The EU Regional Trust Fund supports access to university education in the region, and also vocational training, counselling, and English language classes. Through this sector, the Trust Fund funds more than 6,900 scholarships for young refugees and peers from local communities in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Syria, and Egypt.
Abdallah is a 35-year-old computer engineering student from Jordan. He found himself confined to a wheelchair as a result of an accident when he was 15. He had the choice to either give up and let his disability define him, or fight to get his life back. Thanks to the support of the EU, via the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis, he was awarded an EDU Syria scholarship, which allowed him to pursue his Master's degree. Since December 2015, 3,800 scholarships were granted to Syrian refugees and vulnerable Jordanians like Abdallah.
The European Union Regional Trust Fund in response to the Syrian crisis’ exhibition "Faces of Resilience: From Syria and the Region" by photographer Johanna de Tessières displays portraits and personal stories of those whose lives have been irrevocably impacted by the Syria crisis. Johanna’s photos document a selection of the many projects supported by the European Union through the Trust Fund. They shed light on the individual lives behind the unimaginable numbers, which have been irrevocably changed by the Syria crisis. These photos also showcase how the EU’s support has enabled many Syrians, Iraqis, Jordanian and Lebanese people to start rebuilding their lives and to turn desperation into hope. Despite trauma and personal losses, the protagonists of these stories reveal their extraordinary resilience and determination to carry on, care for their children and dream of a better future.
Rasha Rifaai, 23, comes from Damascus district in Syria. She fled to Lebanon in 2014. Thanks to a SPARK scholarship, Rasha took up nursery studies at SPARK Institute in Zeitouneh, Lebanon. After completing her degree, Rasha was offered a job as a Teacher’s Assistant. She acknowledges that this has definitely impacted on her life positively and made her stronger. This job has also substantially improved her financial situation. The project helps both Syrian youth and disadvantaged youth from local communities to continue their education. This initiative is one of many similar SPARK projects, implemented through the EU Regional Trust Fund. This project is helping nearly 2,500 Syrian and local community youth to further their education and become economically self-reliant. More stories: http://bit.ly/EUTF_Madad_videos
When you are determined to succeed no matter what
"If you want to succeed you need to dedicate enough time to it and the proof is that even with my complicated situation, I was able to succeed because I gave it my all."
Abdallah is a 35-year-old computer engineering student from Jordan. He found himself confined to a wheelchair as a result of an accident when he was 15, which prompted him to put his studies on hold for a while.
He had the choice to either give up and let his disability define him, or fight to get his life on track. He decided that he needed...
“In a country where resources are scarce, education is your only weapon”
Sajeda is 28 years old and she is a master student in geology at Yarmouk university in Jordan, writing her final thesis. “I have a bachelor’s degree in geology [from the same university and] I graduated first of my class. [Two years after graduating,] I was awarded the EDU Syria scholarship which gave me the opportunity to do my master’s,” she says.
Sajeda has always dreamt of becoming a geologist and of working in nature. Since she was a child, she knew she was going to follow her passion and she is now convinced this is why she excels academically....
You have to rely on yourself to go on
Hanan Shehadat, 25 years old, used to live in Damascus, Syria with her four siblings and her mother and father. After her dad lost his shop due to heavy bombing in Yarmouk, they decided to move to Jordan to join their relatives there. Hanan’s family thought this was going to be a short stay, but the situation in Syria only worsened and this made it difficult for them to return home. They have been moving around since 2012 and have not yet been able to settle down.
“When I came to Jordan, I had to start from scratch. I had...
