Our Work
The Jusoor-Amal
Scholarship Fund
The Jusoor-Amal Scholarship Fund mobilizes U.S. college students to stand in solidarity with refugees while providing university scholarships for Syrian refugees in Jordan.
The Fund currently targets Syrian refugee youth living in Za'atari Refugee Camp who have demonstrated a commitment to community service and leadership.
In its next phase, the Fund will expand to include refugee youth leaders of all nationalities living outside Za'atari Camp in the urban areas of Jordan.
Higher education helps Syrian youth rebuild their lives and work towards a better future.
A full scholarship for a four year degree at a nearby Jordanian university costs only $16,000. That's only $4,000 a year.
Founded and directed by students, the Amal Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which engages U.S. students in fundraising and awareness efforts, bringing a refugee voice to U.S. campuses and bridging the gap between the two communities. The Jusoor-Amal Scholarship Fund is implemented in partnership with Jusoor.
"Art in Crisis" Exhibitions
The Foundation works with Syrian artists living in Za'atari Refugee Camp.
With artist community groups, the Foundation organizes art exhibitions that feature the work of Syrian refugee artists. These exhibitions share their message as well as generate income for the artists. All proceeds go directly to the artists.
The Jusoor-Amal Scholarship Fund
Hope for Syrian Refugees in Jordan
The Problem
Za’atari Refugee Camp in Jordan is home to 80,000 Syrian refugees. Over 10,000 camp residents are youth, ages 18-24. Before war forced them from their homes, many were university students, just credits shy of completing their degrees.
These youth are unable to pursue higher education: it’s not available in the camp, and nearby universities are prohibitively expensive.
Who will be the doctors, teachers, engineers, and politicians rebuilding Syria if youth are unable to pursue higher education?
The Need
The Jusoor-Amal Scholarship Fund provides funding for refugee youth leaders to attend university in Jordan.
A full scholarship for a four-year bachelor’s degree at a Jordanian university, including tuition, registration, books, transportation, and a living stipend costs $16,000.
That’s only $4,000 a year!
The Response
The Jusoor-Amal Scholarship Fund mobilizes U.S. students to stand in solidarity with refugees through fundraising and awareness. Its partner, Jusoor, is a nonprofit dedicated to Syrian youth development and a leader in higher education access.
With this support, Syrian refugees in Za’atari attend Jordanian universities and U.S. students develop leadership skills as global citizens, while giving back to fellow students in need.
Both communities engage in dialogue through virtual cultural exchange, building bridges of mutual understanding. Together, they are the next generation of global leaders.
The Hope
The hope - amal - is that you will join us and invest in the next generation of Syrian leaders.
The Amal Foundation seeks…
• Students, academic institutions, and community groups to fundraise a full or partial scholarship.
• Private donors to amplify student fundraising with match grants.
• Passionate individuals to support student campaigns.
Meet the Current Students
Jusoor Amal Scholarship Recipients
Nawar
2016-2017 Scholarship Recipient
Nawar is studying English Language and Literature at Zarqa University. After fleeing to Jordan in 2012 with her family, Nawar quickly became an active leader in Za’atari Refugee Camp. She splits her time between heading a leadership program for adolescent girls and volunteering with an inclusive theater program for children with disabilities.
Yasin
2016-2017 Scholarship Recipient
Yasin is studying Management Information Sciences at Zarqa University. Yasin is a youth leader dedicated to community service. In Za’atari Refugee Camp, he has worked in an informal education program for children and spends his free time volunteering. He organizes community events with his youth group and volunteers as a mentor for children with disabilities. Yasin also learned sign language through his work in the camp and now teaches lessons to other community members.
Mahmoud
2017-2018 Scholarship Recipient
Mahmoud is studying physics at Zarqa University. Mahmoud studied in Syria at the University of Damascus, and was just short of graduating. He was also able to transfer a number of credits from his previous university study. Mahmoud has worked as a Physics teacher in Za'atari since arriving in the camp, now leading classes for Tawjihi students and volunteer tutoring to support students in the sciences.
Reham
2017-2018 Scholarship Recipient
Reham is studying English translation at Zarqa University. Reham is passionate about education, especially for women; she married young and was prevented from pursuing education - she now advocates against early marriage, as well as engaging in other mentoring and community service work.
Roqiya
2017-2018 Scholarship Recipient
Roqiya is studying Math at Zarqa University. She studied in university for 2 years in Syria, but because she could not bring her documents with her to Jordan, she decided to re-take 11th and 12th grade so that she could sit for the Tawjihi, the Jordanian national high school exam - which she passed in 2017. In addition to studying, she's also worked on education advocacy with a few different NGOs while in Za'atari.
Alaa
2017-2018 Scholarship Recipient
Alaa is studying history at Al Albayt University. Alaa studied history at the University of Damascus, and was just a few credits shy of graduating before arriving to Jordan. Alaa has worked and volunteered on youth development and psychosocial projects in Za'atari. He was able to transfer a number of credits from his previous university study.
Mohammed
2017-2018 Scholarship Recipient
Mohammed is studying education at Zarqa University. He hopes of becoming an educator that helps Syria's children today and contributes to rebuilding Syria in the future. Mohammed is one of the most active youth volunteers in Za'atari Camp - he volunteers with a number of refugee community groups, organizing community service and cultural events inside and outside of the camp. His passion is teaching; he has worked in the camp as a Photography teacher and currently works as Center Coordinator for a camp center that offers educational and recreational programs to the refugee community
Meet Our Team
We are a student-led organization. Our leadership team worked with refugee youth in Jordan’s capital city, Amman, and in the Za’atari Refugee Camp. We had the privilege of meeting inspiring young people whose education had been cut short; along with them, we grew frustrated by the lack of opportunity and sought to respond.
Maya Perlmann
Co-Founder
Maya has worked at NGOs supporting refugees and immigrants in Jordan, Egypt, Belgium and the U.S; working with refugee students in Jordan inspired her interest in refugee higher education. She received her Master's in Social Work in 2017, and is currently based in Brussels, Belgium.
Julie Whittaker
Co-Founder
Julie is pursuing a Master's in Public and International Affairs at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School. Julie worked for three years in Jordan, including two years in Za'atari Refugee Camp where she led community building, education, and skills development programs.
Erin Wall
Board Member
Erin received her Master of Science in Education in International Educational Development at the University of Pennsylvania, focusing on education, migration, and human rights. She lived in Jordan for three years, working first as a teacher and then as a higher education program facilitator. In her current position, Programme Support Officer with Concern Worldwide, she supports education, livelihoods and protection initiatives in southern Turkey.
Biff Parker-Magyar
Board Member
Elizabeth completed her Master’s of Arts in International Relations in Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, DC. Elizabeth lived in Jordan for two years, most recently as a reporter alongside young Syrian journalists at a website providing original and immediate analysis of the Syrian conflict from Amman.
Alison Thompson
Board Member
Alison works in the fields of pubic health and community development and has served in a project coordination capacity for NGOs based in the Middle East, Canada, and the U.S. Alison is currently located in Ottawa, where she is coordinating a Canadian-led project promoting cyber security and digital opportunities for activists and civil society groups in Syria, and also pursuing a degree in nursing.
Aya Ghannam
Advisory Committee Member
Aya is a civil engineering student at the University of Jordan in Amman. A recipient of the 2014 DAFI Scholarship, Aya was studying at Damascus University in Syria prior to fleeing to Jordan with her family.
Abdulrahman al-Masri
Board Member
Abdulrahman, a native of Damascus, Syria, is pursuing a degree in political science and international relations at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. Abdulrahman works as a journalist covering politics and events in the Middle East.
Sophie Zinser
Student Coordinator
Sophie is a current Fulbright Scholar with the Center for Women's Studies at the University of Jordan. Previously, she worked with the International Rescue Committee's Emergency Unit in New York City. Sophie is a 2016 graduate of Wesleyan University.
Laura Kastrinelis
Operations Coordinator
Laura currently works as Senior IT Business Analyst at Optum Technology. She is passionate about community service and education, and she loves traveling and cultural exchange. Laura graduated from Villanova University in 2012 with her Bachelor degree in Mathematics.
