Oday
19MedicineA remarkable student who wants to study medicine in the UK.
“Despite everything, his ambition radiates from him — a 96.1 grade average in his Tawjihi exams, studied from a pile of books in a tent.”
Two Students. One Future.
Roots to Light Scholars
Light doesn’t wait for perfect conditions. Neither do we.
A volunteer-run campaign raising £60,000 to get two exceptional students from Gaza — Hasan and Oday — into UK and Irish universities. Not aid. Access.
- 80%
- of Gaza’s universities destroyed
- 80,000+
- students cut off from higher education
- 2
- students with real offers, waiting
What we believe
Every student deserves a future. But for talented young people in Gaza, and other conflict zones, that future is being buried under rubble, blocked by closed borders, cut off from digital access, and priced out by visas, fees, and living costs they cannot afford.
Who we are
Roots to Light Scholars is a community-led, unincorporated group run entirely by volunteers. We exist to do one thing: help promising students from Gaza access higher education in the UK and Ireland.
No salaries. No overhead. Just direct, practical support.
This is not a talent problem. It is a passage problem.
Over 80% of universities in Gaza have been destroyed, and over 80,000 students have been cut off from higher education. Before October 2023, only a few hundred students from Gaza could leave each year to study abroad. Since then? Almost none.
Hasan and Oday already have offers from UK and Irish universities. Their places are real. Their visas are urgent. They cannot wait 6–12 months for institutional grant cycles — exams, visa deadlines and enrolment dates are fixed. If we miss this window, they lose their places.
Meet the students
We are currently supporting two exceptional students. Both have survived war, displacement and interrupted education. With our support, both have been offered or accepted places at universities in the UK and Ireland — but neither can get there without urgent financial help.
Hasan
20ArtAn incredible artist and a survivor.
“I draw people in the street — not to capture their exact features, but to tell their stories. Every line I draw holds emotion — pain, resilience, or hope.”
£60,000
Where your £60k goes
This is not a vague target — it’s a line-by-line lifeline for two real people. We have broken down the cost per student meticulously. Every penny will be accounted for, and we publish updates on Chuffed as funds are spent.
University fees
Deposits & first instalments
Visa & IHS surcharges
UK student visas
English language tests
e.g. IELTS
Educational & professional admin fees
Transcripts, credential checks
Living costs
Rent, food, travel — first 6–8 months until they can work part-time
What your donation does
- £20Covers an hour of visa advice or a textbook
- £150One week’s basic living costs for one student
- £500English test + exam admin fees
- £2,000First visa + IHS surcharge
- £30,000Fully sponsors one student’s first year (fees + essentials)
Support the campaign
You can also donate directly to Hasan’s separate fundraiser here.
How we operate — transparency first
We follow a formal constitution (available on request). Our committee includes a Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and Fundraising Coordinator. No one is paid.
Two unrelated signatories approve every withdrawal. We post regular financial updates on our Chuffed page and to our community. Any unspent funds will be donated to a UK registered charity.
The team
We are not a faceless charity. We are volunteers who could not look away — working in social justice, education, climate and community support. No salaries. No overhead.
EA
Emily Allen
Chair
Works in the third sector supporting teams with a focus on social justice and the climate crisis.
AM
Abi Makepeace
Secretary
An artist who runs ‘Makepeace Studios’, a not-for-profit teaching sustainable textile approaches whilst empowering people and supporting health and wellbeing.
JA
Jody Allen
Treasurer
Treasurer for Roots to Light Scholars.
DL
Debbie Lange
Fundraising
A retired educator who specialised in supporting refugees with English qualifications.
LS
Lucy Stewart
Research Lead
Works in the third sector on the climate crisis; her specialism is design research for climate adaptation.
Get in touch
Questions, offers of help, or want to partner with us? Send us a message and we’ll get back to you.
Email us
Drop us a line and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can — questions, offers of help, or partnerships all welcome.
hello@rootsforlight.org.uk