Friendly Welcome was formed in 2021 by a group of North West London Quakers with a simple but powerful idea: that working together we can change lives.
Their first project saw them sponsor a Syrian refugee family to build a new life in the UK. Now, they’ve turned their attention to Gaza.
The situation there is heartbreaking – and for young people whose education has been shattered by conflict, the path forward can feel impossible. Their current project aims to change that, by supporting Palestinian men and women living amid the ruins of Gaza to take up university places in Europe and secure a brighter future.
They’ve already seen what’s possible. Working with a wider group of supporters, they helped a 17-year-old Palestinian woman take up her university place in Paris. That moment reminded them why this work matters.
Now they’re supporting Bashar, a Palestinian man with a place on a Masters in Digital Innovation at University College Dublin. To get him there and through his studies, they estimate they need around £40,000. They’re already halfway, and they’re working to raise the rest through grants, bursaries and private donations.
What makes Bashar’s story particularly remarkable is his determination. Despite living conditions most of us can barely imagine, he is actively pursuing every scholarship he can find – connecting whenever he manages to get internet access. He’s also committed to working the maximum permitted hours throughout his time in Ireland, doing everything in his power to reduce the funding needed.
They’re looking for people who believe, as they do, that education is hope. If you’d like to support Bashar, you can donate to the cause.
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