Foundation for Palestinian Studies Fund

“Much of what the world knows about Palestinian life, culture and history has been represented through the lens of violence. Many centres and programs focus on the conflict and, while this is important, one of our unique aims is to expose our community to the richness and complexity of what it means to be Palestinian, not only in the Middle East, but in diaspora and exile.”

—Jasmin Habib, Associate Professor, Political Science, Faculty of Arts

Towards understanding, towards peace

Palestine has long been the site of rich inter-cultural, religious, economic, and political exchange and conflict. It has presented the international community with persistent, complex social and political challenges in the contemporary period. But missing from the headlines are the daily efforts of Jewish, Israeli, and Palestinian human rights, peace and justice organizations, and the rich and complex body of scholarly, artistic, literary, creative, and popular works generated by the Palestinians at home and in the diverse and dynamic diaspora that spans the globe.

At the University of Waterloo, our students show us every day that they are open to new perspectives, care about justice, and want to work for peace. From the Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business to the Kindred Credit Union Center for Peace Advancement at Conrad Grebel University College, our students design projects and create innovations to make the world a better, more secure, equitable place—for everyone. They are curious about the world. And they are bright: They love to find new angles on how we might resolve old problems.

But to solve problems, we need to talk about them.

With your support we will:

• Offer an annual public lecture series which will bring distinguished international experts to Waterloo from within and beyond the academic community, throwing light on genuine Palestinian realities.
• Offer international study experiences that will change the lives and open the minds of our students through subsidized travel to the Palestine-Israel region.
• Deepen understanding and foster change through research awards to support faculty and graduate students.
• Attract and support rising stars of Palestinian studies or those whose research intersects with Palestinian Studies, bringing new energy and fresh ideas to the university through Postdoctoral Fellowship Awards.

"Our vision is education, education, education. Understanding begins with education and awareness. Changing minds can change the course of history."

—Shawky Fahel