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.

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.

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.

In June 2023, Horizon staff met scholars, old and new, in Amman and Beirut. Whilst in Amman, the Horizon CEO and Scholar Liaison Manager were able to meet scholars and staff of the Amala Education programme and learnt more about the personal interest projects all Amala students conduct as part of their diploma. In Beirut, Horizon held a gathering with 12 Horizon school and university students (pictured).

Horizon-UWC Maastricht graduate, Dima, recently spoke at the UN Education Cannot Wait Conference as a global youth ambassador and representative of Palestine.

Whilst there, Dima took the opportunity to talk about education in the Palestinian context and called on global leaders to talk about what is happening in Palestine and to support the Palestinians’ right to safety and basic human rights.

In November 2022, Horizon staff visited UWC Atlantic to catch up with Horizon scholars, their tutors and other school staff. Whilst there, we held a dinner with the seven scholars being supported by Horizon.

In May 2023, Horizon staff visited UWC Mostar and UWC Maastricht. In addition to meeting scholars and attending graduation ceremonies, we also met with their tutors and other staff at the schools. We also had the opportunity to spend time with scholars off campus (pictured).

The Foundation is keen to keep in touch with its scholars, old and new. In November 2022, we met up with a group of them who are based in/near London (pictured). This was a great opportunity for us to catch up with them and for the scholars to get to know each other and network.

During the course of the year, the Foundation also organised a series of online gatherings. In October 2022 an event was held to welcome new UWC scholars and introduce them to each other. In addition, in June and July 2023, the Foundation organised two communications training workshops for some of its school and university scholars.

In summer 2021 Horizon scholar, Mai, implemented a second community project in Dheisheh refugee camp. Collaborating with a local NGO, Mai’s project supported 50 pre-school refugee children who had been adversely impacted by the Covid19 pandemic and helped them make a successful transition to grade school. The project was funded by a Horizon seed grant and benefitted the children through academic and psycho-social support.  Following the success of this project, Mai will be implementing a similar project in summer 2022, also with Horizon funding. Mai has recently started a new job as a Senior Projects Coordinator with Caritas in Palestine.

During 2021/22, Horizon held two online gatherings for its scholars. The first, in October 2021, welcomed the Foundation’s new UWC scholars and gave them the opportunity to meet each other and Horizon staff and trustees. The second, held in June 2022, took the form of a writing workshop for university students and gave them a chance to reflect on their personal and academic journeys so far.

In addition, in March 2022, Horizon staff met with five of the Foundation’s London based scholars for afternoon tea (see photo above). Some of these scholars are now working, and others are studying at school and university. The event gave us the chance to catch up with scholars’ news and allowed them to meet each other and form a supportive London/Horizon network.

Horizon is delighted to be supporting five new students on the Amala High School Diploma Programme in 2021/22. The new students are Syrian and Iraqi refugees who are currently living in Jordan. To date, Horizon has now supported ten students on the Amala programme which was launched in Jordan in June 2020 in response to the lack of secondary education provision for refugees. The course leads to a recognised high school diploma. Amala has also been establishing progression pathways for its students which will enable them to continue to university studies on completion of the diploma.

In November 2019, the Foundation held a successful weekend gathering in Maastricht which was attended by 18 of its Europe based scholars. The event included an informal meeting which enabled the scholars to get acquainted, a workshop which was run by a Horizon scholar, a walking tour of the city and a formal dinner where trustees, partners and friends of the Foundation got to meet Horizon’s talented young scholars.

Mai Al Qaisi, from Palestine, was supported by Horizon to attend UWC Atlantic, 2007-2009. She now works as a Project Coordinator for ActionAid in Palestine where her work focuses on marginalised communities in Hebron.

Mai was the very first recipient of a Horizon Seed Funding grant. Seed Funding grants enable scholars to set up projects which serve their communities back home. In August 2019, Mai ran a five-day music summer camp in Dheisheh refugee camp, Bethlehem. Fifty girls and boys aged 8-13 participated in the camp and enjoyed musical instrument lessons, singing, and dance tuition.  The camp used music as a tool to positively influence behaviour and to empower children to express themselves in constructive ways.  At the end of the camp, the children put on a musical and dramatic performance attended by families and friends.