SINGAPORE: A ground-up initiative by Singaporeans to support Palestinian students affected by the war in Gaza has raised more than S$510,000 and will fund four scholars to pursue tertiary education in Singapore this year.
The Palestinian Scholarship Initiative (PSI), launched on 26 October 2024 in conjunction with the 10th anniversary of social enterprise Hush TeaBar, was established in response to the humanitarian crisis and widespread destruction of educational infrastructure in Palestine caused by the ongoing conflict.
Initially aiming to sponsor two undergraduate students, the initiative has exceeded expectations by securing sufficient funds to support four scholars, thanks to strong public and private contributions.
Public Generosity Exceeds Target
In a press release on 15 July, PSI announced that it had reached its original fundraising goal of S$400,000 and exceeded it by more than S$110,000.
Over S$370,000 was raised through the Ray of Hope crowdfunding platform, with private donors contributing an additional S$140,000.
Following a rigorous selection process by PSI’s Scholarship Assessment Committee, four students were awarded scholarships.
Three will enrol in postgraduate programmes at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), while one will begin undergraduate studies at the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) this August.
“Our initial goal was to sponsor two undergraduate scholars. Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of public and private donors, we are now able to support double that number,” said PSI Co-Chair and former Nominated Member of Parliament Anthea Ong.
“This reflects the giving spirit of Singaporeans and residents, especially in the face of this immense humanitarian crisis in Palestine.”
A key highlight of PSI’s fundraising efforts was an Instagram-based raffle, where every S$10 donation served as one entry to win curated items.
The campaign raised over S$42,000, attracted more than 4,000 entries, and garnered 445 individual donations — a testament to the creativity and solidarity of the community.
As of July 2025, PSI had received over 2,700 individual donations, ranging from S$1 to S$20,000, with an average contribution of more than S$130.
Support Beyond Financial Aid
To ensure scholars receive more than just financial assistance, PSI will launch a Scholars Support Programme.
This volunteer-led initiative will provide emotional, social, and cultural support, pairing each scholar with two befrienders — one from the wider community and another from their host university.
The programme aims to promote a sense of belonging, healing, and personal growth alongside academic success.
High Demand for Educational Pathways
PSI received over 150 applications from young Palestinians, more than half of whom were from Gaza, with the majority under the age of 25.
Applicants applied to Singaporean institutions such as NUS, SUSS, Singapore Management University (SMU), Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), and SIM, for programmes in fields including pharmaceutical science, artificial intelligence, business management, and software engineering.
One successful applicant shared a moving account of volunteering at Al-Shifa Hospital during the October 2023 Gaza crisis.
“Resilience and adaptability have been hallmarks of my journey. Studying in Singapore — a global hub for innovation and research — offers unparalleled opportunities for academic and personal growth.”
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, at least 51 university buildings in Gaza had been destroyed and another 57 damaged as of January 2025 — underscoring the urgent need for educational opportunities abroad.
Prime Minister’s Support and Community Events
In March 2025, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong demonstrated his support for the initiative by attending a PSI partners’ briefing and iftar event at Pu3 restaurant.
To further raise awareness and funds, PSI partnered with The Projector for screenings of the award-winning film No Other Land, with 55% of ticket sales donated to the initiative.
The first screening took place on 12 July at Cineleisure, with additional screenings scheduled on 16, 20, and 26 July.
Volunteer-Led and Community-Driven
PSI is a fully volunteer-led initiative, with funds managed by the registered Singapore charity Ray of Hope to ensure transparency and public trust.
The initiative is co-chaired by Anthea Ong and Professor Yaacob Ibrahim, former Minister for Communications and Information, and is supported by a diverse team of professionals, academics, civil society associations, and young Singaporeans.
For more information or to contribute to the initiative, visit Ray of Hope’s Palestinian Scholarship Initiative event page.
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