proper touch with my supervisor, which makes it hard to write the thesis. Since I can’t make progress with the writing, I decided to focus on the teaching, hoping I could get to Egypt once the situation improved. But now they’ve asked me at the Islamic University to decide whether I want to keep the teaching position or go back to study in Egypt. I don’t know what to do. I’m afraid I may choose to stay on and then the crossing will be reopened.
On 1 July, Rafah Crossing opened for two days. I went there with my sister, Hanadi, 23, who was registered in the MA program at the Arab Research Institute in Egypt. When we were about three kilometers from the crossing, the Palestinian police made us wait so that people could pass in an orderly manner. There were hundreds of persons, and it was very crowded standing there.
We stood in the sun for three hours. Finally, we got through the Rafah Crossing but couldn’t enter Egypt because there were so many people. We waited there until noon the next day. Around 1:00 P.M., people began to push toward the crossing. My sister and I couldn’t handle the situation and decided to return to Gaza.
I am waiting for the crossing to open again, so that I can go to Gaza in a dignified way. My family is supporting me financially because my salary is hardly enough for anything. I’m very frustrated about that. My plan was to study and then earn a high wage so that I could support my family, and not the other way around.
http://www.btselem.org/english/testimonies/20080727_mayada_mhana_student_stuck_in_gaza.asp