Help support Aya to get to UMD before Fall 2024!

This fundraiser is on behalf of Aya Almaghari, a Physics Master’s student from Al-Azhar University in Gaza.

Aya’s education was cut short by the war and she and her family were displaced to the south of Gaza, Rafah after their home was demolished.

Aya is a brilliant, passionate, 25-year-old student who dreams of continuing her studies and achieving her professional goals. With the help of the PSSAR (Palestinian Students and Scholars at Risk) and some student volunteers at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD), Aya was able to apply to universities outside Gaza and has been accepted into the PhD Physics program at UMD (see acceptance letter). After she evacuates into Egypt, we need your help to get her from Egypt to Maryland before the Fall 2024 semester starts. The funds raised here will go to: living expenses in Egypt, visa fees, traveling expenses (plane tickets), and academic expenses not covered by the university scholarship.

Aya earned her Bachelor’s degree in Physics from Al-Azhar University, where she graduated with an average of 97.1%, ‘Excellent with 1st. Honor degree.’ She started her Master’s at the same university and was able to complete all her courses with extremely high grades. She also started working on her thesis, “Symmetrical One-Dimensional Photonic Crystal as Efficient Biosensors,” but her work was interrupted by the Israeli bombardment. Aya worked as a Teaching Assistant for two years, serving as a valued, intelligent mentor and lab teacher to students in physics and engineering.

Here is a message from Aya:

I come from a very simple family.

I have 9 sisters and one supporter.

I love shopping, reading books, and listening to music. I love life in general.

Also, I love working hard, I love studying, and I love learning and working.

During my studies, I maintained excellence at every stage, and now I have reached the PHD stage.

My passion in life is to become a distinguished name in physics.

Your support can change Aya’s life and allow her to continue striving for her dreams and making a positive impact on the world. Any contribution you can give is valuable.

Thank you.