Since stepping onto the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTMKL) campus, my goal has been to make an impact that goes beyond regular university life. 

During the holy month of Ramadan, I had the privilege of organising a Ramadan Outreach Programme to support 30 Palestinian families living in Malaysia. Working hand-in-hand with the UTM International Office, I helped direct a generous fund of 10,000 Malaysian Ringgit to provide practical help to these families. Yet, true support is about more than just financial assistance; it is about building community and bringing joy to people’s lives. This is why, on 14th March, we held an event that brought together both organisers and beneficiaries of the program. It involved an engaging program of STEM related activities, which I helped organise and deliver to the 40 Palestinian children in attendance.

On 13 March 2026, the Bseisu Foundation hosted its annual Iftar gathering to celebrate the holy month of Ramadan. We came together at Yalla Yalla, a cosy and beautifully lit Lebanese restaurant tucked just behind Oxford Street.

The word Ramadan (رَمَضَان) takes its name from an Arabic root meaning “scorching heat,” though the early March evening in London was anything but. Yet as guests arrived and began to share Iftar, the atmosphere soon became warm and welcoming.

Our CEO, Advisory Board members, and team were delighted to welcome current scholars and alumni - many of whom had travelled long distances from their universities across the UK. We were also joined by friends of the Foundation, as well as partners from universities and organisations who continue to support our mission.

On Wednesday 3 December 2025, in northwest London, the Bseisu Foundation hosted a heartfelt welcome gathering for the new cohort of scholars, the first social event of the year. This particular evening held special significance as we welcomed students from Gaza who had only recently arrived in the UK.

The event began with students and community members arriving at the restaurant, where Christmas lights blended warmly with the Arabic ambience of the space, reflecting the diversity and welcoming spirit of the evening ahead. As always, our aim was to create a warm and safe environment where students feel immediately at home, encouraged to unwind and take a small break from the pressures of student life. Bseisu alumni and new scholars exchanged stories, updates and reflections on their experiences in the UK, embodying the very essence of our foundation’s community. “Going to Bseisu events feels like meeting with my family. I’m so happy that I’m part of this amazing community,” one student told us.

Born and raised in Jordan, Omar embarked on an academic journey that led him to pursue a master’s degree in Sustainable Energy Futures at Imperial College London. With a background in Mechanical Engineering and a passion for promoting sustainability in Jordan’s energy sector, Omar's transition to higher education in the UK marked a significant milestone in his career. Now, Omar would like to delve into his experiences, research, and achievements during his time at Imperial College London, in his own words…

The Bseisu Foundation hosted a Gala Dinner for Gaza, led by Co-Founder Amjad Bseisu. The evening raised vital funds to support the rebuilding of education and health systems in Gaza, with donations directed to UNRWA, MAP, and other humanitarian organisations. The dinner reflected the foundation’s commitment to solidarity, hope, and collective action in the face of ongoing challenges.

After another academic year of incredible achievements from our scholars, the Bseisu Foundation community came together to celebrate. In a beautiful location in central London, scholars and partners came together for a wonderful evening of canapés and cocktails. The scholars themselves, both past and present, were at the heart of the event. Their inspiring journeys showcased the transformative power of education and scholarship support. From studying sustainability to surgery, these scholars have carved their own paths towards success. Their stories serve as testaments to the life-changing impact of education and scholarship support.

The Bseisu Foundation’s Ramadan Iftar was a warm and inspiring evening attended by scholars, UK MPs, and the Palestinian Ambassador to the UK. The event was both a celebration of Ramadan and a strong expression of solidarity with Gaza during these challenging times.

The Bseisu Foundation welcomed new students at a special event in London. Scholars connected with one another, and Interim CEO Steven Turner led a brainstorming session on how the foundation can best support their journeys, reinforcing its mission of student-centered empowerment

The Bseisu Foundation hosted a Gala Dinner for Gaza, led by Co-Founder Amjad Bseisu. The evening raised vital funds to support the rebuilding of education and health systems in Gaza, with donations directed to UNRWA, MAP, and other humanitarian organisations. The dinner reflected the foundation’s commitment to solidarity, hope, and collective action in the face of ongoing challenges.

Born and raised in Jordan, Omar embarked on an academic journey that led him to pursue a master’s degree in Sustainable Energy Futures at Imperial College London. With a background in Mechanical Engineering and a passion for promoting sustainability in Jordan’s energy sector, Omar's transition to higher education in the UK marked a significant milestone in his career. Now, Omar would like to delve into his experiences, research, and achievements during his time at Imperial College London, in his own words…

Native Scientists is a non-profit organisation connecting underserved children and scientists. It exists to broaden children's horizons, promote scientific literacy and reduce inequalities through science outreach educational programmes.

We have partnered with Native Scientists to support the Arabic strand of their SMC portfolio. Arabic coordinators are working across London, Newcastle and Bradford to carry out science outreach workshops that connect Arabic-speaking migrant children and scientists.

The Bseisu Foundation’s Ramadan Iftar was a warm and inspiring evening of connection and reflection. Scholars and friends came together to share in the spirit of Ramadan, reaffirming the foundation’s commitment to community and empowerment.

Luna writes about her experiences growing up in Gaza and being provided very few opportunities for advancement. Violence, political repression, social regression, and skyrocketing unemployment rates were all obstacles that not only thwarted her personal dreams and the prosperity of entire generations of Palestinian youth but the potential of the nation.

Despite the circumstances, Luna fought tooth and nail to seize every opportunity that came her way but the barriers to success remained. Read on for Luna’s own words about her path to long term growth and education in the United States.

After another academic year of incredible achievements from our scholars, the Bseisu Foundation community came together to celebrate. In a beautiful location in central London, scholars and partners came together for a wonderful evening of canapés and cocktails. The scholars themselves, both past and present, were at the heart of the event. Their inspiring journeys showcased the transformative power of education and scholarship support. From studying sustainability to surgery, these scholars have carved their own paths towards success. Their stories serve as testaments to the life-changing impact of education and scholarship support.

Tarek was our first-ever Bseisu Scholar in the UK. He kindly sat down with our Scholarships Officer, Catherine Stephenson, to talk about where he was before his Bseisu scholarship and what he's been up to since.

He originally worked in Sustainability Engineering, designing low carbon buildings for an engineering firm. Despite finding this enjoyable, he became frustrated with the level of impact he could have in terms of climate change. Tarek became set on moving into the field of climate finance in order to create a bigger impact.

We are proud to support so many outstanding scholars at universities around the world and want to wish them a huge congratulations. This time of year, some scholars are completing dissertations and projects, whilst others are busy graduating. We are so proud of their perseverance, and their unwavering commitment to education and supporting their communities. To celebrate our scholars, we wanted to mention a few of their outstanding achievements.

We are pleased to announce the renewal of our partnership with the University of Cambridge. This programme is available to STEM applicants from Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan and is jointly funded by the Bseisu Foundation and The Cambridge Trust.

Since 2019, we have supported up to 2 masters students per year, at the University of Cambridge, to great success. Our successful scholars have gone on to related careers as well as further education such as PhDs and Medical School.

On Friday 17th June 2022, we held our first in-person summer social event in 3 years. It was an evening to celebrate our scholars’ great achievements as well as meet many of our partners and thank them in person. We hosted many of our scholars from across the UK; coming from Oxford, Cambridge, Sheffield, Bristol, Birmingham and Manchester. Since our virtual event in October 2021, this was the first time we were meeting so many of our scholars. It was great to hear about their experiences in the UK and learn more about their courses and future plans.

Every day we celebrate the power of education and the lasting impact it has on the lives of our scholars around the world. Our mission is to empower young people from across the Levant by providing them with the tools they need to make long lasting differences within society at large. We focus on providing transformational scholarships to disadvantaged individuals so they can access world-class higher education. We believe that investing in someone’s education is an investment in their future and for this reason, our mantra is that education is empowerment.

We are excited to announce that the Bseisu Foundation is now providing a limited number of scholarships to disadvantaged university students in Malaysia.

Whilst our usual focus is the Arab region and transforming the lives of young people from the Levant who wish to study abroad, we are pleased to have the opportunity to expand our reach and support financially disadvantaged undergraduate students studying at institutions in Malaysia.