The first annual ceremony of the Daughters for Life Foundation awards at BGU was held on Thursday, June 2, 2011 as part of the main University’s Fellowships award event, organized by the Dean of Students Yaakov Affek and in the presence of University President Prof. Rivka Carmi.
Daughters for Life was created by Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish in memory of his three daughters, Bessan, Mayar and Aya, who were tragically killed on January 16, 2009 when an IDF tank shell hit their home in the Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza during the waning days of Operation Cast Lead. In total, 35 awards will be distributed at 10 universities in Israel, Egypt, the Palestinian Authority, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. In Israel, the awards will be distributed at BGU and Haifa University.
The three recipients received a cash prize of $1,000, a certificate and a plaque. According to the Daughters For Life Foundation, the awards are given out to outstanding students in the fields of medicine, law, education, journalism and business, for their "demonstrated academic excellence, creativity, compassion, a developed sense of humanity, the overcoming of adversity, devotion to improving the circumstances of girls and women and financial hardship". Those four fields were the ones in which his daughters had expressed interest before their deaths.
Dr. Abuelaish completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Soroka University Medical Center, has taught at BGU's Medical School for International Health and has been involved with the Bedouin genetics project run by Dr. Ohad Birk from the Faculty of Health Sciences. He is currently a professor at the University of Toronto.
“Only someone with the incredible personality of Izzeldin, with his deep commitment to bridging the two peoples, would be able to turn his own personal tragedy into such a positive force,” BGU President Prof. Rivka Carmi said.
This year’s BGU recipients are:
Amalya Ze’evi, from Holon, is a third year student in the Department of Politics and Government and the Department of Education. Amalya volunteers in the Perach project with a seventeen year old girl from a socio-economically deprived family. Her work reflects her strong convictions that women in politics and in society must be empowered. She encourages the young women to put more effort into her studies, to do meaningful national service after graduating from high school and hopefully to pursue a higher education.
Ma’ayan Givoni, from Ramat Yishai, is a third year student in the Department of Management and the Department of Psychology. She volunteers in the “Young Entrepreneurs” project, working with a group of fifteen year old girls, helping them to create a business with innovative products and giving them marketing and business skills to try to prepare them for a productive future. She is also setting up an alumni association at the Department of Management to help female graduates find suitable job opportunities and create social and business connections.
Safa Abu Hani of Rahat is a sixth year medical student at the Joyce and Irving Goldman Medical School. She volunteers in the Perach project at a children’s clubhouse at the Soroka University Medical Center, where she works with hospitalized children and their families and frequently serves as interpreter, providing both medical information and emotional support. Safa serves as a role model and mentor for girls and young women in the Bedouin community, whom she encourages to pursue their dreams and reach their highest potential.
Above left to right: Ma’ayan Givoni, Amalya Ze’evi and Safa Abu Hani
Above left to right: Safa Abu Hani, Prof. Rivka Carmi, Amalya Ze’evi, Ma’ayan Givoni (Dani Machlis/BGU)
