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Waseem Alsisi, a 27‑year‑old exceptional musician offered a place on the MSc Music, Mind and Brain at Goldsmiths University for 2025 and his wife, Dina Naji, a lab technician and incredibly talented biologist offered a fully funded Master’s in Medical Anthropology at SOAS need your urgent financial support. Wasim and Dina’s tuition fees have both been generously covered by scholarships from Goldsmith’s and SOAS respectively.
Waseem and Dina escaped Gaza for Egypt a year ago — without papers or funds — with help from diplomatic and media contacts. They are now so close to finally being able to realise their dream to study in London, and change their lives.
Goodenough College has offered fully funded living for both, generously arranged by its Director, the Honourable Alice Walpole OBE. Their visa applications are being handled pro bono by a leading law firm, and both intend to work up to 20 hours per week while studying. That spirit of kindness and generosity has gotten us so close to transforming Waseem and Dina’s lives. We are however not quite there yet.
We first met Waseem through the British Council in Gaza through UK diplomatic and official friends. Waseem supported cultural diplomacy and soft-power initiatives, demonstrating leadership, musical talent, and cross-cultural vision.
Tragically, Waseem and Dina have lost six of their close relatives in the last two weeks. They bring their own personal journey with them to their studies.
We are now very close to making this happen, but need some urgent extra support for living costs, funding and support in order to speed up their visa processing. Dina is due to start a top-up English course prior to starting her SOAS course as early as next week!
But it may all fall apart now. The major sticking point is that we now need to fundraise around £26,700 (£13,347 per applicant). This money is required by the home office in order to issue their visas, and showcase that they have enough to cover their living expenses in order to enter the UK and start their courses.
There are very few cases where we can collectively and truly make a difference — this is one of them. This is the only missing piece.
Your leadership and financial support at this juncture could transform the future of two remarkable individuals whose plans — to establish a centre for treating children’s trauma in Gaza through music and non‑verbal therapies — embody the spirit of cultural healing and coexistence.
All money donated via this fund will be placed in a trust for Waseem and Dina managed by Goodenough College which is a registered UK charity.
Their story, in their own words, can be viewed via their short vlog:
We are all deeply indebted for your interest in this extraordinary request of you all in such times.