Building on our long history, CEPAL is proud to launch our newest program, Higher Education Access for Palestine (HEAP). HEAP will enable displaced Palestinian students to continue their higher education at universities around the world.
This year, CEPAL is aiming to raise $50,000 to help five displaced students from Gaza continue their education in Malaysia.
Did you know? Thanks to generous private donors, all travel expenses for HEAP students are already covered—so every dollar you give goes directly to supporting their education and well-being.
Where are the students now? Most displaced students from Gaza are currently in Egypt but are unable to study there due to legal complexities and high costs of private education.
Why is the HEAP Critical?
The ongoing genocide has displaced 90% of Gaza’s population and destroyed most infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. It is estimated that Gaza would take more than ten years to rebuild.
With all six of Gaza’s universities destroyed, Palestinians from Gaza need to be able to continue their education in other countries around the world. Education empowers and enables Palestinians to prosper and give back to their communities in countless ways. Access to higher education will allow them to create the vibrant future that all Palestinians deserve.
As students continue their education, it is crucial that we ensure they have access to psychosocial supports. Students from Gaza have experienced immense trauma, and many of their loved ones continue to live through the genocide. Psychosocial supports are essential to ensure students can succeed in their educational journeys and integrate into their new communities.
100% of universities destroyed
494 schools destroyed
800,000+ students deprived education
Why Are We Sending Students to Malaysia?
- Malaysia is very welcoming and supportive of Palestinian refugees.
- The International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), a highly reputable university with strong academic programs, has committed to placing 500 Gazan students into programs across its three campuses.
- IIUM is accepting Palestinian students at local tuition fees and is actively supporting the administrative process to help bring students there.
- Living expenses in Malaysia are significantly lower than in other countries.
- By prioritizing Malaysia, HEAP can support more students at a lower cost, maximizing the impact of every donation.
- In the future, CEPAL will consider opportunities for also placing students in other welcoming countries.
Our HEAP Program Partners
CEPAL is partnering with the U.S.-based Elnajjar Joudah Foundation (EJF) to implement the HEAP Program and distribute funds directly to students and universities. EJF is a private, humanitarian, nonprofit, nonpolitical, and charitable family foundation (EIN: 88-4421562). Using private and public contributions, EJF provides financial assistance to displaced students from Gaza who are relocating to another nation to continue their studies.
EJF has a strong track record in supporting displaced Palestinian students from Gaza. In 2024, EJF successfully placed 103 students with full scholarships/other forms of critical support in 35 academic institutions across 10 different countries (US, UK, Ireland, Spain, Turkey, Palestine, Egypt, Jordan, South Africa, and Malaysia).
How You can Help
- Make a one-time donation
- Make a monthly or annual pledge to help ensure students can complete their programs
- Follow us on our social media and help us raise awareness
- Sign up for our newsletter on our website
- Your skills could help us grow our impact and support more students
- Sign up on our website today!