Horizon Foundation

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Providing new horizons for young people and their communities

We believe that education is the best tool to create change agents, enabling young people to serve their communities in the future.

About us

Horizon offers scholarships to young people encouraging them to positively represent and support their communities in the Middle East and Asia.

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Our work

We support young people from the Middle East and Asia at leading boarding schools to provide them with a better start in life.


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Get involved

Do you want to support the Horizon Foundation? Donate or get in touch!




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  • Arein, Palestinian

    UWC Adriatic 2019

    Arein graduated from UWC Adriatic in 2019 and obtained a BS in Computer Engineering at Case Western University (USA) in 2023. Arein is currently studying for an MA in Imaging and Light in Extended Reality at the University of Eastern Finland as part of the Erasmus Mundus programme.

    Whilst studying at UWC Adriatic she participated in the Youth Inspiring Change conference, taught primary school children about Palestinian culture and performed dabke dance in cultural shows. At Case Western Reserve University she combined her interests of computer engineering and art in order to become a digital animator and a story teller. Her aim is to present an alternative, factual perspective of the Palestinian issue.

    “The Horizon Foundation takes credit for all the wonderful and impactful experiences that I had as a UWC student. It granted me life-changing support.”

  • Tenzin K, Tibetan

    Rugby School 2013

    Tenzin graduated from Rugby School in 2013, completed a BA in Physics at the University of Maastricht in 2017, an MSc in Medical Physics at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in 2020 and a PhD, also at UBC, in 2024. His PhD research focused on treatment verification using 3D polymer gel dosimetry for complex radiotherapy techniques. Tenzin is now undertaking a Clinical Medical Physics Residency at Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine in the United States.

    Whilst at Maastricht, Tenzin organised a charity fundraising event for a Tibetan school in India. He told us: “My Horizon scholarship was the most important thing that has ever happened to me. I feel grateful every single day and it turned me into a very confident person”.

  • Christine, Syrian

    UWC Maastricht 2019

    Christine graduated from UWC Maastricht in 2019 and completed a BA in Arts and Humanities at Bard College (Germany) in 2024. She was recently awarded the Oxford EAA Qatar Sanctuary Scholarship for an MA in Anthropology at the University of Oxford.

    During her time at UWC Maastricht, Christine held an exhibition of her artwork which explored the idea of belonging and identity and was a reconstruction of experiences she lived through in Syria. After completing her UWC studies, Christine took a gap year focused on cultural immersion. She spent six months with Global Citizen Year in Senegal where she apprenticed as a tailor and as an English teaching assistant, and learnt the Wolof language (pictured with her tailoring supervisor Tante Marie).

    “Horizon provided me with the space and peace of mind to be able to focus on my studies and I am enormously thankful for that.”

  • Tran, Vietnamese

    UWC Atlantic 2010

    Tran graduated from UWC Atlantic College. She obtained a BA Economics and Mathematics from Middlebury College and an MA Computer Science and an MBA from the University of Chicago. She is currently employed as Senior Product Manager in AI and Innovation at Adobe and is also the founder of Xao, the first online toolbox in Vietnam that helps young entrepreneurs build viable startups from scratch.

    “My Horizon scholarship gave me the chance to experience the most culturally diverse environment in which I learned to embrace differences. Because excellent education transformed my life, I became involved in education technology. My hope is that through ed-tech students anywhere, even those with less access to good schooling, can benefit from better education.”

  • Wassim, Palestinian from Lebanon

    Eton College 2016

    Wassim is an Eton College graduate and obtained an MEng from the University of Cambridge in 2020. Whilst at university, Wassim volunteered with a Cambridge refugee aid group translating documents for refugee charities across Europe. He was also involved in a BAME academic mentorship scheme which aims to bridge the attainment gap for ethnic minorities at Cambridge. Wassim is currently working as a Data Scientist with the Financial Conduct Authority in London.

    “I would not have been able to achieve everything I’ve done without Horizon’s support. I hope one day I can change the lives of young Palestinians just like Horizon has changed mine”.

  • Ameed, Palestinian

    UWC Atlantic 2012

    Ameed is a strategy consultant at Kearney where he focuses on various topics related to healthcare and socio-economic development. He was previously employed by Monitor Deloitte (Dubai), where he advised senior government clients in the Middle East on strategy and policy.

    Ameed holds a master's degree (with distinction) in Pharmaceutical Formulation and Entrepreneurship from University College London and a bachelor’s degree (cum laude) in Chemistry and Biology from New York University Abu Dhabi. Previously he was a researcher at Harvard University and became a Chevening scholar in 2017.

    Ameed grew up in Tulkarem, Palestine, where his parents ran a family bakery and instilled in Ameed and his four siblings the importance of education to overcome the political and socio-economic hurdles associated with living in Palestine. In 2010, Ameed received a Horizon scholarship to attend UWC Atlantic, an opportunity which he describes as being pivotal to his future academic and professional endeavours. Today, Ameed sits on the national committee responsible for selecting Palestinian students for similar scholarships.

    “The Horizon scholarship was a transformative one. It has enabled me to access the best education worldwide and it has inspired me to seek purposeful leadership in whatever I do.”

  • Asifa, Afghan

    UWC Atlantic 2019

    Asifa graduated from UWC Atlantic in 2019 and obtained a BS in Business Administration at the Methodist University (USA) in 2024. She is currently working in sales for Amazon. Whilst at UWC Atlantic, Asifa enjoyed sharing her culture with fellow students and conducted a workshop about life in Afghanistan in which she challenged misconceptions about her country.

    “Horizon gave me a precious opportunity to experience diversity and live with people from different backgrounds. I was able to share my Afghan culture and traditions with fellow students as well as learning about theirs. I now wish to contribute to community development in Afghanistan.”

  • Mohamed, Syrian

    UWC Thailand (current)

    Mohamed completed his IB Diploma UWC Thailand in 2022. He was born in Syria but his family now lives in Lebanon due to the conflict. The Syrian tragedy has made him passionate about the issues of human rights and child labour. Mohamad is now studying Biomedical Engineering at the University of Oklahoma.

    "I am so happy and lucky to be part of the UWC/Horizon community and have access to such an opportunity. My scholarship was a new start. It will put me on the path to success and enable me to fulfil my dreams.”

  • Tenzin C, Tibetan

    UWC Atlantic, 2018

    Tenzin graduated from UWC Atlantic in 2018 and completed a BS Environmental Science and Global Health at Duke University, USA in 2022. Whilst at UWC, Tenzin was selected by the World Literacy Foundation as a Youth Ambassador. At Duke, she participated in a pilot Bass Connection project and spent the summer of 2019 in Ghana researching the physiological health effects of mercury exposure caused by gold mining activities.

    Tenzin is currently working as an Operations Analyst at Azolla Ventures, where she is responsible for firm and fund strategy and operations, investor relations, team culture, communications, and external presence.

    “Without Horizon, I wouldn't have achieved everything that I achieved. In terms of personal development, I have grown into a more mature and holistically better individual. I have a goal to be my level best, help my community and the world at large. Horizon was my best bet enabling me to meet my goals".



  • Rohid, Afghan

    Eton College, 2015

    Rohid completed his studies at Eton College in 2015. He obtained an MSc in Anatomy and Education at Hull York Medical School in 2021 and completed his Medical Studies at the University of Leeds in 2023. He is currently a Foundation Year resident doctor in the UK National Health Service.

    At Eton, Rohid played at academy level for a rugby Super League team, competed at national and international level in mixed martial arts and won a national kickboxing tournament. At university, he was involved in Unorthobox which introduces disabled children to boxing. Rohid recently received the Silverside Award for a research abstract on the links between disposable household income and adult obesity.

    "The Horizon Scholarship was an exceptional opportunity. It gave me the freedom to pursue both my academic and sporting interests and I was also welcomed into the wider Horizon family that has felt like a second home since."

Updates

Horizon Scholars’ Graduation and Gathering 2024

In May 2024, Horizon’s CEO, Samia El Tabari, attended the UWC Maastricht graduation of three of its scholars.  All three, one from Syria and two from Tibet, graduated successfully and have now moved on to study for undergraduate degrees in the United States. Whilst in Maastricht, as part of Horizon’s pastoral care, Samia also took the opportunity to meet with Horizon’s other scholars at UWC Maastricht who have now completed the first year of their IB Diploma and are beginning their final year of study at the school. In addition, she also connected with school staff and tutors to follow up on scholars’ progress and strengthen Horizon’s partnership with the school.

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09.10.2024

Community Engagement Initiatives, 2023/24

Horizon’s Community Engagement Initiative (CEI) encourages its scholars to lead projects that promote cross-cultural understanding. Over the past two years, Horizon has awarded CEI grants to a Palestinian student at UWC Atlantic and a Syrian scholar at UWC Maastricht to purchase an oud (pictured above) for their respective schools. Tibetan students were also supported at UWC Maastricht with the purchase of a Tibetan lute and five Tibetan flutes. The instruments were used by the scholars to introduce Arab and Tibetan music to their peers and to perform in school concerts.  All of the instruments will remain at the schools to be used in future.

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09.10.2024

Horizon Scholars’ Community Projects 2022/23

In 2022/23, the Foundation supported two scholars to implement projects in Palestine and Jordan. The first was held in Dheisheh refugee camp by Mai, a Horizon-UWC Atlantic graduate from Palestine, and supported 50 pre-school children academically and provided psychosocial and recreational activities. The second project was designed by Hasan, a Horizon-Amala graduate from Syria in Amman. Hasan’s project targeted 22 young refugees in Jordan who benefitted from a five-month training programme in areas such as life skills, cultural exchange through art and sport, and project planning (see photo).

Horizon also supported Tsethar, who was studying at the University of Richmond in the USA, to facilitate the screening of a documentary film and cultural event which enabled him to introduce his culture to an audience of Americans who previously knew little about Tibet.

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29.11.2023

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