Naomi's School Journey

Hello, my name is Shimaa and I am 26 years old. Most people know me as Naomi, the name I adopted for my safety. I arrived in the United States in May of this year and filed for asylum.

I am raising funds for the first year of my tuition fees for the Master of Public Administration (MPA) 3-year (Part-time) program at Evan's School of Public Policy and Governance in Seattle, WA, which I have been accepted to attend starting in Autumn 2023. This degree will enable me to attain a job where I can champion women's rights and human rights through impactful policies and programs.

In my home country, women are constantly subjected to violence. About 97% of Egyptian women are victims of female genital mutilation.

All the women I grew up around experienced some form of violence. In school, at home, at workplaces… The pervasive nature of violence in women’s lives extended beyond physical violence and sexual abuse; it left a profound impact on their mental health, well-being, and sense of security. Additionally, I along with numerous others faced multiple death threats for having diverse religious beliefs.

Although freedom of religion is legal in Egypt, converting from Islam is punishable by death — Many Muslims/Christians who oppose harmful cultural practices are falsely accused of heresy. If the court convicts a person of apostasy (leaving Islam) it has the power to sentence them to a prison term, annul their marriage, seize property, and disqualify them from inheritance rights. This is why I’ve lived the last 8 years using different names, changing locations, and sometimes hiding in people’s homes.

Facing the challenges of living in a country with human rights violations and limited legal protection for women, I’m determined to make a change.

I escaped my family’s home at the age of fifteen due to domestic violence. I ended up a resident of the streets of Cairo due to the lack of support services and shelters. Thus commenced years of rough conditions, violence, abuse, and more. It’s a long story of devastation and hopelessness that I was eventually able to escape. In 2016 I was rescued by a dear friend of mine who then encouraged and supported me to continue my education. I was able to go to college to study Applied Arts and received a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design and Advertisement. I graduated with a GPA of 4.0 and an A+ for my graduation thesis.

Using the skill set acquired through this program, I was able to raise awareness about gender-based violence and human rights violations and to work with different women’s and human rights organizations, but I knew there was an urgent need to do more. Unfortunately, for the safety of myself and of those around me I was not able to speak up, advocate for myself, or seek justice.

Coming to the US has been a fresh start and a difficult yet beautiful transition. Having to leave everything behind including my dear friends has been an eye-opening experience. I’m more fueled and motivated than ever to make even the slightest change — for myself, my mom who still lives in that house, for women and girls, and everyone surviving the insufferable conditions and injustices. This degree will provide me with the skill set to advocate for global systems change that advances human and women’s rights on a global scale. Hopefully one day I will be able to leave a lasting impact on societies that strive for justice, including my home country.

Since my asylum case is pending and I have only been here for a few months, there are many benefits that I don’t have access to. I'm not eligible for student loans, a fellowship/scholarship, or financial aid for this year. After I get my work permit I will be able to work during the second year of the program, and I’m hopeful that I will then be able to get a fellowship!

In this link (click here) you will find the school’s breakdown of the costs on which I’ve based this fund. I’m also looking into any and all forms of funding with the University of Washington.

Thank you for reading this far and for supporting me on this adventure. I will happily share and post updates on my educational journey.