In Gaza, education is more than a path to opportunity—it is a lifeline. Under the deliberate destruction of knowledge and the targeting of intellectual life in Israel’s ongoing genocide, thousands of students are being denied their futures. Yet, even in the face of catastrophe, local initiatives are stepping in to protect the possibility of learning and dignity.

One such initiative is ISNAD, a program by Taawon (Welfare Association) that supports higher education in Gaza by keeping universities and their students afloat.

Through ISNAD, Taawon partners with Islamic University of Gaza, Al-Aqsa University, and Al-Azhar University to ensure they can continue operating. Funding is channeled directly to the institutions, helping cover faculty and staff salaries and sustaining academic operations.  For students, ISNAD offers vital tuition support—especially for those in their final year of study. This funding empowers professors and students to continue their work virtually. 

The focus is deliberate and addresses urgent community needs, like nursing, psychology, physiotherapy, engineering and education, where graduates can immediately contribute to Gaza’s fragile health and community infrastructure. ISNAD also prioritizes professions that enable remote work, helping graduates sustain themselves through freelancing opportunities even under siege. In doing so, ISNAD safeguards the survival of higher education in Gaza while preparing a generation equipped to heal, teach and rebuild. 

Beyond helping current students, ISNAD also supports graduates who remain trapped by tuition debts, enabling them to “free their diplomas” and move forward with their careers. In a place where education is often the only hope, this is a powerful act of unlocking futures.

As the new academic year begins, ISNAD is preparing for a cycle of urgent support. Through digital campaigns, Taawon is amplifying the message: Gaza’s students must not be left behind.

For BuildPalestine, ISNAD embodies the values we believe in—uplifting local leadership, sustaining national institutions, and keeping alive the hope of an educated generation ready to rebuild.

Learn more about ISNAD through their detailed FAQ and contribute today: https://www.taawon.org/en/isnad 

💡 Taawon (Welfare Association) is a non-profit, civic organization launched in Geneva in 1983 by a group of Palestinian business leaders and intellectuals. Taawon today is one of the largest developmental organizations in Palestine and the diaspora camps in Lebanon. It touches the lives of more than one million Palestinians annually. Since its establishment, Taawon has invested funds reaching nearly US $900 million, dedicated to development and relief programs.