Eman narrate the stories of Palestine

On May 2021, I woke up to find out that Rashida Tlaib, the Palestinian-American congresswoman, read my tweet, my twenty-something-letters tweet in her speech on House floor. “Palestinians are humans. Palestinians do indeed exist,” I repeated after Rashida. My heart was pounding. I had never believed in the power of simple words. Now I do! I believe they can be as powerful as weapons. I was granted a one-in-a-million chance to be heard. But there are two million of us in Gaza, and hundreds of thousands of mothers in situations just like mine, or worse and they aren't being heard.

Sovereignty, peace, innovation and happiness are just as many ideals for the people of Palestine as for others. But they are especially hard to achieve for people under occupation. Living on its own is not enough. We need to thrive. I wish to make use of my life and the self-discipline and knowledge I have acquired to help us all to achieve those ideals. Pursuing Creative Writing, I hope to be exposed to various sustainable ideas and education that is not found here in Gaza Strip.

The best stories tend to come from those who have the courage, creativity, or sheer determination that allows them not only to tell their story but also see its message through even in times where no one else believes there is anything worth fighting for. I have always had stories. I had stories when I was asked to write for VICE magazine and The Big Issue newspaper. I had stories when I was assigned to give a creative writing training for the Islamic University Graduate students. I had stories when our proposal of “Using Folktale for Gender Equality and Peacebuilding the Gaza Strip, Palestine” won funding from CUSP Network. I had stories when I won first place in short story writing competition in the Malaysian Cultural Center and Palm strategic initiative center. I am now a mom and a teacher. And I still have stories.

Recently, I have got accepted in the MA program to study Creative writing in Birkbeck university of London. Being able to pursue my endeavor in the United Kingdome, I have confidence that I will be able to apply my expertise and education within my study. Having a B.A. in English Education at the IUG helped me associate and find the links between English language and Writing on one hand and development, change, and growth for the other hand. Yet, I am facing one main problem. I don’t have enough funding to cover my educational fees and other expenses as an international student.

I have chosen this major in particular because I am interested in exploring interdisciplinary approaches to Creative Writing, where literary theory converges with other fields such as psychology, sociology, and cultural studies. By incorporating diverse perspectives, these approaches offer a deeper understanding of how literature reflects and shapes society. Additionally, I am drawn to the study of narrative structures and storytelling techniques, delving into the ways in which authors craft compelling narratives that resonate with readers. Exploring these approaches will not only enrich my understanding of the art of storytelling but also provide me with valuable insights into how literature can serve as a catalyst for social and personal transformation.

This is why the future endeavors of Palestinians and my own are so important and align with this proposed study. If I am given the privilege of pursuing the study of Creative Writing, I hope to participate in the dawn of a new thriving era which will bring to Palestine hope, laughter, and unity impossible in conditions of violent occupation and resistance. Peace and prosperity have a right to be heard, and so has Palestine.